Tsunami.

On Thursday, March 11th, 2011 at about 9pm HST, there was a giant earthquake in Japan (8.8). I was at an open mic night when it happened, and we all started getting texts from friends and family who had heard about it. Hawaii was then on tsunami watch. After about an hour, the danger increased, so it became a tsunami warning, which basically meant we were going to die. Every hour from that point on, a siren would blare all across campus (and probably everywhere else on the island, but I don't know for sure).

The tsunami was to hit Oahu at 3am. Everybody packed a bag or two to take if/when we were evacuated, which wouldn't really happen until the tsunami was closer (1 or 2am). Students who lived on campus were to go to the Stake Center (which is on lower ground than our Hales??). In the meantime, people who lived on bottom floors were moved up with their bags of stuff to friends' rooms on the top floor (Catty came to my room!).

It was all very exciting! We were joking about it, though it was kind of scary. A similar situation had occurred the year before when there was an earthquake in Chile, and nothing ended up happening. Everyone figured this would be the same, but this earthquake was MUCH closer and MUCH bigger, so it was a lot more serious.

My friends gathered in the lounge of Hale 2 (boys are allowed in the lounges only). We sat in a circle and talked, then ended up playing truth or dare (yeah, we're in college). The news was playing on every TV on the island, and they repeated the same information all night. The sirens continued every hour. Including past 2am.

The last siren was at 2:48am, and the tsunami that hit Oahu was 12ft. We were totally fine. There was more damage on the Oregon coast than on my island!

It all became a big joke, but what we need to remember is there are people in JAPAN who don't find it so funny. There are students here from Japan whose families have been greatly affected, and they probably don't appreciate people joking about it.

Hawaii is definitely so very blessed! The North Shore on Oahu should have been hit so hard, but this little island was not to be harmed! I love Hawaii with my whole heart!