No Tsunami After 3.7 Hualalai, Hawai’i Earthquake

Hawaii Island earthquake July 15, 2012. Image courtesy USGS.

By Wendy Osher

There is no tsunami threat to Hawaii following a preliminary magnitude 3.7 earthquake in the Hualalai region of the Big Island of Hawai’i, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

The quake was reported at 2:19 p.m. on Friday, June 15, 2012.

The PTWC reported the event with a preliminary magnitude of 3.8; but the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory later revised the magnitude to 3.7.

The Hawaii Volcano Observatory reported the quake as centered:

• 14 miles WSW of Waikoloa;
• 15 miles SW of Kawaihae;
• 16 miles NNW of Hualalai Summit;
• and 17 miles N or Kailua.

The USGS had the following coordinates for the center of tremor:

• 9 miles WSW of Puako
  
• 11 miles N of Kalaoa
  
• 14 miles WSW of Waikoloa Village
  
• 60 miles WNW of Hilo
  

The depth of the quake was 9.9 miles.

Again, no tsunami is expected.