Listen to the Critters
The Big Island of Hawaii had more than 100 tiny earthquakes last week. A “swarm” they called it. Nothing huge and scary: little 4.0-ers and smaller. Madame Pele is the Hawaiian Goddess of the volcano and she has been letting a steady gush of lava loose on the Big Island for the past 25 years. It is quite impressive to find a place along the road near Volcano, Hawaii, and “tailgate” her volcanic activity at night. Like being on the primal edge of creation.
My girlfriend said she knew something was up before the earthquakes hit. She lives on the Hilo side of the island and noticed it got very quiet in the trees around her house. When birds stop singing and dogs get edgy, you know Madame Pele is up to something. Not long after, the dishes on her shelves started dancing. She said the TV looked like it had come alive and was walking off the shelf.
I always find it interesting that we don’t pay more attention to animals when it comes to predicting natural disasters. It’s been widely reported that hours before the Indian Ocean earthquake and Tsunami, the animals were leaving the shore and heading inland in droves. Humans seem to be missing that warning system. Instead of heading inland, their innate curiosity led them straight to their deaths.
Of course, the Hawaii people I know were amazed that those living so close to the ocean didn’t know when the ocean goes waaaaaaaay out there, RUN! This is not a time to pick up pretty shells!
Perhaps it’s because every month on the first of the month in Hawaii, we get Tsunami drills. You can find information about them in the first section of every phone book, and the radio is filled with warnings about it.
Or maybe it’s because in Hawaii, we still listen to the critters!
Beth
