Rain

Larry Leopardi is my brother's brother in law.

....

HONOLULU — The glum expression on Colleen Groat's face said it all.

The 48-year-old Canadian had spent six months planning her first

vacation in Hawaii, and not once during two weeks here did she set foot

in the water.

Her trips to the beach were met with signs that read: "WARNING. No

swimming. No fishing. Sewage contaminated water." The famously blue

waters of Oahu remained brown through most of Tuesday, tainted by 48

million gallons of untreated wastewater spilled during one of the

rainiest stretches in Hawaii's recent history. Many of the most popular

beaches on the island, including Waikiki, were closed to water

activities until late Tuesday afternoon. At that time, officials

announced some of the beaches would reopen, but tourists remained wary.

The seemingly constant downpour caused floods and mudslides, damaged

homes and businesses and burst one earthen dam on the island of Kauai,

killing seven residents March 14.

Early damage estimates range from $40 million to $50 million statewide,

though repair and recovery costs probably will end up much higher.

Officials say it's too early to tell how tourism — the state's biggest

industry — has been affected.

The sun shone all day Monday, but clouds and showers returned early

Tuesday, casting doubt on official proclamations that the storms had

passed. Meteorologists remained noncommittal: The worst part is probably

over, they say, but who knows?

"It would have been nice to go in the water," said Groat, from Kelowna,

British Columbia. It was her last day in Honolulu, and she and her aunt

lay on beach chairs on Waikiki, trying to catch a little sun before

going home.

"You hear so much [about Hawaii], and you come here thinking you'll be

spending all this time on the beach," Groat said, her voice trailing

off. "I have to go back to work tomorrow." What's it like coming to

Hawaii and not swimming at the beach? Frustrated visitors offered a few

analogies: It's like going to Disneyland and not riding a single ride;

like visiting the Grand Canyon and not peering down the hole; like

touring Kansas City, Mo., without trying the barbecue.

Dana and Chad White traveled here from Kansas City, to spend their first

stretch of time alone without their 5-month-old daughter, who was

staying with grandparents. "It poured every day," said Chad, 34. The

couple opened the balcony doors in their hotel room each night — at

least for a little while.