Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.com Contributing Editor
After a week of carefully watching Hurricane Felicia march across the Pacific, people in Kona don’t seem that concerned.
No long lines at stores, no panicked shoppers, just residents and visitors out doing their regular chores and enjoying Hawaii.
“We’re not really worried. We’re kind of used to it,” said Jill Collier, mother of four. “We usually have enough supplies to feel safe. It’s not something we wait until the last minute to prepare for.”
Collier said her Sunday trip to Wal-Mart in Kona was a regular shopping stop, not a special trip prompted by the threat of Hurricane Felicia.
“We just checked the forecast this morning. Nothing to worry about,” she said. “My sister is the scared one. She won’t leave the house.”
Among others not worried were Fred Wersteler and Chandara Richards.
“It’s not going to be a big deal. Just some rain and wind,” said Fred Wersteler, of Ahualoa. “It’s already been raining over on the other side of the island. That’s why I’m over on the Kona side now.”
Wersteler and Richards were gearing up for an afternoon of leisure.Â
“We’re heading to the beach right now, living it up,” he said.
Richards, a Kona nurse, said she gets regular text message updates from the county Civil Defense Agency.
“Nothing to worry about,” she said. “I’m sure some places will flood, like my car port, but nothing unusual.”
Down on Alii Drive, visitors were enjoying a lazy Kailua Village day.
One family from Gig Harbor, Wash., was only concerned a Tuesday excursion on Captain Zodiac might be cancelled.
Lee and Denyse Binschus said they were enjoying their family vacation and had no intention of changing their plans to head to Kauai on Wednesday.
Coming from the Pacific Northwest, a little bit of rain isn’t going to scare them off.
Daughter Casey said she’s used to rain in Seattle and “actually, I think it would be cool to see a hurricane.”
Also strolling along Alii Drive Sunday were Staff Sgt. Rebecca and Jason Stanton (no relation to this reporter!), with their 10-month-old daughter, Caydence.
“We’re from Oahu so we’ve been watching,” the Hickam Air Force Base sergeant said. “I was a little concerned. I did get some extra medication for the baby, but for us we’ll be just fine.”
Her husband said the weather last week was worse on Oahu than they are experiencing on their weekend break to the Big Island.
“Even the airplane ride out of Honolulu was bumpier than the landing in Kona,” he said.