Hawaii Tsunamis



 

Hawaii is one of the most unique locations in the world for studying tsunami effects.  Not only are there large local tsunami sources, but Hawaii is also in the crosshairs of distant tsunamis generated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Hawaii maximum tsunami runups 1900 2020 20210331 large thumbnailnotably from South America (18%), Kamchatka and Kuril Islands (15%), West Coast of North and Central America (13%), Alaska and Aleutian Islands (14%), and South Pacific Islands and New Zealand (12%). 

The earliest historical account of a Hawaii tsunami was from a 16th century Hawaiian chant that described a huge wave that struck the coast of Molokai.  The earliest confirmed tsunami was on Dec 21, 1812, when a wave from Southern California was observed at Hookena on the west coast of the Big Island (Hawaii island). Maximum runups in excess of 15 m were measured for the 1946 and 1957 distant tsunamis and the 1975 local tsunami.

Since 1812, there have been more than 160 confirmed tsunamis.  Nine tsunamis caused 293 deaths and damage totaling over USD $625 million (2022 dollars), with 86% of the fatalities on Hawaii island (60% in Hilo). 245 of the 293 deaths were from distant tsunami sources.
HIHistoricalTsunamiEffects 1812 2022 24x36 20220401 520x349Hawai'i Historical Tsunami Effects 1812-2022
To download, click here (PDF, JPG). See Hawai'i Information for additional images on tsunami events affecting Hawai'i. 


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Tsunami Sources 1812-2022
(NCEI, ITIC, 2015, 2022)


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Tsunamis affecting Hawai‘i
1812-2022

(NCEI, ITIC, 2015, 2022)

 


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Tsunami Deaths and Damage 1812-2022
(NCEI, ITIC, 2015, 2022)

 

 

 


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Tsunami Effects
Local and Distant Tsunamis
1812-2022
(NCEI, ITIC, 2015, 2022)


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Tsunamis in Hawai‘i
(Walker & ITIC, 2013, 2020)


All Reported and Confirmed Locally Generated Tsunamis in the Hawaiian Islands

Reported and Confirmed Locally Generated Tsunamis in Hawai`i

Local Earthquakes Causing Tsunamis in Hawai96;i
Local Earthquakes causing Tsunamis in Hawai‘i (ITIC)


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Fatalities in Hawai‘i from Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Hurricanes & Tsunamis

 

 


Hawai96;i's Worst Natural Disasters (dates / cost / fatalities)

Hawai‘i's Worst Natural Disasters (dates / cost / fatalities)

HistoricalTsunamis 1850 2021 NOAA
Tsunamis - global (all), 
1850-2021(video) (image)
(USGS, NOAA)

 

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Earthquakes Global, M6.5or greater
20th Century (video)
2000-2015 (video)
Dangerous Earthquakes, M8 or greater (image)
(USGS, NOAA)


Earthquakes Hawaii 1861 2007  EarthquakesHawaii 1973 2018 UGSG NOAA PTWC logo
Earthquakes in Hawai‘i
State: 1861-2007 (image)
State: 1973-2018 (video,image)
Big Island: 2013-2018 (video)
(USGS, NOAA)

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