Higher Grounds

It's really not funny, and it shouldn't be a joke, but when this keeps happening it's hard to not call Hawaii "The Boy Who Cried Wolf". Last night there was (yet another) Tsunami here in Hawaii. Luckily the waves came and went and all it had to show for itself was a little 3 foot rolling puddle-baby-wave. Even the Geophysicist tracking the storm commented, "I was expecting it to be a little bigger".  I heard several people, myself included, saying "this time it feels different" or "I really think this one is going to happen".  Locals, students, church authorities alike all were "pretty positive" that "this one was different". Over 100,000 people evacuated their homes.  News charts were marking it 3/4. 4/4, and 4/4 for likelihood, how soon, and how severe (respectively). All stores, restaurants, hotels, and theaters were shut down on the island. It was going to happen.

Here's Why:

1) Time

The first warnings popped up online around 8pm, only 2.5 hours before the first wave was supposed to hit. Evacuation was initiated around 8:30pm. There was very little warning, and very little information available. Even the scientists couldn't figure this one out. 

Originally the ETA of the first wave was later. Then, after further research, they moved it up to 10:30. The speed of this bad-boy brought concern along with it. 

2) Location

The earthquake that struck Queen Charlotte Island on Canada's coast is located directly NE of Oahu. That's directly facing the Kahuku/Laie/Hauula face of North Shore. Normally the Earthquakes come from SE or SW and either way they strike, they have several non-residential islands to tumble over before reaching us. This slows the waves down and wears them out before they get to the Hawaiian Islands. And even then, if it still reaches Hawaii, Oahu is way up north and North Shore is even further. By the time the wave hits us it's just a receded-hairline of the ocean's tide. No wave. 

Well, last night, that sucker was coming right at us. 

3) Magnitude

    7.7 Earthquake? That's some big boy stuff. 

4) Feelings

We all "felt" different. Not all, I guess I shouldn't say ALL. Some people were very calm. Some people stayed right on the beach until the last possible minute. But the majority seemed confident that this one was different. 

Here's how I was feeling:

When I first heard --- thought it was a prank. (calm)

3 minutes later and with the help of Google --- awh maaaaaaaan (calm)

10 minutes later --- decided not to go to my friends show at Turtle Bay. Total let down. (eh. calm)

20 minutes later --- settled on a movie night. Alllright! (calm)

22 minutes later --- after seeing the direction of the wave, and in the same moment that the first siren went off, the switch flipped. (not calm) It was a "This just got real" kinda thing. I was with friends from 2 "groups" I s'pose you could say, and they all wanted to go to their respective homes to have a Tsunami party lockdown. Both homes were in safe locations; high grounds, Priesthood holders, fun times sure to be had. I picked one and we were off to prepare before buckling down in our safe-houses. 

I couldn't find Kendra. My best friend's cousin is going to school out here and I had already been called by him and his mom asking if I was with her. I couldn't get ahold of her because the phone lines were down, slammed with calls home and warning texts to friends. In a final attempt to find her I drove to her house. Sure enough she was there with her roommate and an empty backpack asking what she should take with her. I remembered my first Tsunami Warning and how weird it was looking at all my stuff and wondering the same thing. I remembered walking around Laie looking for a house to camp-out in. I remembered playing games and watching movies until just before the first wave, and we finally decided it'd be safer over at TVA. I remember being the only ones on the street as Erin and I walked over to a friend's 2nd story apartment and found our 2 foot spot on the floor to get cozy in. I remembered waiting up all night long, 4am coming, no wave coming, 4am passing, 5am, 6am... and then finally walking back home by myself because it clearly was safe to do so, even though nobody agreed. I looked at Kendra and felt like she was me. I asked her to come with me to my friend's house, but she said they were going to the hill behind the Temple. They were pretty set on this plan. I didn't want to leave but I had already told my friend I'd be there soon, so I got back in my car.

The instant the warning came, cars flooded to the gas station. It seems to be the most popular thing to do in times of crisis. Every time. Right when I heard about the Tsunami I had the same idea of getting gas, but only because I knew in the panic everyone would dry-out the supply and that I'd be stuck with 1/4 tank all week. Too late. Only 30 minutes in and the street was stopped with cars lined up like hot-wheels to get gas. Cars squeezing into every nook and cranny, fighting to get in, inching their way closer to that gold-pot of gasoline, the most desired procession (right after water). Well... I guess I don't need gas. Foodland was jam-packed with humans running around to scrounge up that 72 hour kit they almost made for FHE last month. By the time we got there, though, it was closed. Well.... I guess I don't need have water.

I dropped some boys off at their home and then headed to mine to grab a few supplies. I was nervous. I was sure this wave was coming. I was sure that it was going to be big. I got to my shack and looked around and everything and nothing thinking "I KNOW what to do. I've done it before" but not being able to focus enough to actually do anything. I called a friend off-island and told them how I was really feeling.  They had one suggestion; to pray. As soon as I did, my nerves were put to rest and I looked at my shack again only this time it was simple. Bag here, jacket there, throw it together and go. Oh, and I'm not going to my friend's anymore. I'm going back to Laie and climbing the mountain behind the Temple with Kendra. It's the safest place to be. 

Here's what's crazy. I really was sure that this wave was coming. I really was positive that it was going to be big. My mind was so set on this and now that I wasn't nervous anymore, I was ready. When I left my shack I looked back into it and genuinely thought it was the last time I'd see my things. A deck of cards fell off the shelf and scattered everywhere and my initial reaction was to leave it because it would be washed away soon. (I picked it up, because I'm OCD.) As I left I thought, "Well ok. That's it." and hopped in my car and drove away. I can't explain it any better than to say that I was 98.42% sure that I would never see that shack again. It wouldn't stand a chance against a 30 foot wave. When we got to Laie I couldn't find anywhere to park. I started high and worked my way down and finally found a spot at the bottom of the hill. 3 days ago I spent $1300 of my mission fund to repair that car, and there was no way my cousin would pay me back for a flooded/broken/Tsunami'd car. But there was nowhere else to park... I was as high as I could get. As I walked away from the car I was pretty sure that it was done for. Again I thought, "Well ok. That's it." and started hiking up the mountain. 

no wave

3 hours later I'm driving back home in my dry, functioning car, still untouched by the ocean. I come home to a shack that's still standing strong. I walk in and see all of my things exactly as I left them. Deck of cards neatly back on it's shelf. My clean laundry stacked up, my bed, my mini fridge, check check check it's all there. 

As I was unpacking my bag I was surprised by what I found. When I threw things into it a few hours earlier I wasn't really thinking. I was so relaxed after I prayed that I was easily grabbing items and tossing them in while planning my next move. I wasn't exactly thinking about what I was grabbing. Out of everything I own, this is all that I took with me:

My mission call

Book of Mormon

Hymn book

A little knick-knack that is special to me

Lighter/pocketknife/headlamp

My license and some cash

Clothes that I can work in. 

When it comes down to it - that's all I need. That's all I want. There is a simple message in each of those items. And together, they are my testimony. 

I know where I'm going.

I know what I believe

I sing it with all my heart

I hold dear the relationships I've been blessed with

I am prepared for whatever comes my way

I know who I am

I'm ready to serve 

I'm extremely grateful that no damage was done. The thing is, there is SO much spirit here, and SO many people praying for safety, and SO many people back home in all parts of the world praying for our safety, that it seems impossible for it all to be wiped out by a wave. When I was checking the status updates on BYUH's facebook page I smiled when I saw all the comments from New Zealand, Tahiti, French Polynesia, Tonga, Australia, and the US. Hundreds of cars found their way to the grass beside the Temple. Hundreds and Hundreds of people made their way up that mountain side. There were babies sleeping in make-shift beds, elderly snuggled together in lawn chairs, students huddled together on top of blankets, and families circled together in prayer. There were guitars, and ukuleles, and voices singing from all sides. Food was shared, water was passed around. The view overlooking Laie at night was beautiful, and the rainbow ring around the moon caught everyone in a moment's trance. 

I am so glad that I went to the hill behind the Temple. I'm so glad that I took this joke of a Tsunami Drill so seriously because it reminded me of what really matters. I love living here and I love this community. I love the Aloha Spirit and the Spirit of the gospel. I love how they bring us all together. Sometimes we don't need the storm to hit before we get the message. Sometimes the message in the preparation. 

LIFE IS GOOD!