CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Foreman Billy DaSilva cleaned up yesterday afternoon around the water line replacement site on Kalihi Street. "It doesn't matter to me," said DaSilva of the hazy humid conditions.
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Riding the heat wave
Students and workers try to cope with muggy weather
FACES MOIST with sweat and dressed in school-color black T-shirts, members of the McKinley High School flag team are spending most of their afternoons practicing their homecoming routine in the heat and humidity.
On another part of the field, the football team is going through their warm-ups.
"T-I-G-E-R-S, Tigers," they chant in unison as they do jumping jacks in full pads and helmets.
The theme of this year's homecoming is "Not Going to Hide Tiger Pride," said flag team co-captain Mona Wong. And being hot and sweaty isn't going to dampen school spirit, she said emphatically.
Like others who need to be outside during this hot and humid week, the only relief from the weather is to drink lots of water.
That's the main thing construction workers from the nearby sewer and water project on Kapiolani Boulevard do to cope with the heat, said Rich Mori, who is working to supply electricity to the project.
"That's our line of work," Mori said, so it doesn't matter whether it's hot or cold outside.
"Sometimes we wish we could follow the cars," said Johnny Ramos, a supervisor at McKinley Car Wash.
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Rheena Alajar, 16, above, practiced her technique yesterday with the McKinley High School Flag Team despite the humid conditions. The team was practicing for their football homecoming.
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But workers are used to working in hot weather, he said.
They cope by drinking lots of fluids and keeping cool by washing their face with cold water, he added.
The National Weather Service says the hot, humid, voggy conditions will likely continue through Sunday and probably into next week.
A high-pressure system that normally sends us our tradewinds is sitting over the islands instead of to the northeast of us. Forecaster Sam Houston said it doesn't look like the system is moving any time soon.
The forecast is for muggy conditions with some afternoon showers.
That means it will be hot and sticky at today's homecoming pep rally in the un-air-conditioned gym at McKinley High School.
"It's going to be hot," said student activities coordinator Bobbi Kakuda. But she said the students can handle it.
"They're just excited about homecoming that they're willing to take the heat," she said.
Custodian Clarence Ortiz said he doesn't mind working outdoors in the heat.
"It's my living. It's what I do. I'm used to it," he said.
Athletics Director Neal Takamori said physical education classes will still be held, although classes might move to the gym if it's too sunny or rainy.
And the football team, pep squad and flag team will still practice outdoors for Friday night's big game against Kalaheo.
"It's good exercise," said Tigers linebacker and running back Keawe Kalama about practicing in the heat.
"Sometimes cooler is bad, too," Kalama said. With the humidity, "even when it rains, it's still hot."