Kauai in the eye of Iniki

On September 11, 1992, Hurricane Iniki (Hawaiian for "piercing winds")—the second fierce storm in a decade to hit Kauai and the worst in the island's recorded history—pierced the heart of paradise, terrorizing the small Hawaiian Island for some six hours. Wind speeds were clocked at 227 mph before the measuring device was blown apart. The storm, a huge natural engine of spiralling winds drawing from its self-sustaining power from warm ocean vapors, released enough energy every second to equal that of an atomic bomb. . . enough if it were converted to electricity, to power the entire United States for up to three years. Devastation was complete. No community—from luxury resort to plantation camp—was spared. Every one of the island's 50,000-some residents and 7,000 was affected. One in three Kauai families were left utterly homeless. More than 14,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed. One-third of the island's 17,000 electrical power poles were torn from their roots. Miraculously few people were killed; many escaped death by a hair's breadth. Though the moon was full, the island was plunged into a dark night that would take the unbreakable spirit of Kauai's people and the combined efforts of the County, State, Federal Governments, U.S. Military, Red Cross, Salvation Army and other volunteer groups to bring on the dawn. Tent cities were establishment, food and ice were distributed, luxury hotels became shelters for storm refugees and enough plastic tarp to stretch from Kauai to California was given out to cover shredded roofs. This book is the story of that experience—from the moment of impact to the early restoration of the island to the celebration of life. It is a story told in images made by Hawaii and photographers and in the words of Kauai's people. - from jacket