Hawaiʻi Tsunamis

Hawai‘i is one of the most unique locations in the world for studying tsunami effects.  Not only are there large local tsunami sources, but Hawai‘i is also in the crosshairs of distant tsunamis generated along the Pacific Ring of Fire,  notably 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 Hawai‘i tsunami was from a 16th century Hawaiian chant that described a huge wave that struck the coast of Moloka‘i.  The earliest confirmed tsunami was on Dec 21, 1812, when a wave from Southern California was observed at Ho‘okena on the west coast of the Big Island (Hawai‘i 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 Hawai‘i island (60% in Hilo). 245 of the 293 deaths were from distant tsunami sources.

Hawai‘i Historical Tsunami Effects 1812-2022