Honolulu, Hawaii – A powerful series of tsunami waves is now striking the Hawaiian Islands, bringing life-threatening coastal flooding and strong currents across all shorelines Tuesday night into early Wednesday. Residents and visitors in Honolulu, Hilo, Kahului, and coastal communities statewide are urged to move to higher ground immediately, as water levels up to 5.7 feet above normal have been recorded.
According to the National Weather Service Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the tsunami warning remains in effect after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake occurred off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula at 1:25 p.m. HST. Significant tsunami activity is already impacting Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. Measured waves have reached 1.74 meters (5.7 feet) at Kahului and 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) in Hilo, with dangerous surges expected to persist through at least 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Major roadways near the shore—including Ala Moana Boulevard in Honolulu, Honoapiilani Highway on Maui, and Kamehameha Highway in Oahu’s North Shore region—are at risk for closure due to flooding and debris. Unusual currents threaten harbors and marinas, while low-lying neighborhoods face repeated inundation as tsunami wave crests roll in every 10–30 minutes. Emergency officials stress that the first wave is rarely the largest; larger surges may follow overnight.
Residents should avoid all beaches and coastal areas, stay off roads near the ocean, and charge mobile devices in case of power loss. Do not return to evacuated areas until officials announce the threat has passed. The tsunami’s effects are compounded by high tides, which may increase flooding and erosion.
Tsunami warnings remain in place for all Hawaiian counties. Additional advisories will be issued hourly or sooner as conditions develop.
