thunderstorms and rain in hawaii

Today is the first time in many days the sun has shown itself.
Last Saturday or Sunday, a big thunderstorm hit the area, and the rain lasted all week.
I feel really bad for anyone that booked their vacation for last week.
I can't imagine spending thousands to vacation at a tropical paradise only for it to be cloudy and rainy every single day

Storms like this are very rare here, I'm told. And since I've been here, the only rain I had experienced were light afternoon showers, and days were almost always sunny and hot.
I live in Kaimuki near Diamond Head, which is especially dry and hot.
It rained so much several areas flooded, being on top of a hill I didn't have to worry about it.
It even hailed in parts of the windward side near Kailua and supposedly on this side in Hawaii Kai too.
I also heard that there was supposed to be some snow on the biggest mountain on Big Island.
Apparently people try to ride sleds and stuff when it does this.

There was so much runoff from the rain that Hanuama Bay has been closed, where I went snorkeling a couple of weeks ago. I'm glad I went when I did because I imagine the visibility is not what it was now and won't be for awhile til all the rain, mud, and debris washes out.

Lightning is also a pretty rare sight in Hawaii, but when it strikes, you know.
A few strikes woke me wide awake during the first couple of nights of the storm.
My window was open and my apartments faces the mountains. The clap seems to boom twice, not sure if it is the echo off the mountains or what, but it is especially loud. Another strike I saw as I was waiting for the bus to go home after work was followed 5 seconds later by a loud clap that sounded like someone shooting a gun off near my ear.



A place near work called "Kava" has good sandwiches made with pink "Guava Bread".



The buses ran extremely slow and were extra packed during rush hour this week.
It can get so packed you can barely move, very unpleasant.







Note the rescue surfboard.