As we were alerted by our TV and radio stations of the tsunami warning in the early hours of Saturday morning or awakened by the sirens across the islands, I’m sure it was quite alarming to all of us, along with our visitors. It must have been very distressing to those families, businesses and visitors who were in the inundation zones.

However, I would like to express how pleased I was with the way our State and emergency services handled the warning and how our community reacted.

We can be very thankful we had early communication and a substantial amount of time to prepare and insure the safety of our families and our businesses located in the inundation and evacuation zones. The flow of information coming from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the dissemination of that information, in my opinion was effective and I believe helped in keeping the community aware and calm.

Living close to the entrance of Waikiki, it appeared the situation was handled well by our emergency services, as boats were moved and secured out at sea, roads had to be closed, and people moved from the beaches and parks. I was told by a member staying in a Waikiki hotel that it was also handled with great efficiency and there was no panic at any time.

Additionally, I was pleased to see that in the hours prior to the expected tsunami, people acted with great consideration. Although some of our stores experienced a great rush on supplies and the gas lines were long, it appeared to me that people remained courteous and on the roads, abided by the closures.

Having the time for the state and emergency services to plan and prepare, along with being able to personally prepare, was priceless. It is a reflection of how important technology is to our islands communication. Moreover, how vital efficient planning, coordination and working together, along with an effective infrastructure, are to the safety of Hawaii’s citizens and visitors.

Yes, there were many businesses impacted by closures and the lack of customers who stayed home and off the streets. It will be important to support those businesses with our patronage.

However, we can be thankful that every precaution was taken and that we did not experience any damage to property or harm to people. The good news is our state now has the experience and can take a closer look any challenges within the process and procedures and better prepare for future tsunami warnings.

This all being said, the Chilean community has been devastated by the earth quake and tsunami that hit their community. We ask that your thoughts and prayers go out to the families and their loved ones.