RAiN

Wahiawa: Place of rain. When we lived in Haleiwa, we wondered what "rainy season" meant, since a pleasant light drizzle would greet us in the morning and then the sun would smile down all day. Then we moved directly up the hill to Wahiawa. The highest point on the island, it also gets a heckuva lotta rain. Will it ever stop?!?

Then last night the storm rolled in. Not just a storm: a gale with 60mph winds. At my hula practice earlier that evening, people living in Haleiwa were talking about trees and poles falling over that day. So when I came home, I suggested we move our plants to a safe area before the storm worsens. As we went outside, our big fica tree was already attempting to lunge over the lanai railing. At 2:30am we awoke to a huge gust of wind and rain. I mean, crazy wind and rain, where even in the pitch black of night the sky is white like snow because of the beating rain. Being on the 4th floor and pretty much unprotected from any other kind of structure, our house is a direct bullseye for any conspiring wind. The windows were all rattling and such, and by morning we were sleeping "ohana"-style": everyone in the same bed. The giant, mature tree in front of our condo danced like a belly dancer in full swing. It catapulted a section of itself toward the ground.

As we sleepily looked off our lanai this morning, we saw there was a section in the grassy area next to our building that was flattened. Apparently a microburst landed right near us. We also saw the section of the tree that had fallen pinched between two cars. How the cars missed even being scratched is beyond me. I thought to myself, those guys must feel so lucky. But then I saw one of the owners looking upset at her car. I mentioned how lucky she is not to have her car damaged, but she gave me a look of annoyance and explained how often her car is the victim of damage in that stall. It made me think how important it is to be grateful for the times we are watched out for.

So back to the rain. It looks like we have heavy rain for the next week. Whoopde-doo. I'm ready for sunshine and surfing and playgrounds and outside time!!!! (However, everything is so green here, so i guess the rain is a blessing...)