Hawaii braces for potential first direct hit by a hurricane in 34 years

In a worst-case scenario, category one Lala could dump up to 25in (63cm) of rain on Big Island.

Storm expected to strengthen to hurricane as state of emergency declared amid danger of ‘life-threatening’ floods Tropical Storm Lala is set to hit Hawaii’s Big Island with hurricane force in a matter of hours, bringing dangerous winds, heavy rainfall and high surf in a sign of what a strengthening “super” El Niño in t