By Jill Steele
Author "Blood on the Orchids"
Owner Hawaiian Magic Tropical Flowers
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| Kapoho Bay May 29 |
After an impassioned plea from local surf shop owner Jeff Hunt, on behalf of the community, our beloved beach park known to locals as Pohoiki, was opened on Memorial Day for the day. We drove up and saw the packed parking lot after passing through a National Guard checkpoint. Fortunately, we had identification placards and gained entry with no trouble. Others, meaning residents of the surrounding lower Puna communities, stood on long lines for placards at the Pahoa Community Center. I walked on the ancient coastline path, called the ala Kahakai trail, to 2nd Bay to watch my son catch waves. I sat on a log swing and watched the surfers, enjoying the breeze.
I overheard someone say, “What are the kids and moms going to do this summer if the beach isn’t open?”
My favorite lifeguard said, “If today goes well… we’ll see.”
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| Photo Courtesy Brad Lewis |
Everyday chores seem unnecessary but we must carry on with only what is most essential for living. My husband said, “Neither of us are normal now. We are different versions of ourselves.”
Not always a better version, I think, remembering some arguments we’ve had recently that we would not have had under normal circumstances. I’m sure people wonder why we live here after seeing us face a series of extreme events the past few years, which include a hurricane and another volcanic eruption.
Because I can’t focus, I take my dog for a walk. Most of the homes I pass are empty now, some being second and third homes or vacation rentals. One ambitious owner has continued building throughout this lava event. I’m sure people wonder why we live here with the destruction of our home by weather or lava always present.
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| Photo Courtesy Brad Lewis |
The event we’ve anticipated for days has come to pass and we lost power and phone service simultaneously this afternoon. I experienced momentary panic to being cut off from the world. We turned on the radio and heard nothing about the lava, no emergency broadcast. My husband got out the generator, which had been in its box since the days of Hurricane Iselle. I was at a loss for what to do while my husband banged around, moving the refrigerator to plug in the cords. I was scared to look at the mess behind it. The house is silent now, but not for long. The generator is unnervingly loud and made my heart beat faster and not in a good way. My dog Luna doesn’t like the noise either. We are in a new phase of this crisis and are now camping in our home.
**The above was written only hours before we were ordered by Civil Defense to evacuate in the middle of the night. After dazedly packing our cars, we joined the caravan of evacuees driving on the newly paved, formerly dirt Beach Road along the Puna coast, through the neighboring community of Hawaiian Beaches. We have safely landed at the home of our good friends. More soon.
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