On Waikiki Beach, Saultbies await a tsunami

SooToday.com has received the following note from a Sault Ste. Marie couple currently in Hawaii.

They have asked that their names not be used.

This picture was taken from their our balcony at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Lagoon Tower on Waikiki Beach.

If possible, they hope to send us another note with more pictures after the expected tsunami strikes.

************************* Hi:

We are currently vacationing in Waikiki, staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village directly on the beach.

We were awoken about 6 a.m. this morning (Hawaiian time) by the state siren.

We had not heard about the earthquake in Chile and the impending tsunami previous to this time.

We were told to stay in our rooms and await further directions.

The news channels suggested that everyone ensure that they have enough water and food to last for five to seven days so we went out to try to find bottled water.

Most of the smaller stores are closed.

There was a line up at the MacDonald's out to the sidewalk.

Apparently the larger stores - Costco, Walmart and Sam's Club - are open (and Sam's Club is letting everyone in, member or not).

Some of the gas stations have apparently already run out of gas, as those with vehicles fill up their autos in order to get to higher ground.

We are being told that we will likely not be evacuated.

They are doing a "vertical evacuation" rather than a "horizontal evacuation," meaning that they are moving people from the lower floors to the higher floors.

Since we are on the 15th floor, we should be safe.

We have been assured that the resort was built to be "tsunami-safe."

People are very calm here.

There are people still walking on the beach, although the news channels all are telling people to stay away.

Apparently four of the warships at Pearl Harbour are being moved out of the harbour.

A lot of sailboats have been anchored in the ocean in front of our resort.

We are going to try to attach a photo taken from our balcony, although it isn't the best.

There are lots of boats (mostly sailboats) anchored far out on the ocean.

The water is still quite calm and the weather is very warm and balmy.

It is hard to believe that a tsunami is on its way, and expected to hit Honolulu at approximately 11:36 a.m. (Hawaii time).

*************************