'Seek shelter': Hurricane Lala strikes Hawaii's Big Island for first time in 155 years

Hurricane Lala struck Hawaii's Big Island on Saturday — the first time in 155 years that a hurricane has made a direct hit on the island, home to about 210,000 people and the largest in the Hawaiian archipelago. The storm knocked out power for 32 percent of the island's electricity customers.

The US National Hurricane Center said Lala's maximum sustained winds reached 120 kph, prompting forecasters to upgrade it from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane — the lowest of the five hurricane categories, which are ranked by maximum sustained wind speed.

A hurricane warning was in effect for the Big Island, while tropical storm warnings covered Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau.

The latest forecasts indicated Lala would pass very close to the southern tip of the Big Island.

Hawaiian Electric told customers that "extended outages are possible and may last throughout the night," according to local media reports cited by Reuters.

The utility said crews were inspecting a 42-mile (68-kilometer) stretch of transmission lines after falling trees brought down utility poles and other structures along the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island.

The storm was forecast to dump 10 to 20 inches (25 to 51 centimeters) of rain on the Big Island, with isolated higher elevations potentially receiving up to 25 inches (64 centimeters).

The Hawaii Department of Transportation announced the closure of Hilo International Airport and said Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole would close at 2 p.m. The department also shut commercial harbors on Hawaii Island, in Maui County and on Kauai.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green urged residents to stay in a safe location, saying rain was falling at a rate of 2 inches (5 centimeters) per hour, according to AP.