Chasing Rainbows

So we’re driving south on Kam Highway, heading home, and the kids are tired and grouchy because Chris and I turned off The Boxcar Children audiobook and are listening to the Gypsy guide for fun, and it’s going through some Hawaiian history we’d just listened to on our Big Island trip. It’s been a gorgeous, breezy warm day, and it’s rainy now, when I spot the rainbow I’ve been looking for the past few minutes. I love driving this direction a couple hours before sunset because the forecast for rainbows is usually excellent.

“THERE IS A PARKING LOT AHEAD! PULL OVER!” I leap out of the car like a crazy person and run to the edge of the pavement. The leg of the rainbow touches the far side of Kahana Bay, dancing and brightening, splitting into a double, growing stronger and advancing. I’m getting soaked and the wind is pushing the showers and the rainbow toward us, until we can’t see it anymore. The rainbow passes over us.

The sea arch off Laie was our second-to-last detour. “I want to go swimming in there!” Eloise said as the waves pummeled the dangerously rocky outcrop down below. “I wish I could surf those waves!” Isaac said. “Why do I have to stand back?”