Saint Piedro is portrayed as a place where life is not easy, since the islanders must govern their own town and meet their own needs. This storm isolates it even more and separates the island from the country, and covers the island with a white blanket of isolation. The stormy condition in the pacific, right before the battle was a costly event of nature for the American troops. "The sea, as it turned out, contrary to all plans, were running high and choppy" (Guterson, 242). This quote signifies that the stormy conditions in the pacific, influenced the lives of people in a much unexpected way, because of the stormy seas the marines could not land properly on the island and this resulted in a huge loss of life. The stormy conditions of the pacific are also responsible (indirectly) for the loss of Ishmael's arm. Since, if the sea was calm the island would have been infiltrated with more precision, which meant that Ishmael would have remained a radio man, probably then he wouldn't get shot. Guterson also presents the mysteries of the human soul, creating dramatic moments that are often framed by the stark beauty and terror of the natural world. Another instance of the storm occurs in the form of rain which is responsible for uniting Hatsue and Ishmael. "The South Beach trail, with its canopy of cedars, was as good a place as any in a rainstorm" (Guterson, 109). This quote proves that the storm, influences peoples lives in the most unexpected way, who knew that this rain storm would conjure the unexpected unity of Ishmael and Hatsue and change the course of events in their lives.
The cedar tree is a very strong tree, its wood is costly and its scent is soothing, in this novel it is portrayed as a symbol for many things, but mainly it justifies a sense of balance and harmony, between two cultures, which is an allusion itself. The tree also represents a dream, a dream which is far from reality; a place where Ishmael and Hatsue's relationship can exist.