Hurricane Olivia

While we are feeling bad for those in the eastern US who are in the path of Hurricane Florence in the Atlantic we are again gratefully marveling as Hurricane Olivia reduced herself to a tropical storm which passed by us today:

The pointer is where we are in Laie.  Truly Laie has been living true to it's fame
as a city of refuge.  It has surely been a refuge from the storms this summer!
We hardly got any wind or rain from Olivia at all.

Mystery Shopping Waikiki

This weekend we had a wonderful time in Honolulu, staying at the Moana Surfrider on Waikiki.  We went to celebrate Chris's birthday and also as an assignment to do some mystery shopping at 3 hotel concierge desks.  We dressed comfy as tourists and asked the agent what their recommendations were for this island.  We wanted to see if they would promote the Polynesian Cultural Center and if they did, what they would say about it.

Sadly, none of them brought up PCC without prompting.  We have learned that concierges give you recommendations based on who pays the highest commission.  The Pleasant Holidays desk in the Moana Surfrider was positive about PCC once we brought it up but they did say that it was mostly for kids and families.  The Sheratan and Hyatt who use Expedia for their concierge were not so positive because they said there was too much to see and do there - it has to be an all day commitment.  (What's wrong with that? ha ha)  Hyatt told us they do not recommend the Polynesian Cultural Center because it is run by students and the Mormon church.  Ouch.

Here is one of Surfrider's photos:  

 Moana Surfrider, the first hotel on Waikiki beach

When Chris made the reservation, he asked for the Kamaaina rate (for locals) which gives you the cheapest room in the oldest part of the hotel.   What a fun surprise though, when we went to check in they upgraded us to a suite on the third floor with two balconies.  Chris mentioned that if we dropped a penny off our balcony, it would land on the beach.  What a beautiful place! We enjoyed the live entertainment from the courtyard and the amazing unobstructed view of the entire beach, Diamond Head, sunset, and the water.  We watched outriggers, catamarans, surfers, and Asians on blow up toys embark and return.  

These Banyan trees are where they used to broadcast an old radio show, "Hawaii Calls"

View from our room!!  Looks like we're on a ship!

On Friday evening, as part of Chris's bday we went to the Blue Note (jazz club with our friends from Spokane, Mike and Rhonda Fosburg.  Kimie Miner was the performer.  I love her song "Bamboo"

Fosberg's on our hotel balcony

Vivie Jam

The trail to Laie Falls this weekend was lovely as ever.  I love the pine needle covered paths through the Ironwood trees.










We biked part way up and then hiked to the area of strawberry guava bushes!

We picked 6 gallon size bags full of these little fruits and carried them home to make jam.


 

25 pints of Strawberry Guava (Vivie) Jam

   

Lamed Lane the Hurricane

How amazing! Can you believe it! The storm skipped us! Its miraculous! Here in Laie they told us "Prior preparation precedes prayer." Preparation happened, prayers ascended. We braced for the craziness and waited. Today the storm went from category 3 then 2 then 1 then just a tropical storm and we hardly even got that! Amazing wind shears from our island were hitting Lane broadside, preventing him from getting closer. It was like Oahu put up it's dukes and said to him "Don't mess with me!" ha ha! We are so thankful!  

An article popped up on my phone on Tuesday which said "Not all trials are God given"  Then the words came into my mind "But all blessings and tender mercies are."  I'm sure we'll yet have storm but I'm thinking some miraculous tender mercies are happening right now as the storm is losing strength!

Today we had strong wind which died down and then we got heavy rain which died down ...so while it was somewhat calm, Chris & I took our bikes and went down to Hukilau beach to check out the waves.  We weren't the only ones checking them out!  They really aren't too impressive at the moment and the wind felt about like it feels when you stick your head out the window as you're driving down the highway...blows your cheeks back.

                                        Now you see the kids:

                               

                                  Now you don't!  Swallowed alive ha ha!

Closed beaches in a hurricane won't stop kids from playing in the water!

PS.   On Sunday (Sept 1st) Bishop Tao (a local Hawaiian who knows everything on the island) expressed his thoughts on this amazing miracle that has happened here on Oahu, telling us that this was no small thing.  He told us that the military was certain of the hurricane and removed all military ships & equipment off island so that it would be protected and they could then come in and help.  Security moved all their vehicles into the mile long H-3 tunnel to protect them.

Preparing for the hurricane

This is Hurricane Lane that we are all preparing for.
Sure makes our islands look tiny!

 As another hurricane approaches, we are told "Prior Preparation Precedes Prayer", reminding us that we can't just be lazy and pray for God to do everything, we must do all we can do to prepare as well as pray. So we have done a test of the emergency phone tree, have water stored under a table and food in the cupboard and hoping the storm doesn't hit too hard or that we lose power or get flooded out. We did our laundry and aside from the trees looking like they are doing warm-up exercises, we are just waiting.

Hector stayed south of the islands but this one (Hurricane Lane) has turned north and should be here tomorrow.  Tues Lane was a category 5 and traveling toward us at 14mph.  Yesterday it dropped to cat 4 and traveling 9mph.  We are grateful that it is moving slower and right now it is cat 3 and traveling 7mph.

Today things are fairly quiet as we wait!  This morning we went to the office and carried equipment up to Shelly's office on a 2nd floor.


BYU-H has some buildings opened for shelters, as many live in lowlands that will flood. We plan to take our car to high ground up near the temple but we live on a 2nd floor so we should be fine.  We have water in all our containers and food stashed under the table.

Our house is only about a 2 or 3 minute walk from the ocean and is also lowland (a couple feet below sea-level) We've told the Stants downstairs that they can move all their stuff into our place and come up if needed.  Darrel, has the windows boarded up to protect against projectiles.

At 4pm the hurricane siren went off which lets us know that it is a certain number of miles away.  Emergency vehicles went up and down the streets with a loud speaker telling people to prepare to evacuate if necessary.  They said something like "Attention, this is an emergency management message.  A hurricane warning is in affect.  Extremely dangerous waves, wind...flooding ...  Beaches and beach parks are closed.  Leave immediately."

I love this store handing out water!  It said "Pay if you want, free if you need"

If you go to Walmart you find out what people eat in an emergency.

Yep, no more ramen soup or mac & cheese!

Crab comparison test & Huki!

This is a scene from Huki - a canoe celebration!

They do this show on the PCC lagoon everyday 

This pic was taken by Elder Strickland.

Our Research team has been doing some more testing of this new show with
the perception analyzer equipment.  We get about 30 guests to use
dials to rate it the show...turn right all the way to the smiley face if you love it
or left all the way to the frowny face if you don't.  It's a fabulous show!

And these pics are from Mike Foley  

Crab Test

This past week we doned hairnets and went into the kitchen to talk to Chef Morales about the crab comparison test Fafita (over food and bev) requested of us.

Prime Dining Buffet is thinking of introducing a new crab.  We were able to talk to 27 people about which crab they preferred and the Snow Crab beat King Crab by a small margin. 

                A Hero story
This is Steve & Bea Chaney.  They are the sweetest couple.  Steve has been a PCC Luau musician, playing a handmade steel guitar for 23 years!  The last five of those years he has donated his time as a volunteer so that he could bring his wife with him each evening.  He also gets her ready for church every Sunday.  They attend in Hauula.  Bea was sadly diagnosed with drpla disease in 2006.  As the disease progressed, Steve assured her that he would take care of her and be there for her and he truly has done that. She can't talk but she reacts to whatever you say to her and she can let you know "yes" or "no".  Steve is so kind & loving to her.  He is truly a hero! 

Hector

An eerie pall settled over us this week as the outer ring of hurricane Hector passed by.

The hurricane hushed the sunbeams and soaked our guests in a quieted drizzle of rain, darkened sky and occasional downpours.  Hector’s eerie scene was a perfect backdrop for a huge problem that bore down on the PCC this week.  A terrible computer virus attacked and shut down email, internet for many and the cash registers!  Poor retail had to write out everything by hand!  This lasted a whole week!    Poor tech guys.  It’s good that few things are permanent in this world…not even our troubles.