| The 6.6 Hawaii earthquake October 15, just a tad | | | | Island was lost to approximately 45,000 people, |
| after seven am in the morning was on Kona side of | | | | 58,000 on Maui, and 291,000 on Oahu. Lines formed |
| the Big Island of Hawaii, we live on Hilo side. I got up | | | | down the block at ABC Stores on Oahu, people |
| to get my morning coffee, and being a Southern | | | | were allowed in by fours to purchase water, snack |
| California native, as the house began to shake I | | | | items and batteries. They also lined up at Subways |
| knew exactly what it was. Our house seemed to | | | | to get food before they ran out. Other restaurants |
| breath with the movement as major beams shifted | | | | tried to sell their goods quickly because of the loss of |
| and stressed. We could hear crackling throughout the | | | | refrigeration.Newscasters requested that people not |
| house as the hanging lamps swayed. The Big Island | | | | drive their cars or use their phones. Outgoing flights |
| has an active volcano so we experience small | | | | were cancelled but people still flocked to the airport |
| earthquakes tremors quite often, but a 6.6 is quite a | | | | perhaps wishing for a quick retreat. The nearest |
| hefty jolt.Our little animals, Gracie, Charlotte (the | | | | town to us is Pahoa, less than two miles away. We |
| cats) and Maxwell (the dog) kind of freaked out. | | | | had no idea how the main-street shops, built around |
| While the ground was shaking I saw Charlotte by the | | | | the twenties, had fared. I drove through it yesterday |
| window looking frantically into the house as if to | | | | though and it all looked as quaint as ever. I did not |
| say,"HEY! Do you see what is going on out here? | | | | talk to shop owners to see if there was damage I |
| LET ME IN! I PROMISE not to eat Iki!! " (the bird).I | | | | had not noticed. The Post Office was as packed as |
| could only stand there under the doorway of | | | | usual so I guess life goes on in Pahoa past the Hawaii |
| protection not knowing just how bad the quake | | | | earthquake.The local news now shows pictures of |
| might become. After the second aftershock we | | | | roads with huge cracks and even a historic church |
| went outside to connect with Gracie, Maxwell and | | | | made of stone now crumbled in a heap. A Hospital |
| especially Charlotte. They were all very needy and | | | | was forced to move patients to another facility due |
| wanted special pats and attention. Hours later they | | | | to earthquake damage. One question that remains |
| seemed to have forgotten the whole ordeal.News | | | | unanswered is what the affect this will have on our |
| reports interviewed a lot of people who worried we | | | | active volcano if any.Last night, October 16th we had |
| had been hit by North Korea. Tourists ran from the | | | | a 'huge' thunder and rain storm. News alerts |
| beaches to higher ground, worried about a tsunami, | | | | broadcasted flash flood alerts. You might imagine, Iki |
| which was probably a very good idea. No tsunami | | | | (the bird), Maxwell (the dog), Gracie and especially |
| was to be expected it was later announced.Television | | | | Charlotte (the cats) had a very restless night and |
| stations were down except for a couple. News | | | | probably wonder if the Hawaii earthquake was |
| began to come in speaking only of minor degrees of | | | | causing the sky to fall. Not to worry though I just |
| damage to houses and roads with fallen trees, in time | | | | fed them a lovely breakfast and everyone seems |
| that evaluation would elevate.The power on Big | | | | fine, including Iki (the bird). |