When you think of Hawaii's Big Island, you usually think of volcanoes, Kona coffee, and beaches.

However, after witnessing the damage from Hurricane Lara, it made me realize that living on the Big Island comes with the consideration of natural disasters, which is a different story.

What's particularly surprising is that Lara was not a hurricane that made direct landfall on the Big Island.

On August 15, it passed about 30 to 35 miles south of the Big Island as a Category 1 hurricane.

Even though the center of the storm did not penetrate the island, the damage was significant. What was truly frightening this time was not just the wind, but the rain.

Some areas of the Big Island received over 20 inches of rain, and in Laupahoehoe, the rainfall exceeded 43 inches during the storm.

This is a completely different story from the light rain we typically associate with Hawaii.

Particularly hard hit was the southern Kaʻū region of the island. In Waiʻōhinu, landslides buried residential areas, destroying about 12 homes.

It wasn't just water and mud that came down; large boulders rolled down as well. Roads and bridges were damaged, creating neighborhoods that became difficult to access from the outside.

Pāhala experienced a temporary road closure, isolating the area. The bigger issue is that there is a hospital in this region.

Because the Big Island is so vast, the closure of a single road or bridge doesn't just make commuting inconvenient.

Access to hospitals and emergency services can become a serious issue. At that time, it was reported that six bridges in the Kaʻū area were severely damaged or collapsed.

Power outages were rampant. Trees fell and power lines were downed, causing blackouts across the Big Island.

In Nāʻālehu, there was an even more tragic incident. An elderly resident who had gone missing after the heavy rain and flooding was found dead.

Reflecting on this damage, the first thought that came to my mind was, "Is this the extent of the impact even though the hurricane didn't make landfall?"

Hawaii has high mountains and very complex terrain. Even with the same storm passing through, some neighborhoods may only receive a few inches of rain, while just over a mountain, 20 or 30 inches can pour down.

In fact, during this event, the differences in rainfall amounts across regions were enormous.

If you are considering moving to the Big Island, it seems you should start by looking at flood risks. You need to check if there is a steep slope behind the property.

When heavy rain comes, you should also consider where the water will drain and whether there is only one road leading into the neighborhood.

What to do if the power goes out for several days is also a practical concern. Everything from refrigerators to internet and phone charging becomes an issue.

Hawaii is not like the mainland where you can easily get supplies from a neighboring city, so it's also necessary to prepare some emergency supplies like drinking water, food, and fuel.

I believe the damage from Hurricane Lara has shown another side of the Big Island.

Usually, it is a truly beautiful and quiet place.

However, when that beautiful mountain and valley encounter tremendous rainfall, they can become channels for water, and roads and bridges that you normally travel can be cut off in an instant.

When discussing natural disasters while living on the Big Island, most people think of volcanoes first. But after this event, we must also consider hurricanes, heavy rain, flooding, and landslides.

Living close to beautiful nature means we cannot ignore the power it holds. It's advisable to check not only volcanic hazard maps but also flood and landslide risk maps.