For the second consecutive week, Hawaii's Big Island is bracing for a tropical storm, as Moke advances across the Pacific bringing heavy rain and strong winds to a community still recovering from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Lala just days ago. As of Saturday morning local time, Moke was located roughly 470 miles (755 kilometres) southeast of Hilo — a city on the eastern coast of Hawaii Island, the largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago — moving west-northwest at around 12 mph (19 kph) with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph), according to the US National Hurricane Center.
Forecasters expect Moke to pass south of a direct hit on the Big Island late Saturday into early Sunday, before continuing westward near the island chain through early Tuesday. While that trajectory offers some relief, meteorologists warn the storm will still deliver significant impacts. The southeast and windward sides of the Big Island could receive 5 to 10 inches (13–25 cm) of rainfall, with isolated areas seeing up to 15 inches (38 cm). Eastern Maui may see up to 4 inches (10 cm), with the rest of the chain receiving lighter amounts. Meteorologist Casey Oswant of the National Weather Service in Honolulu noted that effects would likely be "a little bit more limited than what we saw with Lala" — but cautioned that the risk of flooding and mudslides remains high, particularly in areas where the ground is already saturated.
The concern is well-founded. Hurricane Lala, a Category 1 storm, struck the Big Island last weekend, dumping more than 39 inches (1,000 mm) of rain in some locations, bursting rivers, sweeping buildings off their foundations, damaging roads and bridges, and knocking out power to nearly 130,000 utility customers. One death was reported. Governor Josh Green has cited at least $43 million in damaged infrastructure and $4.6 million in damage to homes, with roughly 9,000 customers still without power on the Big Island as Moke approached.
State officials have urged residents to restock food, medicine and other essentials and to closely monitor the storm's progress. Governor Green authorised 100 hotel rooms as emergency shelter for those lacking adequate safety or services. "It could certainly have a big impact because we've already been hit hard," Green said, adding that additional equipment and personnel were being pre-positioned across the island. Local residents described palpable anxiety. "There's definitely tension in the air" at the thought of more flooding in communities still scarred by Lala, said Tiffany Edwards Hunt, a teacher living in Keaau on the Big Island's east side.
The situation is a stark illustration of Hawaii's growing vulnerability to back-to-back storm events. Governor Green warned that Moke may not be the last threat this season, noting that another storm front is expected roughly a week after Moke passes. With power restoration to the most remote areas of the Big Island not expected until 8 September, communities face the grim prospect of confronting a new storm before recovering from the last one.