Well, that was close! Hurricane Douglas took a northwesterly tour above the island chain on July 26th, and we lucked out… again. Storms/hurricanes Kenneth (2005), Flossie (2007), Felicia (2009), Iselle (2014), Darby (2016), Madeline (2016), Lane (2018) all showed “big body” but then huffed and puffed their ways pretty much around us. Stiff wind shears and cooler waters in our midst are two factors that historically mitigate westward-heading storms that we normally see. But beware the next one, or the tempest that approaches from the south. Ignorance is not bliss.
While we all lament the high pressure this unforgiving coronavirus is causing, thank goodness for the high pressure system that encircles our islands and usually deflects or denigrates approaching hurricanes that emanate in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Yet our ocean waters appear warmer than in recent years, and our high-pressure winds have shifted a bit; thus we appear more vulnerable to a direct strike this year, or next year, or… well, you get the picture. Dot (August, 1959), Iwa (November, 1982), and Iniki (September, 1992) proved that while we’re truly a tiny speck in a vast ocean, shift happens. It would be foolish to let our guard down and not prepare well as these summer/autumn natural events take shape. Because rest unassured, we will be hit again, at some level, some day.
Iwilei Costco was not a madhouse right before Douglas’ flight arrived (everyone already has toilet paper and water supplies from COVID-19 hoarding). Shelters had some issues- there are too few in number, and volunteers were possibly scared away amid social distancing concerns). Perhaps the overall lack of Douglas panic can be explained by the state we’re all in right now- fragile, fatigued, world weary, and by the sense that “really… with COVID- 19 cases on the rise and so many concerns about health, school, the economy, and our futures, we really have to deal with nature’s nautical tease!?” Shelter in place at home? That request was easy- we’ve been doing it for the last four months.
So yes, keep your guard (and your facemasks) up. As the old adage says: Man plans and God laughs. But plan we must. We have no direct control over nature, but we can maintain absolute control over ourselves and how we (re)act. We must exude hope and keep positive vibes coming, in general, because the sun always does rise tomorrow.
Think about it…