The power of rain

It’s a tale of two views. Diamond Head in July, and Diamond Head in December. The former was dusty, brown, scorched, arid, harsh and uninviting. The latter carries a wreath of healthy green, far more picturesque for locals and tourists.

The difference between July and December can be summed up in one word. Rain.

Hawaii has both an abundance of rain and plenty of drought. That paradox is not new to the islands, or many places elsewhere in the world. When it rains, it pours. When it doesn’t rain, drought seems to pour.

Drought conditions and an abundance of rain can be nothing more than a mountain apart in Hawaii. Plenty of rain helps to sustain our islands and and retain their beauty. We suffer from too many people, too many uses of fresh water, an abundance of usage which is depleting the resource we often take for granted.

The power of rain goes beyond lawns and mountain vegetation. Rain changes attitudes and sleeping habits. Rain changes driving attitudes and surfing habits. Too much rain can be dangerous to crops, streams, lakes, rivers, and those who venture near. Not enough rain is dangerous to plants, crops, water tables, and those who require an abundance of water.

Have you seen Lake Mead near Las Vegas in Nevada? If ever there was a warning sign gone unheeded, the dry banks along Lake Mead would be high on the list. The lake suffers from an abundance of people and development in a land scorched with dry and heat.

Hawaii is more fortunate, yet as residents we seem not to recognize that fresh water, often abundant, is often in short supply.  The power of rain is better than the power of no rain.