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The Pacific Tsunami
Museum is slowly piecing together the tsunami puzzle with the help of survivors who share
their experiences with us.
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On April 1, 1946, Gabriel Manning was 30 years
old and working at Hilo Iron Works. When the first tsunami waves hit that morning, Gabriel
and his friend Bill Ayala, climbed up to safety under the roof by the crane with their
boss, Alan Aruda. Gabriel saw many miracles that day.
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There was a woman, perhaps 75 years old, who
hung on to a light pole on the street. The wave struck her and carried her across the
Wailoa River and over what is now Wailoa Park. When it pulled back, she settled on
her feet and walked away.
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A ten-year old girl, who lived behind
Liliuokalani Park, was picked up by the wave and carried all the way over to Hilo Iron
Works. She was swept through the shop to the back of the building. Because the wave was so
high, she was carried over all the shop equipment and was uninjured. Men in the building
climbed down and grabbed her and pulled her to safety.
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Near Hilo Iron Works there was a dry-dock where
sampan boats were built. There were several sampan shells in the area when the
tsunami hit. One sampan was picked up and carried down the Wailoa River, under the bridge,
out into the Bay, overland by the Hilo Theatre, and back around to the dry-dock where it
was deposited in one piece.
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The most fantastic story involves Gabriel
Manning himself. After the first waves hit, Bill and he headed for Shinmachi to help the
people crying for help. Coming out of the Hilo Iron Works building, they saw a dead
baby on the ground.
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Continuing into Shinmachi, Gabriel and Bill met
up with Toma Tosaki. There was a young woman gripping a baby girl in one arm and a
suitcase in her other hand. She was frozen with terror, unable to move.
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Bill took the suitcase, Mr. Tosaki seized the
woman, and Gabriel grabbed the baby. They all started running when someone yelled that
another wave was coming in. Gabriel headed for Piopio Street, running for his life, the
baby girl laughing sweetly in his arms. He cut through a damaged house but a refrigerator
blocked the back doorway. Gabriel backed up and jumped over the refrigerator. To this day
he doesnt know how he cleared the height of the refrigerator or the narrow clearance under
the doorway.
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When he reached the Dairymens Association, the
tsunami wave caught him but he was able to stay on his feet. The woman was reunited with
her baby and Gabriel and Bill spent the day helping others in need. Gabriel Manning
never saw the young woman or her little baby girl again. After fifty-three years, he
wonders who they were and what became of them afterwards.
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Thank you Gabriel Manning for sharing your miracles!
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Let us not forget.
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