Hawaii Braces Again: Tropical Storm Moke Follows Close on Lala's Heels

It feels like a relentless onslaught, doesn't it? Just when Hawaii residents were beginning to pick up the pieces from the devastating impact of Hurricane Lala, another tropical system, Moke, is making its way towards the islands. The sense of déjà vu, or perhaps just plain exhaustion, must be palpable for many, as heavy rains and gusty winds are once again on the horizon.

As of Saturday morning, August 22, 2026, around 11 am Hawaii Standard Time, Tropical Storm Moke was tracking approximately 684 kilometers, or about 425 miles, south of Hilo, that lovely city on Hawaii Island's eastern coast. It's not exactly speeding along, moving west-northwest at a fairly steady 19 kilometers per hour (12 mph), with its maximum sustained winds hovering around 85 km/h (50 mph). The current forecast suggests Moke will glide south of Hawaii Island sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning, continuing its westward journey near the archipelago through early Tuesday.

Now, about the rain – and this is where things get really concerning, especially with the ground already saturated. Over the next couple of days, the southeast and windward sides of the Big Island are looking at a good 130mm to 250mm (that's 5 to 10 inches) of rainfall. And honestly, in some isolated spots, we could even see a whopping 380mm (15 inches), which is just an incredible amount. Eastern Maui, too, needs to be ready for 76mm to 150mm (3 to 6 inches), certainly not insignificant.

To fully grasp the current apprehension, we really need to cast our minds back just one week to Hurricane Lala. That Category 1 storm didn't just pass by; it truly walloped Hawaii, dumping over 1,000mm (a staggering 39 inches!) of rain in some areas. Imagine the sheer volume of water – it led to widespread, heavy flooding, rivers bursting their banks, and, as you might expect, countless downed electrical lines. Nearly 130,000 utility customers were left in the dark, and tragically, at least one life was lost. Power restoration, for many, isn't even expected until early September, so this next storm is hitting communities still very much in recovery.

Understandably, officials are urging caution and preparedness. Hawaii Governor Josh Green has been quite direct, asking residents to restock essentials, mindful of how the previous storm depleted resources and left many scrambling. To help those displaced or needing a safer place, he's authorized the use of 100 hotel rooms as temporary shelters. While Casey Oswant, a meteorologist from the Honolulu office of the US National Weather Service, offered a glimmer of hope, suggesting Moke's impacts would be 'a little bit more limited than what we saw with Lala,' that's small comfort when you're still cleaning up.

And just when you thought it couldn't get more challenging, Governor Green has also issued a heads-up about another storm front expected about a week after Moke passes. It's a sobering reminder that living in paradise often means grappling with the formidable power of nature, especially during hurricane season. For now, all eyes remain on Tropical Storm Moke, and the resilience of the Hawaiian people.