Tsunami threatens Maui

Our time on Maui has been quite eventful. Its been 2 months now and we've had extreme weather, ER visits, 3rd kidneys, gecko shower intrusions, and now a tsunami. Why did we come here again...? Just kidding =)

March 11, 2011 tragedy struck in Japan when an 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Northern Japan. At 9:30pm they sounded the Tsunami warning on Maui. The tsunami was suspected to hit around 3:30am. As to be expected, the news freaked us out to panic and displayed footage of the stores and gas stations PACKED with people stocking up for the worst. But my aunt said we are high enough up a hill that we are way out of range if a tsunami were to do damage on this side of the island.

So by now I'm sure you've heard that we are fine. The tsunami came and went and no one was hurt, but evacuations were implimented for those close to the shore. So all I have for you are stories.

~The only thing my aunt warned us about was that on tsunami days we should unplug our electronics because the tsunami could cause a power outage and when the power comes back on it could cause a surge and blow out the electronics that are plugged in. So I woke up the next morning (thankfully my day off) with like 4 texts asking if I was okay, many Facebook notifications, and a lot of emails. Our internet didn't work (it goes in and out anyways), and our cable box was unplugged and would not turn back on. So I woke up in a little bit of a panic becuase I didn't know what was going on! But everyone was fine :) !

~ What I did find a little odd though was that the highway curb, which has a strict No Parking- unless emergency Law, was cluttered with cars, even about 11am. On my way home around 12pm there were less cars which is what the pics are from but it was kind of weird. I'm guessing employees had to get to work but couldn't park in the lots yet because the evcuation hadn't been lifted yet...? Not sure...

~Hula Grill was open the next day. For those who don't know, Hula Grill is located in the center of the main shopping village of Ka'anapli which is where the bulk of all tourists stay when setting up camp on the West side. All of Ka'anapali was evacuated becuase all of the hotels are oceanfront and were in danger of the tsunami. Everyone was let back to their hotel rooms around 8:30 that morning. They came back sleep deprived, stressed, and starved :-/ Not good for the employees. But like I said, it was my day off!! Wooooo. Apparentely it was the worst day most people had ever worked. Bummer.

~The tsunami hit Central Maui the most in Kahului:
Maui effected by Tsunami
Apparently a 40 pound turtle was washed up to the middle of the road in Kahului and needed help getting back to the water! Poor guy!!

~A lot of friends were evacuated and had to find places to stay for the night. Many were tired and stressed, and up all night.Others prayed. Some used it as an excuse to party and drink more. People dealt with it in their own way.

~Two days after, I did work and was asked by my table where they could get a "I survived the tsunami!" T-shirt. I didn't have an answer for them.... But Jon and I went to a craft fair today and they actually did have those shirts!

 Far away island, but still a small world

• In our last post, I explained the connection I had with someone I met at a friend's church. She and I had gone to the same Elementry School and same High School together back in Sacramento and were only one year apart.
• A friend from work named Joel mentioned he recognized my area code because he used to live in Sacramento as well. He lived in Fair Oaks, and worked at Leatherby's!! He worked there about 10 years before me and at the other location, but boy what a coincidence!
• An old acquantence from High School named Sean got in contact with us via Facebook. He had just moved to Maui in January as well! He grew up on Oahu and came back to Hawaii after college. Coincedence.
• Another friend from work named Ola is in a fairly popular band called The Throwdowns. We were chatting and he used to play at The Underground in Roseville with an old band when he went on tour and we discussed old experiences of our days there. He toured with Sherwood a lot as well. (For those totally lost, The Underground is a local concert venue hosted at a church in Roseville/Granite Bay. I used to frequent The Underground to see my brother-in-law Andrew play with his band, and Sherwood was a great band that a friend's brother was in that got pretty streamline and was signed with Myspace Records)
• I talked with one of the live musicians that plays in one of the time slots at Hula Grill during the day named Evan (haha I think it was Evan... shoot). He used to live in Truckee and we chatted about our experiences in eachother's towns.

In an island that is a melting pot with people from all over the world, it's exciting when I find someone to talk with about my hometown!

As well as hometown discussions, I continually find SO many people who live on my street here in Maui, on Hui F Road. My manager used to, one manager lives literally 2 houses away, a Hula Grill bartender, a Pineapple Grill bartender, a Plantation House busser, Joel from Hula Grill (previous Fair Oaks/Leatherby's worker), and I'm sure we'll find even more people connected to Hui F! I'm starting to understand the phrase  "it's a small island" (in regards to the people, literally that phrase is true as well :)

Jon and I have tried out a bunch of churches. Kumulani Chapel in Kapalua has been our most frequent church home. We had tried Lahaina Fellowship Church as well but didn't connect to it well. Every Sunday Night I've been going to my friend Sarah's church over in Kahului after I get off of work- which is about a 45min- 1hour drive from Hula Grill. I've LOVE the worship. It's the loud rock music kind of worship that lets you feel like you can let loose and just scream out to your God insetad of being self conscious of very quiet or off key worship music. It is called Ke Aha Vineyard Christian Fellowship. If you see the picture to the right, the sign above the church banner says Hawaiian Carpet One. The service is held in a carpet warehouse becuase of a connection they have at the location. I think that's pretty awesome :) It's a small church that knows every single person on a personal level, they are just one big family. They hang out together all of the time outside of Sunday service. I'm not used to such a small church family since I usually go to Bayside churches and Arcade Church. I really do like it. The only thing is it is very far away, and hard to make close relationships with people when I have to drive so far to hang out! And sadly I probably won't be able to go much longer becuase they need me to work Sunday nights at Hula Grill now. Two head waitresses are going on pregnancy leave soon and they need me to help fill in shifts.



All of the rolls on the side and front are huge carpets,
 with the band set up at the front. Sorry so blurry!



Jon and I went to a new church today. It is called Calvary Chapel. Their 8:30am service is inside a normal church building. But the 10:30am service is held at Wahikuli Wayside Park Beach! Now that's my kind of church service! Combine worship and spiritual teachings with God's great beauty and creation as a backdrop= amazing! I was pleased with the message and enjoyed the pastor's story as well. The worship was not my favorite kind but it was worship and I will enjoy worship in anyway that I can!

Some new awesome news: I got another job!! Zumba instructor at Valley Isle Fitness Lahaina! I start this Thursday. My classes are Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm and they want to add 2 morning classes as well if the class is successful. I'm excited to start teaching again. I really miss it. I got to teach a few songs in a friends class and realised how much I've missed it! 

Now for Picture tidbits:

Picture with the lovely Kea snuggled on my lap
 when we house sat for my aunt and uncle last week :)

My very thoughtful husband bought me my most recent favorite movie Burlesque
and wrapped it up in the Maui Times newspaper to suprise me when I got home after work :)



Just got our Hawaiian plates for our Dodge that we shipped over.
 Now we can legally be driving it in the Maui street!



Sorry for the blurry picture.
This is a HUGE centipede that had found it's home in Jon's pants.
I was freaking out so the camera wasn't too steady

I screamed and got my uncle over who's a local Hawaiian boy and grew up with these things and knows how to handle the situation. His remedy: Grab it with tongs and throw it down the garbage disposal =)
(That's what the silver things are in the picture )

Gorgeous rainbow

This one I could see the full arch and the beginning and end of the rainbow as well!

Maui's Own Craft fair every Sunday 9am-4pm. They have some pretty cool stuff, I recommend everyone check it out when they visit Maui. There were a lot of earring and jewlery vendors that have some pretty cool stuff

We found they awesome sign to help spice up our white walls. I love it

My sister-in-law's parents came to Maui with some friends
 and came to Hula Grill for lunch one afternoon while I was working! 

And that concludes today's blog. Jon's parents and brother are coming to visit us next week, we are definitely looking foreward to framilliar faces and some good family times :) Can't wait!!

And I leave you with this last picture:

Play on words with HI as the State abbreviation and the greeting Hi :)



Maui No Ka Oi