Floodwaters from Hurricane Lala tore through Naʻālehu Cemetery on Hawaiʻi Island this week, unearthing caskets and scattering human remains along the roadway leading to the burial ground, residents and local media reported Thursday.
Scenes of damage, displacement and grief
Neighbors and relatives who visited the cemetery described an area covered with mud, uprooted headstones and debris carried down the hill by the torrent. The road approaching the cemetery was reported impassable after the storm carried rocks, trees and soil into the path of residents attempting to check on the graves of loved ones.
"You can see caskets [and] bones," said Raedyn Louis, who visited the cemetery, according to Hawaii News Now.
Other family members said the damage forced them to relive the loss of relatives buried at Naʻālehu. "Our family is buried in these grounds," Nohea Kaawa told reporters, noting that ancestral remains had been scattered along the highway.
What residents face next
Community members urged people without relatives buried at the site to avoid the area so families can begin the difficult work of locating remains and headstones. Local volunteers and authorities who are organizing recovery efforts will have to coordinate respectful retrieval, cataloguing and, where possible, reinterment.
Residents reported broader storm effects in Naʻālehu and surrounding communities as recovery continued: power outages, disruptions to water service and a reliance on volunteer hubs providing food, water and propane for residents who remain without basic services.
Fatalities and continuing recovery
Authorities said two people were killed during the storm. One of the deceased was a well-known former kindergarten teacher in the small community; the other was a man in his 60s whose body was found in a pasture after residents alerted police for a welfare check. Police have not released the man’s identity.
The discovery of human remains at a cemetery adds a particularly sensitive dimension to the island’s recovery. Families and cultural practitioners will likely push for careful handling in keeping with Hawaiian cultural protocols around ʻāina and ancestral remains. Officials have not released a formal plan for handling remains found at Naʻālehu Cemetery.
Practical concerns for residents and visitors
Officials and community leaders have encouraged caution around storm-damaged areas for safety and respect. For residents and visitors in or traveling to affected areas, practical steps to consider include:
- Avoid nonessential travel to damaged cemetery sites to allow families and recovery crews room to work.
- Watch for road closures; approach only when invited by authorities or family members.
- Prepare for ongoing utility disruptions — keep a supply of water, nonperishable food and a charged power source.
Context: recent heavy rainfall and ongoing threats
The cemetery damage is part of a larger pattern of heavy rain and flooding that hit parts of the Big Island during Hurricane Lala. In the week before this report, certain areas experienced extreme rainfall totals, and emergency officials have warned that saturated hillsides and mudflows remain a risk during subsequent storms and runoff events.
| Issue | Immediate concern |
|---|---|
| Unburied remains and caskets | Careful retrieval, identification and reinterment |
| Roads blocked with debris | Limited access for families and emergency crews |
| Power/water outages | Short-term sheltering needs and supply hubs |
Volunteer groups and community hubs have been supplying food, water and propane to residents while authorities assess infrastructure damage and safety. At this stage, the timeline for a full cleanup and reburial operation has not been announced, and families face the emotional labor of documenting losses and coordinating next steps.
What officials have said
State and county agencies were cited in media reports confirming storm damage across Naʻālehu and on the Big Island, including the two confirmed deaths tied to the storm. Officials and local leaders are expected to work with residents on respectful procedures for recovering and reinterring remains, but details remain limited in initial reporting.
The community remains on edge: with roads blocked and utilities disrupted, residents are leaning on volunteer relief efforts while awaiting more formal guidance from county and state authorities about cemetery recovery and public health safeguards.
As recovery moves forward, families displaced by the storm’s damage to burial sites will need time, resources and culturally appropriate support to address the loss and to restore the cemetery grounds. Local officials have not yet provided a schedule for when that support will be in place.
Keoni Kahale, WE NEWS.
