Video courtesy Lynn Beittel, Matt Binder of Visionary Video
As the waters from the rising tsunami tides pour over the breakwall on Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona, debris and helpless marine life find their way onto the popular Big Island thouroughfare.
Luckily for some of the fish found flopping on the street, Kona resident Christopher Thomason was willing to brave the rushing currents and devastated asphalt, so that he might toss them back to the safety of the Pacific Ocean.
Numerous Alii Drive businesses and hotels sustained damage in the 2011 tsunami that originated in a 8.9 earthquake in Japan.
Hawaii County says “extensive damage was reported to businesses on both sides of Ali‘i Drive, including the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, the ground floor of the Kona Reef Hotel, and the Kona Inn Restaurant. ”
The King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel was also sustained flood damage on the first floor.
This is the most information I’m able to get on the area where my baby sister and her fabulous friends and Big Island family are. She has exposed me to the magic of the very beautiul people and places there. You bring closer and make more real what you in a world far away are experiencing after the tragedy of the tsunami. Please continue to keep us and the rest of the world informed. I pray for a speedy recovery.
This kind of actions putting yourself endanger because you think your doing something “GOOD” or just plain STUPID is how you get yourself in trouble. Why would you want to be right infornt of the on coming tsunami to see it when authorities tell you to head to a higher ground for your own safety?!! I bet the people in Japan would have if they were warn ahead of time.
god bless u for saving the fish. xo my son, ryan z, lives in hawi, he would have done the same thing.
This guy is a nut
The beginning of this video clearly shows that the Tsunami is not over. Many mistakenly think it is a one wave thing and its over. People have the rubberneck syndrome and have to see what is going on. By doing this they place themselves in danger, which is no big deal. At the end you see first responders having to speak common sense to tell the people to get back while putting themselves in danger. Come on people, lets not show the world we’re idiots too.
Kona will survive this. We’ll be on island next week and hit all our favorite Alii Drive restaurants. Special thanks to the fish saver, Christopher……he embodies Aloha.
This fellow is dangerously ill-informed regarding the dangerous actions he is taking. While it can heartbreaking to seen marine life dying when they could be saved, one surprise surge can take this guy out like he’s nothing. Tsunami surges come in multiple waves, and can occur as much as 10 hours past the first arrival, and they can be formed in aftershocks.
In Crescent City, California – about 15 miles south of the Oregon boarder, a man went to take photos of the Tsunami. He was swept out to sea and drowned. He was one of 5 people that were swept out to sea there.
I can’t believe this article glorifies this man’s ‘bravery’ for saving marine life. Very irresponsible journalism. People have no idea of what a rescue can cost, as how it puts the rescuers’ lives in danger as well.
How stoned was he???????
I can hardly believe that I was walking down that street the night before heading back to the King Kamehameha Hotel to pack up and evacuate. You know how people can feel detached from disasters when they are so far away from them, I don’t think I’ll ever have that problem again. Hawaii had some earthquakes too, a top of 4.4 caused by the magma chamber under the kaldera at the National park dropping and coming up in a new fissure.
I can’t believe you actually posted this video. He risks his life to save fish!!! Give me a break ! Some dumb f— wants to be on youtube. Hey , look at the videos of Japan. People die from tsumamis. If this idiot gets in trouble, then he calls for help from the fire department to help rescue him.Because he is a dumb ass, some one else might have to risk their life to save him from his stupidity.Your editor should never have permitted this to be posted.
Everyone saying he’s an idiot has not been at this location, or experienced tidal surges in Hawaii. This is in a bay, there’s a break wall, there’s high ground and buildings right behind him. For a tsunami to put his life in danger, the tsunami would have to have been so large and devastating that it took out hundreds of homes along the coast and probably would’ve killed quite a few people. Obviously, that didn’t happen, and the forecasts knew it wasn’t major. So basically, you’re the idiots for judging. You see a few seconds of one view and think you know it all. You have no idea.
I agree with Big Island Love. One must know the surges before judging. I know what Jeff is speaking of and I too know Oregon and respect the seas. Aside the tsunami, the Pacific Northwest have what they call sneaker waves which can carry people to the sea. One second all is fine then the next, a large wave comes unexpectedly. However, this situation was different.