Hear our prayer

I was 11 and in seventh grade at Kawananakoa Intermediate School when Hurricane Iwa arrived on my birthday in 1982. Mrs. Yokota dismissed us early because Iwa was on the way. I walked home not knowing that my dad was on his way to pick me up. There was lack of communication between the school and the families which caused confusion. Many worried parents were on campus looking for their children who had already left. My father later came home with my sister in tow, upset that he couldn’t find me. I remember seeing my tiny dog, Pieffy, struggling against the wind in the backyard. We had a blackout that night. To keep busy, we played card games and checkers by candlelight. When the winds sounded like they were knocking at our door, my family and I scrambled into a closet at the back of the house. We managed to grab hold of Pieffy and bring him in with us.

The recent tsunami tragedy in Asia reminded me of Hawaii, my home away from home. Hawaii has a Tsunami Awareness month each April to commemorate those 159 people who were killed by a tsunami in April 1946. Three years later the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center was established in 1949 on Oahu’s Ewa Beach and provides warnings to most countries in the Pacific Basin. Even then, nothing is certain. There is so much speculation and unanswered questions as to how this tragedy in Asia could have been prevented on December 26.


May we be led to share what we have with those in need. May we be signs of Your compassion in the heart of Your world. Lord, hear our prayer.