1960 Was Tsunami.....

The Civil Defense sirens went off and Dad took us up almost to the top of Mohouli Street ("China Hill"). There was no Komohana Street then so we were perhaps 500 feet down from the forest and the trail that led to the reservoir. We sat in the light green Ford sedan and slept, waited, and listened to the noises of confusion that accompany a typical tsunami alert.

At some time in the early morning, I remember hearing a loud roar, people screaming, crashing sounds as if buildings were being crunched. As we looked toward the bayfront from where we were (it was pitch dark, of course), there was suddenly a huge light flash that literally "lit up everything" in the city of Hilo. The tidal wave had hit the Hilo Electric Light Company generating plant. I can still hear the sounds and people actually screaming and yelling.

The water had come all the way up to the NE corner of the Kapiolani Elementary School property. It had wiped out practically all of the bayfront businesses and we could see destruction and mayhem as far as we could see. No more Sun Sun Lau, The Bowling Palace, Hilo Boy's Club, Hilo Theater, Cow Palace, Kimiville, and the Canal was completely underwater. The Flintkote Factory was gone, Hilo Iron Works, all the bayfront area from Mamo Street till the Wailoa River bridge. Waiakea town, where Suisan, HELCO, and the Ice House were devastated. What a sight!

During the ensuing days, I remember not having to go to school and hearing Mom and Dad talk about how "everything was wiped out." Dad went to help many of his friends which included the Keaukaha area and he would always tell us how things were destroyed. We lived in Lanakila them. I believe Hema Street(?).

However much longer we had to wait before going back to school, I do know that when we did go back, it was a shock to learn so many people were not coming back because they had been consumed in the wave. People did not hear the sirens and did not evacuate, people actually went down to the ocean front to try to catch a good look as the wave came in, and people going down to pick up the fish as they bounced on the ground when the water receded. Amazing stories.