Tropical Storm Lala continues to strengthen in the Pacific and forecasters warn that it could soon become the first hurricane to strike Hawaii's Big Island in modern history.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) updated Lala's path and severity Friday morning, warning that the storm will likely make landfall at hurricane strength early Saturday morning.

Maui Emergency Management Agency Administrator Amos Lonokailua-Hewett warned: 'Lala is strengthening, and we need people to prepare now for the potential of dangerous winds, heavy rain, flooding and large waves.' 

This would mark the first hurricane since accurate weather records began being kept in the 20th century to hit Hawaii's Big Island.

AccuWeather Meteorologist Jesse Ferrell said in a statement: 'A hurricane has never made landfall on the Big Island. Tropical Storms Darby in 2016 and Iselle in 2014 are the only tropical storms to ever make landfall on Hawaii's Big Island.'

NHC upgraded their alert to an official Hurricane Warning for the Big Island (Hawaiʻi Island), and also issued Tropical Storm Watches for all of Maui County, which includes the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lānaʻi and Kahoʻolawe.

Lala currently has sustained winds of 60 mph and is expected to begin impacting the state Friday afternoon, delivering potentially dangerous wind gusts and rain.

Once the storm arrives on Saturday, AccuWeather's worst-case scenario warns that parts of the Big Island could see up to 30 inches of rain, deadly flash flooding and mudslides, wind gusts reaching 100 mph and ocean surges approaching six feet.

The heaviest rainfall and wind damage is expected to impact the eastern side of the Big Island, however, forecasters now predict that the entire island chain will see at least two to four inches of rain this weekend, with isolated spots seeing eight inches.

AccuWeather predicted that Lala will be a Level 2 out of 5 storm on their 'Real Impact' scale for rating hurricane damage.

This means the storm will likely cause wind damage to small buildings and trees, power outages and significant property damage in coastal communities. 

AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva warned that the oncoming storm closely resembles Hurricane Hone, which brought severe flooding and dangerous winds to the island paradise in 2024.

'Despite never making landfall in Hawaii, Hone brought more than two feet of rain to portions of the Big Island, causing significant flooding, as well as winds in excess of 70 mph,' DaSilva said in a statement.

The only other hurricane believed to have made landfall on the Big Island was the 1871 Kohala Cyclone but there are only unconfirmed reports from local newspapers documenting the extreme weather event.

According to Hawaiian news outlet Big Island Now, the Kohala Cyclone was a Category 3 hurricane when it struck the north side of the Big Island on August 9, 1871.

AccuWeather has projected that Tropical Storm Lala will only reach Category 1 hurricane status overnight, meaning it will have sustained winds of 75 to 95 mph.

More than one million people are spread out across the state, particularly in communities such as Honolulu, Waikiki, Kahului and Kihei.

Hawaii is in the peak of its summer travel season, with roughly 250,000 vacationers visiting beaches and other tourist attractions on any given day from June to mid-August.

Maui, Hawaii's second-largest island and one of the state's top vacation destinations, welcomed approximately 2.5 million visitors in 2025, drawing tourists to its world-class white and black sand beaches, luxury resorts, whale watching sites and iconic attractions such as the 64-mile-long highway known as the Road to Hāna.

Mayor Richard Bissen of Maui County said in a statement: 'County departments have been preparing for Tropical Storm Lala, and we’re asking our community to do the same.'

'Use today to finish securing property, making sure your home has enough food, water, supplies and medications, and check on kūpuna (grandparents), neighbors and loved ones.'

The National Weather Service added that local evacuations may be necessary in areas where heavy rainfall triggers floods. 

'Leave immediately if evacuation orders are given for your area,' NWS officials urged on Friday.

Residents have also been urged to stock up enough food, water, essential items and prescription medications they take to last at least 14 days.

Those living in flood-prone areas on the islands should secure their important documents and learn the fastest route to their local evacuation area.

Officials in Maui warned that extended power outages may be possible as Lala passes the island.