The Tsunami Countdown

TWENTY-EIGHT

10:59 a.m.

23 Minutes to Wave Arrival Time

As they rounded Diamond Head, Lani’s attention was drawn to a big commotion along Kalakaua Avenue, which was even more jammed than usual. From their position a mile out in Waikiki Bay near Kuhio Beach, she could see people running in both directions. Few were left on the beach. “Mia,” she said, pointing, “what’s going on over there?”

The two boys also followed her finger.

“I don’t know,” Mia said tersely. Her face had turned ashen.

“Are you okay?”

Mia nodded, but Lani recognized seasickness when she saw it.

“Is there a parade today?” Jake asked.

“Not that I know of.”

Tom shook his head in puzzlement as well.

“Well, something’s going on.”

Across Waikiki Bay at the Ala Wai marina, a huge number of boats streamed from the harbor at a pace that seemed frantic. In fact, it looked as if two of the boats had collided, although they were so far away, it was hard to tell for sure.

Then there was the large number of aircraft. First, the low-flying plane that had passed over them. Then a news helicopter that seemed to be training its camera on them. That one Lani had waved to. Now it seemed like another small plane was headed in their direction. Within another few seconds she thought she heard a voice coming from the plane. It turned and began to circle them, and the voice became clearer. There was one word that was unmistakable:

“… a tsunami warning has been issued for Hawaii. You must head for shore immediately and get to high ground. I repeat, a tsunami warning has been issued for Hawaii. This is not a drill. You must get to land immediately. The wave will reach Honolulu in twenty-three minutes. If you understand this warning, raise both your arms and wave.”

All four of them looked at each other and then started waving their arms frantically while still holding their paddles. The plane waggled its wings and banked toward a group of surfers about five hundred yards away.

“Why didn’t we hear the sirens?” Jake said.

“We’re too far from the beach,” Lani said. “The wind is blowing in that direction.”

“It doesn’t matter why!” Mia screamed. “Let’s just go!”

“Come on!” yelled Tom. “This way!”

Lani and the boys quickly turned their kayaks to the closest beach and began paddling furiously. Mia, who was not as skilled with the kayaks, took longer to turn.

Mia was barely paddling at half the speed of the rest of them. At that rate, they would be in danger of not making it.

“Faster!” said Jake. “We don’t have much time!”

“My arms are too tired!” Mia yelled, distraught. “I can’t go faster!”

Tom pointed at Jake. “Kayak back as fast as you can and find somebody to get a boat or something out here.”

“Like who?” Jake said. “Your parents are gone for the day.”

“My mom,” Lani said. “She works at the Grand Hawaiian. It’s that hotel right there.” She pointed at the distinctive double towers with the walkway between. They looked tantalizingly close until she saw the cars parked at their base, no bigger than toys.

“You go as fast as you can,” Tom said. “We’ll follow you.”

Jake began to paddle furiously in the direction of the beach.

Within three minutes, Jake was already a few hundred yards ahead of them. By this time, the stress, inexperience, and rocking of the kayak was too much for Mia. She leaned to her left and threw up over the side of the kayak. Mia drastically changed the center of gravity while she vomited, and before she finished heaving, the kayak tipped over, tumbling her into the water.

“Mia!” Lani yelled.

Mia bobbed in the water, buoyed by her life vest. She coughed out some salt water and retched again.

“I fell out!” she screamed. “I fell out!”

Tom paddled over to her and stabilized the kayak.

“We’ve got to get you back in the kayak,” he said. He turned around and shouted, “Jake! Jake!”

Jake, already far ahead, continued paddling, oblivious to Tom’s yells in the constantly changing breeze.

“Don’t call him back!” Lani said. “He’s got to keep going. If he hears you and turns back, he won’t be able to get help for us.”

Lani could see Tom measuring the distance with his eyes. “You’re right,” he said reluctantly. He let Jake keep going.

Mia, who wasn’t a strong swimmer, dog-paddled over to her drifting kayak. When she got to it, she pulled on one of the nylon cords, but her strength was so sapped that she couldn’t lift herself more than a foot out of the water. She slumped back into the ocean, choking on more salt water in the process.

“I’ll never get back in,” she sobbed. “I’m not strong enough.”

“Yes, you are,” Lani said, seeing that she was going to lose Mia if she didn’t calm her down. “They make them so you can get back in. Right, Tom?”

Tom eyed Lani and shrugged dubiously. Then he said, “We can try.”

Tom and Lani paddled over to Mia and twice tried to lift her onto her kayak, but their awkward position made it difficult. Both times Mia fell back into the water before she was halfway on.

“This isn’t going to work,” Tom said.

“What am I going to do?” Mia cried.

“What about putting her on your kayak?” Lani said.

“This kayak’s pretty small. I’m afraid she’ll tip both of us over.”

“Please don’t leave me!” Mia cried.

“We’re not leaving you,” Lani said. “Tom is going to tow you.”

“Tow me?”

“Yes. He’s stronger than me.”

Tom nodded. “Good idea. Mia, hang on to this strap.”

He loosened one of the seat straps and threw it to Mia. “Tie it to your life vest. I’ll pull you.” He turned to Lani.

“Are you okay? Can you paddle?”

Lani nodded. “I’ll keep up. Let’s go.”

They started paddling. Jake was far ahead. Lani looked at her watch. Only nineteen minutes left. She paddled harder.