Skeeter Davis

Skeeter Davis was Originally Posted on February 28, 2004 by lavarock

There is an old country song and the title of it fits last nights’ adventure. The song is called “The End of the World”.

Yesterday, the Hawaiian Islands were hit by a big storm. Oahu had flooding while we on the Big Island were only experiencing wind gusts. Then after dark, the rain started. Then then lightning and thunder. Rain in the tropics is common but thunder and lightning are rarer than most other places. For these to happen it helps to have both hot AND cold air.

From the safety of the house, I watched lighning travel across the sky sideways. As I write this on Saturday morning, there is a loud rumble of thunder and a bright flash of lightning. The rain is starting to pick up again after a few hours of drizzle.

Yesterday before the storm I started cutting down some trees which were growing under the power lines and telephone and cable lines. It’s a good thing too as I very well would have lost power. The trees would have knocked down the lines; I’m sure of it!

Kailua-Kona town lost power last night, both hotels appear to have lost electric power for a while and for a while, at least one hotel was running on reduced voltage (less than 120 volts). That means that many of the flourescent lights wont start. One hotel lost their hotel voicemail and I hear that the TV’s were not working. Also without a lot of power, the bars can’t operate, so visitors had it worse than the locals I assume. I did get a report that visitors and guests were taking it in stride and were not hollering and screaming at the inconvenience(sp).

At 7am I received a call that the crew of 4 would be cancelling today. I was supposed to have some trees cleared from the property today, however, lava can be very slippery when wet and it is starting to storm today.

They closed some roads south of here due to flooding, but at least here in Captain Cook, the lava is very pourous and lets the water filter right on through.

I have a coffee council meeting today and have not heard that it is cancelled. I’m sure that many people will not be there. In my case, I got very little sleep overnight and was out getting drenched trying to get a tarp up to divert water from a broken gutter. However, there will be doughnuts and fresh, hot Kona Coffee!