Iselle and Julio, Isolated...

the Hawai'ian Islands are the most isolated group of islands in the 

world.  In a lot of ways this is a good thing...the protected beauty of

these islands, much slower pace, and the aloha spirit.

 There are times like now with hurricanes, Iselle and Julio bearing down on

us that we realize just how isolated we are.  People here take

things like this very seriously.  If the power goes out (like it did once for 3 days) that

means no water pumping at the treatment stations.  So we buy water and 

fill bathtubs with water to flush the toilet.  Always fill up the gas tank because

if the ships can't get here there won't be gas.  People laugh "it's an island, where 

are you going to go?".  Might be, but it could take over a week for gasoline

to get here.  That's why there's always a run on toilet paper.

Being so isolated has made the state put together emergency plans.  These plans

really do seem to work.  I think one of the biggest reason is that people

take it seriously and they work together.

We live on a very small speck in a HUGE ocean,

but being so isolated has taught us...

"plan for the worst, hope for the best"

I'm glad that's exactly what we did.

Iselle and Julio, We're Ready...

last night a couple of boys from church (thanks Stuart & Max) came by

and took down our tarp.  Lawn chairs are put away.  Got extra propane.

Rubbish cans will be taken in.  I think we're ready.  We haven't boarded

windows, hope that's ok.

Iselle and Julio continue their march towards Hawaii.  Thinking about our

friends on the Big Island.  They're going to get hit the worst.  Praying for them.

A few observations...

I can't figure out why they haven't cancelled school over here on Oahu. Bus service

is cancelled starting tonight at midnight.  We were told yesterday to un-plug everything

today before leaving.  Not sure what they're waiting for.

Water and Spam have disappeared off the shelves.  That and toilet paper.

People wonder why tp?  If the ships can't get here because of stormy seas...

no tp

Different than tsunami.  Right away start loading and getting out and the sirens...

With this there's so much time to prepare, there's no reason not to be or not

to take it seriously.

About 8 years ago, there was a big storm one December.  The winds came on

suddenly.  Terry and I were out in the middle of the night taking down the tarp.

The next morning, the reports were that there were gusts of 85 mph coming down

off Mt. Ka'ala.  I remember what it looked like the next morning and

the sounds of it that night.

Praying for Hawi'i

Iselle and Julio, Expecting The Worst ...

Yesterday hubby got us some more water, new batteries and 

a few more cans of soup.  We'll get bread and fill up the cars today.  We're good.

On the news last night they showed the long lines at Costco.

People take this very seriously.

Since we don't have any "picture windows" just jalousies, windows should be good.

A few of the boys from church are coming today to take down the tarp for us.

Last night my friend Laura posted a picture of her supplies.

She asked the question, "who eats this stuff?" my answer,

"Hawaiians getting ready for a natural disaster".

Times like these are when canned food is appreciated.

last nights sky was so pretty.  We were watching it change colors

in our kitchen.  My friend Gloria got the perfect picture of it.

Is this the calm before the storm?

this morning the sky is cloudy with maybe the first clouds on the 

edge of it.  Surf on the east side is going to be 20+ feet they say.

Big Island is going to get pounded.  

"Expect the worst and hope for the best"

this is what we're doing.