Monday, March 14, 2011

Tsunami Days

ALOHA Dear Friend!

The "Morning After"
Friday 11 March 2011


<>



During times of peril, adrenalin flows.
It is in the hours and days afterwards
that feelings creep (or SWEEP!) back in.

In comparison with what
the Japanese people have endured
and continue to face
we here in Hawaii are remarkably lucky.
Our hearts cry for them.

Of course, grabbing everything you need
and abandoning your home while sirens wail
(especially three times in a year: Feb 2010 Chile Quake/Tsunami Warning,
our boat suddenly taking on water
at 3am a couple of months ago,
and now this. . . )
takes it's toll.

Immediately afterwards, one is thrilled to be alive
and intact.
Gratitude is overwhelming!
My Hawaii, my dear island, is still here!
Beautiful mundane life!

The stuff we all worry about takes a holiday 
as we count our blessings
and send our Aloha to our Japanese friends.



Hawaii wouldn't be the Hawaii we know
without the Japanese people and their culture.
They are our neighbors, a big chunk of our "local" food and culture,
and they make up a large portion of our visitors. 
Many local people work, or regularly visit Japan,
and we are beginning to hear from those still there:
our business people, hula dancers,
and entertainers, are OK.
But for us this is no "far away thing."


It is beyond gut wrenching to watch.

Meanwhile, here in the islands,
the Coast Guard reports 10 boats sunk
(under-count!)
Several of our harbors have lost docks,
boats are strewn about like toys,
and a home, washed into Kealakekua Bay 
(on the Big Island of Hawaii)
floated about,
and has sunk beneath the waves.
Further up that coast, sidewalks washed away in Kailua-Kona
and at least two hotels there remain closed.

It is the aftershocks that are worrying.
What if we must run again?

The original warning was issued at 9:30pm last Thursday evening.
Waves were predicted for Hawaii starting at 3am. 
Off shore were a thousand points of light:
boats riding out the threat.
It was something I've never seen before.
(As reported in my previous post, 
we were in a hotel nearby.)

That was a sleepless night for the whole state,
and many of us are still a bit zombie-fied. 
Waking on Friday morning after 2 hours sleep,
we were thrilled to see masts in the (intact) harbor below our hotel window,
and the sea still swimming with dozens
and dozens of boats
remaining off shore.



Tsunami effects lingered in Waikiki on Friday.
Several times over the course of an hour,
the water would recede FAR out, exposing sea bed,
then rush back in.
Our famous reef provides some protection from the sea,
but even here in the Ala Wai Harbor,
the water eddied, swirled and ran strangely,
kicking up dirt that has since settled on all the rocks.
Several times, our boat, and all the others,
went down down DOWN
(lower than low tide) then back up - 
all in a matter of moments.
Our deck was wedged under the dock as the waters rose,
and we might have "flipped"
but the rubber "bumper" bolted to the dock
bent and released us
fortunately.


AT&T claims the cell phone (mobile) system was oft overwhelmed
Thursday evening, but never "down."

It is difficult to return to "normal."
Especially as the situation remains unresolved in Japan,
and another major quake could occur at any time.

I still remember the howls of hurricane Iniki's winds ('92)
it's waters rushing over the streets,
and fish swimming through them,
while the palms shrieked and rattled side-ways. 

The tsunami's effects 
are now part of my life-memory too.

It seems difficult to take normal activities seriously,
I think most of us are still in some shock,
especially as news continues to come in.

With the nuclear threat, this thing is not over,
and another tsunami could be generated.
There were over 20 aftershocks over Richter 5
today in Japan! 

So I'm keeping it together.
Normal is still down the road a bit.

Thank YOU for looking in, and for your concern.
It means a lot. . .

       Bless us every one! cloudia


























32 comments:

Dina said...

So good to have you back. Thanks for articulating all this so well.
Shaloha, Sista.

Jeannie said...

So glad that things didn't turn out so devastating for all of you there. I wonder - the news of what happened following the tsunami in Indonesia died out before very long and there are few updates out there. Life has changed there for many of the people in what little we've heard. How long will Japan remain news before the next disaster or celebrity melt down takes our attention away? And I wonder when it will be our turn to suffer and become famous for 15 minutes then watch as the world turns away when we aren't done needing yet.

Commander Zaius said...

I think most of us are still in some shock,especially as news continues to come in.
With the nuclear threat, this thing is not over,and another tsunami could be generated.


Isn't there a Chinese curse about hoping someone lives in interesting times? Looks like things are going to be very interesting for a long time to come.

irinapictures said...

I am so sorry Cloudia. And pray for our little fragile planet.

Friko said...

Brave girl, go on keeping it together.
Here's wishing you, and all people round the im, an end to the nightmare soon.

Rosaria Williams said...

We are never as close a universe as on days when we look at those waves and know our entire way of life is at stake. Glad to know you are getting back to normal.

Hilary said...

Thanks for keeping us posted, Cloudia. I sure hope there are no further significant aftershocks and tsunamis. Or explosions in Japan. What a nightmare.

Daliana Pacuraru said...

Thanks God you are ok!
I was thinking about you and about my friends in Japan!
http://paulocoelhoblog.com/2011/03/13/we-pray-for-japan/

Photographis

nanny said...

I am so happy that Hawaii didn't suffer from the awful tsunami....
Praying for all in Japan....

Anonymous said...

You always make life feel a bit better, safer. Please have you all a good Tuesday.


daily athens

Hattie said...

We're still very shaky here.On that emotional roller coaster. If you know people in the Northwest, tell them to get iodine tablets for the children, as fallout may be going there. This is an emergency that touches us all and is not going to let up any time soon.

Myrna R. said...

Bless you and your family Cloudia. Thank you for the up date and the sharing of your heart.

Anonymous said...

Yes, Cloudia. Do take care of yourself. I am thinking of you and Tom.

Anonymous said...

Mahalo for your news! I saw the Hawaii TV videos of the water in and out: very spooky and powerful scenes. Did your boat ever sit on the sand? Hope Pirate Kitty isn't just hiding! Hand in there! DrumMajor

Unknown said...

So sad I am for the people of Japan and thankful that you are spared.

Donna said...

Such an interesting gut-wrenching post...thanks for sharing this important event.

Feisty Crone said...

Praying for you daily, galpal. Well written post, as always.

Indrani said...

Glad to know all is well at your place.

Windsmoke. said...

Fantastic post Cloudia glad to hear you and your family are ok and trying to get back to normal and that your boat survived unscathed. The Hawaiian gods were looking after the people of Hawaii on this day. Take care my Dearest Cloudia :-).

foongpc said...

I am praying for the people in Japan. It's a nightmare and the nightmare is still ongoing. Hope everything will turn out well soon.

Thank God Hawaii did not get hit by the tsunami that badly. Hope everything is Ok in Hawaii.

bichonpawz said...

I continue to pray for those in Japan...so much devastation...so many lives lost...so much heartbreak. Please take care Cloudia...it must be so difficult for all of you there in Hawaii as well. Thankful that you were spared damage to your boat and you and your family are safe.
Hugs,
Jeanne

claude said...

I am happy the tsunami did not touch your Beautiful Island and our frenchs ones. It is very terrible what is happened in Japan.
So many dead people and so many destructions. A very negativ thing, others country are going to help Japan. Some french firemen left the country to look for the many bodies who are in the ruines.

Full-On-Forward said...

Hugs and Prayers still heading your way from Us!

John & Sandi

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

A very tough days ahead for the world as what happen soon after New Zealand, then Japan ... Sad.
There are still after shocks of the quake in Japan.
Please be safe.

Anonymous said...

Oh goodness, what an experience! The mundane is wonderful after such a crisis.

The situation in Japan is gut-wrenching... my thoughts go out to those kind people.

Laura said...

Holding you in my heart Cloudia. I cannot imagine the fear and shock you are experiencing with so many others. I am grateful that you are safe my dear.

Betty Manousos said...

I am so happy that Hawaii didn't suffer from that awful disaster-tsunami.

So sad for those in Japan affected by the earthquake.

I've been thinking of you, dear friend!

Hugs
Aloha!!!
B xx

Cloudia said...

Your visits here are more consolation than you can know. Thank
Y O U!

Kay said...

Thank you for this fabulous post, Cloudia. It says it all for us in Hawaii. I was surprised at how much damage Hawaii did sustain because at first I thought we hardly had anything.

Reader Wil said...

Thanks for sharing these experiences. Is your boat still in a reasonable condition? I hope you will all be spared another tsunami now. All day long there are experts telling about the nuclear power plants and the disaster in Japan.

Tammie Lee said...

I am so glad to hear that you are ok!

Pietro Brosio said...

Thanks for this detailed description, Cloudia. You're right, the tsunami effects become part of the life.