Advertiser Staff
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center canceled the tsunami warning for Hawaii at 1:38 p.m. today. There were no immediate reports of damage and beaches were relatively calm as the tsunami caused only minor changes in ocean levels.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is continuing to monitor wave activity for the next few hours, but says the danger has passed.
The leading edge of the tsunami was projected to arrive in Hilo shortly after 11 a.m. and deliver an 8-foot surge.
The first visual evidence of the tsunami were seen in Hilo Bay shortly after 11:30 a.m.
Video shown on Hawaii News Now showed water receding, leaving rocks exposed around Coconut Island.
At about 11:45, signs of an incoming surge were seen as water began to fill in exposed areas and strong surface ripples could be seen.
It wasn't violent or destructive, but it still was a dramatic view.
In Hilo, hundreds of residents gathered on streets in higher areas.
Police had closed streets leading into Hilo, and the waterfront looked like a ghost town.
"I hope I have one home after this," said Gordon Feliciano, 52, as he waited for the waves outside the inundation zone.
Hundreds lined the streets in the area, and many had gathered before dawn.
Pamela Sue Porter, of Kalapana, got to the area around 6 a.m.
"I am concerned," she said.
Similar scenes were played on Maui and Oahu. By the time the tsunami reached Kauai, the waves were about a foot in height.
Waves reaching heights of 1 meter reached Kahului Harbor, while waves just under 1 meter reached Hilo.
Scientists at the tsunami warning center said a bump was noticed along Kawaihae in West Hawaii and Kalaeloa on Oahu, but not more so far, they said.
Hilo Bay is continuing to fill and drain every 20 minutes, said warning center oceanographer Nathan Becker.
"This could get bigger, we don't know yet," Becker said. "The first wave is not necessarily the largest wave but very clearly this is a tsunami taking place in Hawaii right now."
Becker said the scientists will be on alert "until we start to see smaller waves," which could be the next two to three hours at the earliest.
"When we start to see smaller and smaller waves, and wave start to decay and shrink, that's when we'll probably use that to decide whether to cancel. But we're not there yet."
Becker said the action is close to what they had predicted for the event.
"It's probably better than expected in some ways, this is not as damaging as it could have been so far," he said. "But the arrival times are about right, and the wave heights are within what we expected so, so far, it's been very good." ~
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