What is it about storms that get us out of our houses and to places where we probably shouldn’t be?

Case in point: the last tsunami warning drew dozens of people to Waikiki — even in the surf — despite calls for evacuation.

And today, when weather officials warned people about flash flooding, road closures and possible danger surf caused by Tropical Storm Flossie, what do we do?

We all head out to look for it.

At least that’s what I did.

I can honestly say I enjoy a good storm. And I prefer to see it for myself, then wait at home for the impending thunder claps. (I’m actually not a fan of that.)

I’ve jumped in my car to see lighting storms — even while I lived in Chicago — and went down to the beach almost every time there’s been a tsunami warning.

And let’s not forget how Melissa Chang and I braved the streets of Taipei City during Typhoon Soulik.

I’m not one of those storm chasers or crazy people who think they can outrun a tsunami or brave monstrous surf. I’m way too chicken for that. But I like to see unusual weather patterns, I enjoy a good lighting storm, and I love seeing the rain roll in over the ocean.

And I’m not alone.

When I drove to the Halona Blowhole earlier this evening, I almost couldn’t find parking. Lots of people gathered at the lookout on the southeastern shoreline of Oahu to witness Flossie, now downgraded to a tropical depression. It’s still packing a punch, though, with winds and rainfall hitting the Big Island and Maui and now heading to Oahu. Wind gusts are still expected to be fairly dangerous, reaching up to 40 miles per hour by tomorrow.

So what are your storm plans? Going to work? Braving the surf? Heading out, like me, to Instagram?