Index...MENU ..MENU2...Date of Artmail pages..............Updated: 2-20-06....................................................3.
Iniki pages: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
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A lot of memorable things happened during and after, but the connection with my Hurricane Iniki experience happened just after the eye of Hurricane Floyd. Julie stayed in the motel while Scott and I drove around to a shopping center to buy some food. The large parking lot was almost empty. Among entrances to the parking lot, there was one that went between two large buildings. We were parked to one side about 50 yards away, able to see the wall of one of the buildings bordering the entrance.
The eye had passed and the winds were starting while we were still in the parked van. We watched debris starting to blow through the entrance into the parking lot, but we were not in its path. I made an observation that with all that junk blowing through the entrance, it seldom crashed into the wall…like there was an invisible cushion or barrier. It wasn't a very powerful hurricane. When we were leaving Key West, "I Partied With Hurricane Floyd" T-shirts were already for sale. Anyway, I made a comment like, "We're rehearsing for a real hurricane," then looked around for some wood to knock on. There wasn't any in the van handy. "No wood…doesn't matter. I live on Kauai, I know there will be a hurricane…sometime."
Iniki was it.
Here are some more background observations: People who love the surf, seldom get bored when surf is in view or sound. The beach and the surf are in constant motion, but most people miss the activity of the short cycles. Polihale can be like a lake in the summer or be pounded by huge breakers creating a roar in the winter. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to experience all the changes, day-by-day, for several years.
Iniki pages: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12