I'm surprised I got to this just a little after noon my time. You may know there was a tsunami warning for Hawaii that started just about the time we were going to go to bed on Friday Night (11 pm approx) so we stayed up thinking the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center would cancel it, like they usually do, but in fact, it was first an advisory and then it went straight to a warning (with hurricanes it usually goes, advisory>>watch>>warning). Anyhow, by the time we knew it was a real warning, stores, gas stations were closed. And our emergency supply cabinet was used up as that is what we do during the off season (hurricane season starts next month through Nov) We were up until about 1 am making a little list of just a few things that we would need. Since we live high enough, 300 Ft above sea level we didn't have to worry about getting the direct impact if there was a wave or surge. BUT, everything that is necessary is around the edges and in the tsunami zone, such as stores, gas stations, the ROAD to get to any other place, the POWER company (stupid to build it on the beach) all county agencies and police, hospitals, etc.
So, we planned to get up early and go to the store. Well, the county I guess wanted to give us plenty of time to get stressed out (about something that really for personal danger only requires going to higher ground), so they set off the first alarm - a 2 minute shrill sounding just like and air raid siren, at 6 am, and every 1/2 hour after that. SO, even if a person was not all that worried about it and had enough time to move to higher ground if necessary, those sirens were just way too much. All the pets in the neighborhood were nuts, our cats were freaking out, the dogs were howling, and it was wearing on the nerves, even though we weren't afraid. Our daughter was in Kokee park which is the highest elevation on the island that one can drive to, she was there for her acting work shop. Even they were woke up at 6 am and told to call home. There is no cell phone reception up there and just ONE phone belonging to the Dept of Education that goes to the facility there where they were staying.
My husband went to the store after he made coffee - and good thing because he realized that if we were STUCK...he would run out. He was also going to try to get gas, but if they were open the lines were 1/2 mile long. So, we spent $100 we had not planned to spend this month, but it all seemed to go smooth. The store was busy but not over crowded, except that it was 6:30 in the morning.
He also told me that the outlook for the falls, which is at about 150 ft elevation was jammed packed full of tourists cars, people just sitting in them, waiting. Everyone was evacuated from the low lying areas. Actually, although nothing significant happened, the State of Hawaii has to be proud of how we evacuated every single person from every place below the 3rd level of a building in the entire street. The beach in Waikiki was completely empty!
So, after the waves went by, and it was cool to watch the sea level changes (about 3-4 feet) and some damage to at least one harbor on island of Maui, we passed out and slept from the All Clear at 2 pm until dinner about 7 pm. Needless to say we were exhausted. And then yesterday (Sunday) our daughter came home and she was full of energy and both my husband and I are still tired. That weird stress that comes from the "I don't know" part of it, I think just zaps your body. Plus everyone called to tell us, like people in Wisconsin and my brother in CA and my husband's kids. Not my kids though. My daughter called from Kokee to make sure we stayed home, and I left a message for my daughter in CA not to worry, besides she's been through this with us before about 15 years ago.
So I'm doing ok today. I just could have really done without the monthly 11:45 am test. It happens every month. But after hearing those sirens every half hour from 6 am to 11:30 am, I really think they might have been able to give us a break today, I mean, we definitely KNOW they work.
I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky tumbling down
I feel my heart start to trembling
Whenever you're around
Oh, baby, when I see your face
Mellow as the month of May
Oh, darling, I can't stand it
When you look at me that way
I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky tumbling down
I feel my heart start to trembling
Whenever you're around
Oh, darling, when you're near me
And you tenderly call my name
I know that my emotions
Are something that I just can't tame
I've just got to have you, baby
I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky tumbling down, tumbling down
I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky tumbling down, tumbling down
I just lose control
Down to my very soul
I get hot and cold all over
I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky tumbling down
Tumbling down
Tumbling down
Tumbling down
Tumbling down
Music and Lyrics - Carole King
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Why I'm here
Well, I'm not a stay at home mom. That's not the right words. I'll just say I'm done working.
Besides, my youngest child is a teenager now. I remember when I was pregnant with her, definitely not looking like I was in my twenties, possibly looking like in my late thirties, and working as a waitress, the only kind of job a haole can get in Hawaii, and giving dirty looks and waving the menu at people who were smoking (before the smoking ban) and 8 months pregnant with what turned out to be a nine pound baby girl, having a difficult time carrying those plates more than one at a time, and having some not so bright tourist (most are not that bright to begin with anyhow, or they wouldn't come to this rainy island) ask me a stupid question like "is this your first baby?" Uh, lady, I'm 42 years old, no, this is not my first baby, this is my LAST baby!
And the Friday before Christmas was my last day at work, and I remember walking out of there and barely able to get behind the steering wheel of my car, thinking to myself, "I'm done working". And that's it. I started when I was 16, I wrapped presents in a major department store. I worked all those years, I answered dispatch phones for the CHP, for a couple decades, listening to every single person who was screaming at me either because they crashed their car, or it was missing. And then I moved to Hawaii and became a waitress. Everyone should have to be a waitress sometime in their life. It requires basic common sense, legs that look good in short shorts, and the ability to balance plates. I did that for 5 1/2 years, and at 8 1/2 months pregnant, I said, "you know, I'm done working now".
Besides, my youngest child is a teenager now. I remember when I was pregnant with her, definitely not looking like I was in my twenties, possibly looking like in my late thirties, and working as a waitress, the only kind of job a haole can get in Hawaii, and giving dirty looks and waving the menu at people who were smoking (before the smoking ban) and 8 months pregnant with what turned out to be a nine pound baby girl, having a difficult time carrying those plates more than one at a time, and having some not so bright tourist (most are not that bright to begin with anyhow, or they wouldn't come to this rainy island) ask me a stupid question like "is this your first baby?" Uh, lady, I'm 42 years old, no, this is not my first baby, this is my LAST baby!
And the Friday before Christmas was my last day at work, and I remember walking out of there and barely able to get behind the steering wheel of my car, thinking to myself, "I'm done working". And that's it. I started when I was 16, I wrapped presents in a major department store. I worked all those years, I answered dispatch phones for the CHP, for a couple decades, listening to every single person who was screaming at me either because they crashed their car, or it was missing. And then I moved to Hawaii and became a waitress. Everyone should have to be a waitress sometime in their life. It requires basic common sense, legs that look good in short shorts, and the ability to balance plates. I did that for 5 1/2 years, and at 8 1/2 months pregnant, I said, "you know, I'm done working now".
About Me
- hulamama
- I do yoga to keep from shrinking and from losing my mind. I don't say "Om", and I usually listen to morning music.
2 comments:
I wasn't worried. You guys are on a mountain, thunder/lightning are more of a threat than a tsunami.
Natural disaster alerts are so common over there and usually nothing happens. I'm glad everyone is okay, although not in Chile.
Remember we had that one when we lived in that big house on the North Shore. I was pregnant, but must not have been too far along, because I remember running up the stairs to turn on the tv to find out what the siren was for. Then I had to go to work and listen to stranded tourists all day ask how long "these things" usually last.......
The only thing about it that caused stress was the sirens every 1/2 hour. THAT was a bit much, particularly for where we live. I mean, its not coming up here, and the road was closed right at the falls, just in case we didn't hear them and tried to go to the beach.
It was actually rather boring....although Guy Hagi had a good time release film of the whole thing and there was about a 3 ft change in sea level in Hilo Bay (Canoe Beach), and also reported that the whales all left out to sea.
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