Published 2 days ago • loading... • Updated 1 day ago
‘You Can See Everything’: Hurricane Lala Unearths Graves, Remains at Hawaii Island Cemetery
Flooding and erosion from Hurricane Lala exposed nearly 500 burials, and county officials are working to identify and secure remains.
On Monday, Hurricane Lala's floodwaters tore through a cemetery in Naalehu, Hawaii, on the Big Island, leaving behind a field of mud and disinterred caskets.
Gaping ravines 50 feet deep now line the access road, while nearby, Auto Repair owner John Masters said his shop lies buried under several feet of mud.
Searching for loved ones, Jukwa Balos and Maka Gallinger trekked through debris to locate lost graves; Gallinger led eight relatives to find her mother's resting place.
Tom Callis, a spokesman for Mayor Kimo Alameda, said officials are identifying remains from the nearly 500 burials in the blocked-off cemetery area.
Community hubs have emerged to provide water and food as residents navigate the loss, while longtime resident Colleen Gundaker said the sight was heartbreaking for lifelong Ka'u residents.