During Hurricane Lala, severe storm damage left over 200,000 Oʻahu residents without power.
The outages and storm debris became a significant obstacle for those navigating the roads, where fallen trees and downed power lines left countless traffic signals out of commission.
Public safety was a top priority for the Honolulu Police Department during this time, according to their recently appointed Police Chief David Lazar.
HPR spoke with Lazar to learn more about the police force contributed to Oʻahu’s recovery after Hurricane Lala.
Interview Highlights
On HPD’s response to Hurricane Lala
POLICE CHIEF DAVID LAZAR: Our police officers did a great job, and our professional staff. I mean, everybody just stepped up and stepped in. And when you think about the Kona Lows, I mean, it was an opportunity to really learn from that experience and build on it. I think anytime we have a storm or natural disaster, it's a learning opportunity for us to get better. And, you know, we just were working to be better and better, but that being said, we did a great job. A, you know, got a letter grade A is what I'm saying, you know, a great job, because they had to deal with a lot. The trees were down, the wind is hitting them sideways, the rain's coming down hard, the signal lights are out, oh my gosh, directing traffic, and that went on for days as you would drive around, you see the officers directing traffic. They were moving trees out of roadways, they were dealing with floods, they were working on the North Side to get some elderly people and others rescued, and the stories go on and on, and I'm just very grateful for their their heroic action, the members, the men and women of the HPD.
On recovering from the impacts of the storm
LAZAR: We ask people just to be patient, you know, navigating their way through. You know, H-1 is challenging enough every day, right? Let alone the aftermath of a storm. But you see how resilient we are as well. You know, a few days after the storm, it was almost like it didn't happen. Depending on where you were, right? There are some areas, like as you mentioned, there's still some debris to be picked up, there's a couple of streetlights that are out, but we're resilient here on Oʻahu, and we need to keep working towards that resiliency, and, you know, we ask that the public be patient, and really, during these these storms, to stay home. …
Unfortunately, during the storms, the crime doesn't stop either. We still have things that are happening, and burglaries, and robberies, and different things that are going on. But we were prepared. You know, we fully staffed up in preparation to handle both things. And one of the things I said early on is, you know, if you're if you're a criminal and you want to engage in criminal activity, just know that we're out there, too, and we're going to respond, and we're going to work to apprehend and hold people accountable for their behavior.
On coming to Oʻahu from the continent
LAZAR: It's a little different in a great way. You know, I'm just so super excited to be here, and I'm excited, and I love the culture, and I love Honolulu, and love Oʻahu, and there's just so many things that I'm so grateful for being here. And I mean, you know my story. My wife's mom was born here, Halawa Housing, grew up, well, actually into her preteens, and then the family had to move to the continent for economic reasons, and so it's really, in a way, it's symbolic that we've come back, you know. I've told my mother-in-law like we're back home, and you know, she had to leave, I don't think they wanted to leave. So yeah, there's this perspective about being an outsider, but I've been so welcomed here. I've been welcomed by the community, welcomed by the elected officials and the mayor and our police commission, and but I've been elected by the men and women of our department, and I just really see my opportunity as a leader, really like as a servant leader, to help support them, to have their back, to work with them, to get them what they need, and to really work to continue to make the Honolulu Police Department the greatest police agency in the country.
This story aired on The Conversation on Aug. 24, 2026. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m. Jinwook Lee adapted this story for the web.
