As I compose this posting, Lala early this morning was still a tropical storm heading westward for the eye making landfall over the southern portion of the Big Island of Hawaii. However, all signs point towards a strengthening into a hurricane.   A Category 1 means sustained winds of from 74-95 MPH . If this projected path is maintained, Kona will be seriously impacted, but Hilo might not. My first job after graduating from college was at the Hutchinson Sugar Company in Naalehu, the southernmost city in the USA.  This part of Kau County could well be very severely damaged by this hurricane. The media have mostly indicated that official historical records don't show a hurricane has ever made landfall over the Big Island.  However, Google AI indicates: On August 9, 1871 , a powerful Category 3 hurricane struck the islands of Hawaiʻi (the Big Island) and Maui , causing severe, tornado-like destruction and widespread property damage from Hilo to Lahaina. [ 1 , 2 , ...