Kau District, Hawaii — A beloved former elementary school teacher who spent decades teaching children in her Hawaii community was found dead after going missing during Hurricane Lala, as authorities investigate whether extreme weather conditions contributed to her death.
The Hawaii Police Department identified the woman as 93-year-old May Doi, whose body was discovered Monday, Aug. 17, after emergency responders and authorities launched a search for her during the destructive storm.
May Doi Was Reported Missing During Hurricane Lala
According to Hawaii police, Doi was last seen on Aug. 14 at a residence in the Nāʻālehu town subdivision.
As Hurricane Lala brought dangerous weather conditions to the area, Doi was reported missing to police at 11 a.m. local time on Aug. 16.
Authorities and emergency responders began searching for her as severe weather complicated efforts in the Ka‘ū District.
Doi was ultimately found deceased at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 17.
Police said an investigation into her death remains underway. No foul play is suspected, and an autopsy was scheduled for later in the week.
Police Believe Storm May Have Contributed to Death
Investigators said preliminary findings indicate that Doi’s death may be related to the effects of Hurricane Lala and the extreme weather conditions associated with the storm.
A local school vice principal, ʻĀina Akamu, told that Doi was a former elementary school teacher who had been deeply connected to the community for decades.
Akamu said neighbors believe Doi may have been trying to escape floodwaters and reach a nearby shelter when she disappeared.
The account has added another heartbreaking dimension to the search for the elderly woman as officials continue examining exactly what happened.
‘She Was a Fixture in This Community’
For people who knew Doi, her death represents the loss of a longtime community figure. Akamu told that Doi had taught both him and his father during her teaching career.
“She taught grandkids of her students,” Akamu said. “She was a fixture in this community.”
The former teacher was remembered as a beloved educator who had influenced generations of local families. Her late husband was also a teacher and reportedly taught mathematics.
Her decades of service made Doi much more than a former teacher to many residents. She was a familiar and respected presence whose connection to the community continued long after she left the classroom.
Second Death Also Under Investigation
Doi’s death is one of two fatalities authorities have connected to Hurricane Lala.
Hawaii police are also investigating the death of an unidentified man in his 60s whose remains were discovered in a pasture near Highway 11 in the Ka‘ū District.
Police had previously conducted a welfare check for the man and searched for him without success before residents discovered his remains.
No foul play is currently suspected in that case either.
Hurricane Leaves Hawaii Facing a Difficult Recovery
Hurricane Lala caused significant damage across southern Hawaii, including torn-off roofs, uprooted trees, flooding and dangerous conditions.
The storm was initially forecast to be a Category 1 hurricane but later strengthened into a Category 3 storm as it approached southern Hawaii.
Even as residents began cleaning up, officials warned that another storm system could threaten areas already weakened by Lala.
Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda urged residents to remain prepared while recovery efforts continued, warning that people were already highly sensitive to the possibility of additional rain, flooding and landslides.
As of Thursday, more than 16,000 customers in Hawaii remained without power, according to PowerOutage.us.
Federal Aid Approved as Recovery Continues
The state was also beginning to receive federal assistance for the recovery.
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz announced that the Transportation Department had approved an initial $6 million in emergency federal funds to support recovery efforts following Hurricane Lala.
Meanwhile, most state and county offices and public schools were expected to reopen, with the exception of the Ka‘ū District, one of the hardest-hit areas.
For Doi’s former students, however, the storm’s aftermath carries a deeply personal loss. A woman who spent decades helping generations of children learn and grow is now being remembered as one of the community’s most familiar and cherished figures.
What are your thoughts on the loss of May Doi and the impact Hurricane Lala has had on Hawaii communities? Share your thoughts in the comments below.