The Chemo Chronicles: Waiting for Lowell

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The view from our Kitchen Window Cam

An existing tropical storm watch was officially upgraded at 5:02 a.m. on Labor Day to a Tropical Storm Warning as Hurricane Lowell continues to creep up from the south, approaching Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. The view of the front yard and beyond this morning didn’t look bad, but the weather warning got our attention.

Our house is well within the Waialae to Hawaii Kai corridor included in the advisory.

Issued: 2026-09-07 05:02:00 HST|Expiring: 2026-09-07 13:15:00 HST
Tropical Storm Watch issued September 7 at 5:02AM HST by NWS Honolulu HI
A Tropical Storm Watch means tropical storm-force winds are possible
somewhere within this area within the next 48 hours
* LOCATIONS AFFECTED
– Waialae
– Aina Haina
– Hawaii Kai
* WIND
– LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Below tropical storm force wind
– Peak Wind Forecast: 20-30 mph with gusts to 40 mph
– THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES TYPICAL FORECAST
UNCERTAINTY IN TRACK, SIZE AND INTENSITY: Potential for wind 39
to 57 mph

To be fair, similar warnings were issued simultaneously across pretty much the entire island of Oahu and the City & County of Honolulu. Still, we are accustomed to being mere observers while heavy weather batters our old neighborhood on the Windward side, rather than sitting tight to see whether the threat materializes on our doorstep.

We’ve spent the last 10 days obsessively tracking what is now Hurricane Lowell as it developed from a ragged patch of weather off Mexico into a major hurricane heading our way. At first, models projected it passing well south of the chain without major incident, save for heavy rain and localized flooding on Hawaii Island. Then late last week, the outlook shifted ominously when atmospheric conditions suggested a sharp right turn north—dangerously close to Kauai.

Over the past few days, the projected track has inched slightly east. In practical terms: a heightened threat of hurricane-force conditions over parts of Kauai, and tropical-storm-force winds brushing Oahu.

The silver lining: after musing recently about lacking the stamina for routine pre-storm prep, I’ve had a generous outpouring of help. Well, “deluged” might be pushing it, but I’ve been surprised and deeply touched by how many people stepped forward offering to pitch in if things get rough. A sincere thank you to everyone—even if current projections suggest our corner of the island may see relatively muted effects.

With any luck, Lowell will make its closest pass to East Oahu before the day is out without jogging any further in our direction.

The storm prep anxiety hasn’t helped my recovery, coming right on the heels of a week spent flat on my back at Queen’s Medical Center. It was a setback—temporary, certainly, but still a frustrating step in the wrong direction.

The infection that launched this mini-adventure was brought under control fairly quickly with high-octane IV antibiotics. But a week of heavy intravenous drugs combined with enforced bed rest left me unsteady at best, and at worst fighting to stay upright.

Then came the small pharmacy sent home with me: an oral antibiotic; a blood thinner added after a scan revealed a fresh clot in each lung; magnesium and potassium supplements to address deficits flagged during early-morning blood draws; an acid reducer; and finally a liquid antifungal mouthwash used four times a day. Each came with a thorough clinical explanation—save for the mouthwash, whose precise necessity remains something of an open question.

I’ve never relished taking handfuls of pills, especially multiple times a day. The tiny tablets go down fine, but the horse-choker capsules go down only under strenuous protest and require half a glass of water just to ensure they don’t lodge midway. It doesn’t help that sorting and swallowing them right alongside breakfast and dinner has blunted my already marginal appetite—a bad habit I can’t afford right now.

That said, since being discharged home last Wednesday afternoon, each day has been measurably better than the last. Within 48 hours, my snazzy new walker went from constant necessity to standing on standby in the corner. The waves of dizziness have subsided into faint ripples, and the sudden “I’m going down” lightheadedness seems to have passed.

I’m not yet back to the footing I had before this Queen’s detour, but things are pointing in the right direction—a classic case of two steps forward, one step back, with eyes on the horizon.

It really was a small town back in the ’50s

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Screenshot

It’s looking like we’ll likely get some rain, but hopefully not much else as Hurricane Lowell slips past our end of the state.

Another close call. Too close to call until the last 24 hours or so!

Dipping down into my photo archive again, here are a few of my mother’s photos of familiar locations around Honolulu taken in the mid-1950s.

Observations & comments welcome.

Honolulu in the 50's

Another simple example of an AI hallucination

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Two readers noticed that the Kamehameha Day parade in 1957 was headed toward downtown past Kawaiahao Church, whereas the modern route begins at Iolani Palace and ends at Kapiolani Park.

I had earlier found a description of the 1957 parade route in a Honolulu Advertiser story at the time: “The parade will start at 10 a.m. from Atkinson Dr. and Kapiolani Blvd. It will continue on Kapiolani to King St., and wind up at Iolani Palace.”

That’s the reverse of the route used today.

But just for fun, I asked Google’s Gemini and ChatGPT what the route was in 1957. Both confidently returned completely incorrect answers. And when I told Gemini that it’s answer was wrong, it created and returned yet another wrong answer.

Here’s my exchange with Gemini.

Ian: What was the route of the Kamehameha Day parade in the 1950s?

Gemini: During the 1950s, the King Kamehameha Day Floral Parade in Honolulu followed the classic cross-town route connecting the historic civic center of downtown Honolulu to Queen Kapi?olani Park in Waikiki:

Formation & Start: Parade units staged in Downtown Honolulu around South King Street, Bishop Street, and Richards Street, assembling on and around the grounds of ?Iolani Palace and directly fronting the King Kamehameha statue at Aliiolani Hale.

Downtown to Waterfront: The procession moved along King Street and turned makai (toward the ocean) down Punchbowl Street, connecting onto Ala Moana Boulevard.

Waikiki Corridor: From Ala Moana Boulevard, the parade crossed over into Waikiki and turned onto Kalakaua Avenue.

Finish Line: Units marched the full length of Kalakaua Avenue through Waikiki before disbanding at Queen Kapiolani Park (typically near Monsarrat Avenue and the park bandstand), where the public hoolaulea, hula performances, and music festivities took place.

Ian: That answer is incorrect.

On my first time around with Google, it “corrected” itself to say that in 1957, the parade was confined to the downtown area, another wrong answer.

So I queried Gemini a second time. Equally incorrect.

Gemini: I stated the modern route instead of the historical 1950s route.

You are completely right, and I apologize for the generalized assumptions about the 1957 route.Historically, the King Kamehameha Day Parade layout underwent structural modifications over the decades. In 1957, the parade took place on Tuesday, June 11, 1957, and instead of a continuous trek straight down to Waikiki like modern iterations, it focused heavily on the historic core of downtown Honolulu.

The Core Path: The procession ran along King Street, specifically passing major historical waypoints like Kawaiahao Church and the King Kamehameha I Statue / Aliiolani Hale.

Once again, user beware!

Kamehameha Day 1957

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More from my archive.

Tuesday, June 11, 1957.These photos of the Kamehameha Day Parade in 1957 were taken by my mother, Helen Lind, from a vantage point on King Street across from Kawaiahao Church.

They survived nearly 70 years in remarkably good condition.

That’s an interesting view down King Street in the first photo.

According to a clipping from the Honolulu Advertiser:

THE FIRST MARCHING unit
in the parade was the Order of
Kamehameha, its members wear-
ing red capes, gold caps, white
shirts and dark pants.

As in every Kamehameha Day
parade, the Kaahumanu Society
—its members dressed in somber
black gowns-proved an instant
hit.

Other stately marchers who
followed the Kaahumanus were
the Hale O Na Alii and the Na-
tive Sons and Daughters of Ha-
waii.

Duke Kahanamoku, honorary
marshal, lifted his white paniola
hat continuously to acknowledge
the greetings of the crowd as he
rode in a white convertible.

THEN CAME THE Pa-u riders
themselves:

Princess Pauline Attwood of
Molokini and her attendants,
wearing pink beige gowns, fol-
lowed by their float with a min-
iature lighthouse.

Princess Joan Causey of Ka-
hoolawe, in silver grey satin
gown and dark grey cape, her at-
tendants and float following out
the same color scheme.

PRINCESS BETTY WAINEE
Costa of Niihau, in white satin,
followed by her troupe and
matching-colored dancers on a
float.

Princess Lona Holt of Lanai,
in black velvet cape and tan-
gerine satin gown, attended by
riders in coral gowns and accom-
panied by a float carrying out
her island’s prize industry—pine-
apple growing.

Princess Likelike Robello of
Molokai and attendants in cool
green capes and gowns, followed
by a float which was the envy
of spectators standing in the di-
rect rays of the sun—it had a
large umbrella.

Princess Sally Child Texeira of
Kauai, astride a roan horse and
wearing royal purple, as were her
attendants and the dancers and
singers aboard an orchid-be-
decked float.

Princess Flora Salm Soren of
Oahu, wearing an ilima gold
gown and cape, accompanied by
four attendants in matching col-
ors and similarly-garbed dancers
on a float.

Princess Elsworth Freitas of
Maui, in fuchsia and pink, at-
tended by four Pa-u riders and a
float decorated with pink-dyed
woodroses.

Princess Winona Kakaio of Ha-
waii, in crimson cape and gown,
followed by brilliantly-colored
attendants and float.

Those were the nine princesses
of the old realm.

• The Kamehameha Day queen
Harriett Beamer Magoon, rode in
regal fashion aboard a bay horse,
dressed, in red cape and gold
gown and attended by five maid-
ens in blue capes and gowns.
The Hui Holo Pa’u was the last
group on horseback.

Others participating in the par-
ade included:

A. E. Minvielle, carrying a
huge American flag; the 111th
National Guard band; a color-
honor guard from the 299th Reg-
imental Combat team; Royal Ha-
waiian band; Papakolea and Ka-
lawahine floats; an ancient tour-
ing car (which wheezed and
chugged along with latest model
convertibles) and several indi-
vidual entries.

That same afternoon, again as reported by the Honolulu Advertiser, David K. Bray dedicated the new Hawaiian Village Hotel. The public dedication ceremonies at 4 p.m. will close the four-day celebration of the $5 million, 270-room addition to the Hawaiian Village.