Every time a nearby hurricane peters out and becomes a mere tropical storm or misses Hawai'i altogether, we've managed to get lucky — again.

That's great. But how we weather a disaster is best determined by sound public policy, not luck.

Despite all the wake-up calls from disasters like Katrina, the sobering and alarming fact remains:

Hawai'i is unprepared to fully handle any major disaster that comes our way. In fact, we're at least a decade and millions of dollars away from an adequate state of preparedness.

That disturbing assessment comes from Ed Teixeira, the state's Civil Defense vice director. It's sobering because of the amount work that remains to be done to be more fully prepared. It's alarming because in Hawai'i — with our isolation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean— we are even more vulnerable. Chances are, we'd have to be self-sustaining, at least at first, in the event of a major disaster.

Part of the problem is that we've neglected the importance of being prepared for many years. So even though the Legislature has commendably spent about $8 million for emergency shelter upgrades, warning signals and other supplies, it's not enough. For example, none of the 219 shelters in the state is deemed adequate for the elderly or people with disabilities.

The next legislative session requires a more aggressive tack, with the state working in conjunction with the city to coordinate efforts to avoid duplication. Spending efficiently and wisely assures that our money will provide the biggest return.

Before Katrina, it was hard to prepare for the unimaginable. But we have a good sense now of what's needed, especially when it comes to shelters and emergency supplies.

Hawai'i's isolation demands we act with full and deliberate speed. If we don't act aggressively, we continue to court disaster.