The Great Hawaii ShakeOut - Why Participate?

EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS

Earthquakes in Hawaii -What you need to know (PDF)

The Hawaiian archipelago experiences thousands of earthquakes each year. Most are so small that they can only be detected by seismometers, but some earthquakes are strong enough to be felt and cause damage on multiple islands. The strongest of these earthquakes originate in zones of structural weakness at the base of the volcanoes or deep beneath the islands and can impact residents across the state.

In 2006, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurred off the northwest coast of the Island of Hawai‘i. Roads and buildings on Hawai‘i and Maui were damaged by strong shaking. As a result, 61 buildings were declared irreparable. Several landslides occurred blocking roads and cutting off an entire community on Maui. Power outages were widespread on the islands of Hawai‘i, Maui and Oʻahu. In total, the 2006 earthquake caused $200 million in damage statewide.

In 1975, Kīlauea Volcano's south flank was the site of a magnitude 7.6 earthquake, the highest magnitude event in Hawai‘i during the last century. The shock was felt as far away as Kauaʻi, more than 300 miles from the epicenter. On the Island of Hawaiʻi, the Kalapana coast subsided almost 12 ft, generating a 45 ft-high tsunami that claimed two lives, destroyed houses in nearby Punalu‘u, sank fishing boats in Keauhou Bay in Kona, and damaged boats and piers in Hilo.

Strong earthquakes have also been recorded historically around the islands of Oʻahu, Moloka‘i and Maui. While the seismic shaking hazard near these modern population centers is low on these islands compared to that on the Island of Hawai‘i, it is comparable to seismically active areas in the United States Intermountain West region.

Please consult the following links for more information about the risks that earthquakes pose in your area:

Recent Earthquakes in Hawai'i The U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) monitors earthquakes in Hawaiʻi and posts the most recent earthquake locations on the internet. Check out this webpage for Hawaiʻi’s most recent earthquake activity.
Earthquakes in Hawai‘i - An Underappreciated but Serious Hazard Hawaiʻi earthquakes are generally caused by either volcanic activity or structural adjustment of the volcanic mass on the ocean crust. Details on Hawaiʻi earthquake characteristics are described in this USGS Fact Sheet.
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program While the magnitude of most Hawaiʻi earthquakes are small, larger damaging earthquakes can occur. Earthquake and shaking information to estimate the seismic hazards within the State of Hawaii is provided on this website.
Retrofit Expert System The type of Hawaiʻi homes that are most vulnerable to earthquake damage are post-and-pier structures. Specific advice on how to retrofit these homes to better withstand earthquake shaking is provided on this website.
NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center Being fully aware of Hawaiʻi earthquakes and their consequences means also being aware that they can and do generate dangerous tsunamis. If you are near the shore and feel an earthquake, Drop, Cover, and Hold On until the shaking stops. Once the shaking stops, move inland immediately. Do not wait for officials to issue a warning. The NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center provides warning of damaging tsunamis produced by distant earthquakes. However, their ability to provide advance warnings of tsunamis generated by Hawaiʻi earthquakes is somewhat limited.