L NOAA-JTRE-152 HIG-75-21

THE TSUNAMI OF NOVEMBER 29, 1975 IN HAWAII

By

HAROLD G. LOOMIS

DECEMBER 1975

HAWAII INSTITUTE OF GEOPHYSICS UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, HONOLULU

and

JOINT TSUNAMI RESEARCH EFFORT PACIFIC MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

HAWAII INSTITUTE OF GEOPHYSICS UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII

QE 500 .H35 no.75­21

&' NOM-JTRE-152 HIG-75-21

llSD SEATTLE

THE TSUNAMI OF NOVEMBER 29, 1975 IN HAWAII

By

Harold G. Loomis

SEATrLi:: CENTEfl

December 1975 SEP 231984

N.OA"'. U.S. Dept. of Commerco

Hawaii Institute of Geophysics University of Hawaii, Honolulu

and

Joint Tsunami Research Effort Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

~;V:~ Director I

Joint Tsunami Research Effort Hawaii Institute of Geophysics

ABSTRACT

Wave ttUnup heights fott th" tsunami. of

November 89~ 19'10 are reported for 'tooati-ons

on the Is'tand of HCMaii.

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT • iii LIST OF TABLES vii LIST OF FIGURES. vii 1. Description. 1

2. Runup Measurements • 4

3. Qualitative Impressions. 4

Tables 1-6

Figures 1-7

v

LIST OF TABLES

1. Wave runup heights at Hi10 • • • 7

2. Wave runup heights along Puna coast 9

3. Wave runup heights on Kau coast from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to South Poi~t . . • • • 10

4. Details of Kaa1ua1u cove on southwest Kau coast . 12

5. Wave runup heights on Kona coast from South Point to Kawaihae . . . . • . . . . 13

6. Detail runup at Keauhou Bay, Kona . • 15

LIST OF FIGURES

1. Maximum measured wave heights on the Island of Hawaii •. 17

2. Diagram of runup measurement . . 19

3. Location of measurements at Hi10; some symbols refer to Table 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

4. Puna1uu, Kau, Hawaii showing houses destroyed • . 23

5. Kaa1ua1u, Kau, Hawaii showing locations of measurements ••• 25

6. Tide records of November 29, 1975 at Hi10 and Honolulu. (Horizontal bars are hour marks.) • . . . . . . • • . 27

7. Tide records of November 29, 1975 at Kahului and Nawi1iwi1i • 29

vii

THE TSUNAMI OF NOVEMBER 29, 1975 IN HAWAII

by

Harold G. Loomis

1. Description

At 0448 Hawaii standard time on November 29, 1975, an earthquake

of magnitude 7.2 on the Richter scale with epicenter at lat. 19°20' N.,

long. 155°01'45" W. generated a tsunami that did considerable damage

in shoreline areas of the southern two-thirds of the Island of Hawaii

(Fig. 1). The damage from the earthquake and tsunami combined was

estimated by Hawaii County to be $3-3/4 million; of that, about $1-1/2

million damage could be ascribed to the tsunami alone. About a dozen

dwellings were totally or partially destroyed, and a dozen boats were

severely damaged.

The largest wave was 20 feet high and overran the shoreline just

seconds after the earthquake at locations near the epicenter, which

was 2-1/2 miles southwest of Ka1apana or right at the shoreline at an

unpopulated location called Kupaalu. In spite of the fact that the

coastline was well populated with fishermen, campers, and surfers (it

was the Saturday morning of Thanksgiving weekend), only two persons

were killed. One of the victims was killed by a rocks1ide; because

the body of the other has not been recovered, cause of death is unknown.

These fatalities were from among a group of 36 campers at Ha1ape in

the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Most of the campers were caught

2

in the incoming wave but survived the ordeal and managed to scramble

to higher ground.

The small number of fatalities was due mainly to two factors. ,

The earthquake awakened everyone and many people were aware that a

tsunami might occur. Also, the first wave was smaller than the

second and was not breaking, so the initial flooding was a clear

warning of other waves to come. The second wave, which followed in

minutes and was the largest wave, formed a bore. There were five

or six, or more, discernible waves.

Persons farther from the epicenter had more time to escape the

tsunami.

I talked to about two dozen people who "witnessed" the tsunami,

insofar as one 'can see at 5 a.m. with a clear sky and the light from

a sliver of waning moon. The sea was relatively calm and the tide

was about midtide on the ebb. Along the coast near the epicenter the

sea appeared to be agitated or choppy. Initial high water was observed

immediately after the earthquake. At Xalapana this initial rise of

water was about 3 feet and at Halap~6 feet or more. I attribute this

to the subsidence of the ground as well as to the short period waves

caused by the earth's shaking. The longer period waves (i.e., 2 to 3

minutes crest-to-crest) follwed at times that were appropriate to the

distance from the area of generation.

Several people reported that their first indication of a tsunami

was a severe recession of the water accompanied by an absence of

normal wave noise and a rushing sound like that of the wind. I

believe this was the sound of water draining out of rock crevices

3

after the ocean had receded. At Hilo, the recession was reported by

two observers aboard boats in Radio Bay to be -S feet, followed by a

rise in water to +3 feet above the normal level. Many people heard

a rumbling noise as a large number of stones were moved about by the

rushing water and deposited throughout the inundation area. Also,

the stones carried by the water scarred trees and undoubtedly added

to the damaging force of the water.

This tsunami was similar to, but smaller than, that of 1868

when waves of 60 feet occurred and was of the type that represents a

particular danger to Hawaii since it is not possible to give advance

warning to persons near the source of the wave.

On Sunday, November .30, I began a careful survey of the affected

coast, measuring the elevation of high-water marks with a level and

staff, beginning at Hilo and working around the southern part of the

island to Kawaihae (Fig. 2). In addition, I took photographs and

talked to everyone I could locate who had firsthand experience of the

tsunami. This work took five days and established the imp~rtance of

aatuaZ measurements, since guesses of observers and even my own esti­

mates of wave heights proved upon measurement to be very wrong at

times.

The measurements were always taken to sea level and were then

corrected for the tide, so that wave heights at the time of the tsunami

are reported here. In some cases the elevation was found from a

topographic map by identifying limits of inundation. This method was

used at Punaluu, where the contrator's elevation maps were used; at

4

Kamoarnoa campground l in the National Park, where the cliffs were too

high to allow me to get down to sea level; and at the painted church

at Kalapana, where the distance from the high-water mark to the water's

edge was rather great and the elevation could be taken more accurately

from a map. At Kaimu Beach, Kalapana, Kamoamoa, and Halape there is

a problem in that it is not certain whether the wave hit before or

after the subsidence of the land. I am reporting high-water marks

at elevations above sea level as they existed on the date taken.

, . believe that for the most part the land subsided at the time of the

earthquake and the reported wave heights are accurate. \

2. Runup Measurements

All wave heights are corrected to actual wave height at the time

of the tsunami. The information is presented in Tables 1-6 and with

reference to figures. Figure 2 shows what was measured. Figure 1

and Figures 3-5 show locations of measurements. Tide gage records

from Hilo, Honolulu, Kahului, and Nawiliwili are sho~ in Figures 6

and 7.

3. Qualitative Impressions

I talked with dozens of eyewitnesses, most of.who~ reported

that the second wave was about one-third larger than the first. In

Hilo and on the Kona coast a big draw-down was reported; some reported

that it was the first thing notic~d and others reported a big recession

IThe Hawaii Natural, History Assocnation Guide 1 notes that the Kamoamoa campground was the site of an ancient village that was destroyed by the 1868 tsunami.

I

5

between first and second waves. Successive crests were reported as

being 2-3 minutes apart. Campers at Halape reported wave after wave

in quick succession at 10-15 second intervals, each larger than the

preceding.

Many people were kind enough to help with measurements, includ­

ing Charles Garcia, Masaichi Iyo, and Henry A. Keliikoa. I interviewed

the following eyewitnesses: From Hilo: Steven Hammeken, U.S. Coast

Guard; Mr. and Mrs. Roger Anderson, sailboat Valkyrie; Mr. Morales,

sampan fisherman; Bob Lee and Cliff Collins, pilots who flew over the

coast immediately after the tsunami; Charles Garcia, tsunami observer;

Mr. Thibadeau, Hilo Terminal and Transit Company.

From Kapoho: Bernard Mendonca; Mr. Gibson. From Kalapana: the

duty ranger and the tide gage technician; Steve Garcia, surfer. From

Punaluu: Joe Wood, contractor; Ed Crook, Jim Reed, and Doug Evans,

C. Brewer Co.; Ernest Kalani, camper; "Honey Chile," resident; Mr.

Cachaloa, resident; some fishermen at South Point; Tad.Hashimoto, who

was at Kaalualu. From Halape: Brad Jones, Keith Stratton, and Beverly

Wellman, campers.

From Milolii: Mr. Kaupiko, resident; two other groups of resi­

dents who were at their boats during the tsunami. From Napoopoo: Bill

Hodgens, resident; Mrs. Kahele, resident; two other residents. From

Keauhou Hay: Bill Cuccaro, dive shop owner; Burt Lang, sailboat The

Est. From Kailua-Kona: harbormaster and one boat captain. From

Honokohau: Captain Parker, skipper; two other boat owners. From

Kawaihae: Curt Shoemaker, boat owner. From the Volcano Observatory:

Dr. Robert Tilling.

6

I also talked to numerous others,and occasionally requested

strangers to hold a staff for measurements. Cliff Collins of Hilo

was pilot for a visual and photographic aerial survey of the coast­

line. I thank them all, and especially Louise Lembeck, who assisted

with this report.

Tab

le

1­

Wav

e ru

nup

h

eig

hts

at

Hil

o

e Q)

Lo

cati

on

Sy

mbo

l 1 M

easu

rem

ent

Dat

e T

ime

Q)°o

o~~'"

ttl~Q)

e

Q)-.-

I ()

ti

l ><

l:

­°

ttl ~

~~Q)

o..tIl~

0.. •

.-1

ttl

~

l: Q)

e Q)

~

o..

;j

;j

til

l:

ttl

;j

Q)

l:

0 •.-1 ~

() Q) ~

~

0

~

l:

~Q)

Q)

e

~

Q)

() ~

Q)

;j

~

ti

l ~

ttl

o

Q)

Evi

denc

e

<"'~

~

e

u u

e

Yar

ds

Fee

t F

eet

Fee

t

Lig

ht

at

Wai

luku

Riv

er

a 11

/30

1720

10

9

.1

-0.6

8

.5

Deb

ris

on g

roun

d

Sta

rt o

f g

uar

d r

ail

at

inte

rsecti

on

b

11

/30

17

13

10

8.8

-0

.6

8.2

D

o.

At

cano

e cl

ub

s c

11/3

0 16

35

20

7.9

-0

.4

7.5

D

o.

100

yar

ds

east

of

sym

bol

c d

11/3

0 16

40

20

7.9

-0

.4

7.5

D

o.

Lef

t ba

nk e

ntr

ance

to

Wai

loa

Riv

er

e 11

/30

1705

20

8

.8

-0.4

8

.4

Do.

Insi

de

entr

ance

, ab

ove

par

kin

g l

ot

f 11

/30

1655

20

8

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7

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tele

ph

on

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and

, le

vel

alo

ng

doc

ks

dock

ar

ea,

sam

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11/3

0 16

15

5 5

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5

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t on

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ent

bas

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f te

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ho

ne

stan

d

Mar

ine

rail

way

by

Su

isan

h

12

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0950

15

7

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7

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ris

on t

ree

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k w

all

tow

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1000

5

5.8

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.7

5.1

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ro

ck w

all

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k w

all

by L

iliu

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alan

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arde

n j

12/1

09

30

10

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4.3

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ebri

s

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ft o

f ro

ad l

ead

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to

Coc

onut

I.

k

12/1

17

10

30

4.6

+

0.2

4.8

D

ebri

s,

log

Coc

onut

I.

b

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t 12

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1735

40

5

.0

0 5

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Deb

ris,

se

awee

d

Sea

war

d si

de o

f co

mfo

rt s

tati

on

m

12

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0740

8

7.4

0

7.4

S

eaw

eed

in t

rees

Sea

war

d ri

gh

t si

de o

f C

ocon

ut I.

n

12/1

07

45

10

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0

6.6

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ebri

s on

gra

ss

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er ju

st t

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s w

all

0 12

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0750

1

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0

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f ro

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p

12/1

07

25

20

5.5

0

5.5

D

ebri

s,

seaw

eed

......

Fro

nt

of

Hil

o L

agoo

n H

ote

l q

12/1

06

30

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+0.

4 4

.5

Deb

ris

Tab

le 1

. W

ave

runu

p h

eig

hts

at

Hi1

0 (c

on

t'd

.)

00

Lo

cati

on

Sy

mbo

11

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sure

men

t

Dat

e T

ime

e Q,)

Q,)

ob

l)+

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t",

CIS l

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Q,)

.,..

j (j

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CIS

f.tf.

t+JQ

,)Q

.iI'

l+J

p..

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j as

<"'~

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p..

;:j

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ls::

as

;:j

Q,)

Cl::

e

s:: o .,..

j

+J

(j

Q,) f.t

f.t o U

+J s::

"'Q

,)Q,

) e

+J

Q,)

(j

f.tQ,)

;:

j f.t

C

Il f.t

as

o

Q,)

ue

Ev

iden

ce

Ya

rds

Fee

t F

eet

Fee

t

Fro

nt

of

Hil

o L

agoo

n H

ote

l r

12

/1

0815

5

4.3

0

4.3

D

ebri

s F

ron

t o

f H

ilo

Lag

oon

Ho

tel

s 1

2/1

08

15

5 4

.3

0 4

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Nan

ilo

a H

ote

l t

12

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0832

5

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3.7

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o.

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a H

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12

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5

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a H

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l v

12

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5

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Bay

, by

ro

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3

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t o

f p

ier

2,

50 y

aFds

x

12

/1

1120

5

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o.

Rad

io

Bay

at

Co

ast

Gua

rd C

utt

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y 1

1/3

0

1343

o

3.5

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3.1

T

esti

mon

y fo

llo

wed

by

m

easu

rem

ents

. "B

oat

s -5

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bott

omed

du

rin

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"

Eas

t en

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f R

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Bay

z

11

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00

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ris

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ash

mar

ks.

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reak

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11

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o.

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tsid

e b

reak

wat

er,

100

yar

ds

east

bb

1

1/3

0

1430

10

~.7

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o.

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tsid

e b

reak

wat

er,

200

yar

ds

east

cc

11

130

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1

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o.

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es

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k

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11

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att

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ss

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1

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pin

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eed

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of

road

, 4

mil

es

ff

11

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15

20

30

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17

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Tab

le

2.

Wav

e ru

nup

hei

gh

ts

alo

ng

Pun

a co

ast

Lo

cati

on

M

easu

rem

ent

Dat

e T

ime

is

<U

<U

°o

o+

Jf-l

""C

l ~

41

<U

is

<U

•.-i

U

ti

l ><

I::

­

° ~

f-l

f-l+

J<U

l:

L.t

Il+

J

l:L. •

.-i ~

<""Cl~

Yar

ds

+J I::

<U

is

<U

f-l

l:L

.;:j

;:

j ti

l

§ ~

rX~

Fee

t

I::

• ° .-i

+J U

<U

f-l

f-l ° u

Fee

t

+J I::

""Cl

<U

<U

is

+J

<U

U

f-l

CD

;:j

f-l

til

f-l ~

° <U

U

is

Fee

t

Evi

denc

e

Cap

e K

umuk

ahi

300

yar

ds

sou

thw

est

of

lig

ht

12/1

12

55

10

11

.5

-0.5

1

1.0

Sw

ash

mar

ks

on s

and

be

ach

Isaa

c H

ale

Cou

nty

Par

k b

ehin

d l

aun

ch

ram

p 12

/1

1340

so

7

.0

-0.4

6

.6

Deb

ris

on

gra

ss

1 m

ile

sou

th M

cKen

zie

Cou

nty

Par

k

12/1

14

03

10

12

.0

-0.4

1

1.6

Sw

ash

mar

ks

in p

ine

nee

dle

s

Kai

mu

Bea

ch,

no

rth

east

end

12

/1

1445

10

1

2.5

-0

.4

12

.1

Mar

ks

in t

rees

Kai

mu

Bea

ch,

no

rth

east

end

1

2/1

14

45

30

12

.5

-0.4

1

2.1

M

ud

acro

ss

road

Kai

mu

Bea

ch,

100

yar

ds

from

so

uth

­w

est

end

12

/1

1500

so

9

.0

-0.4

8

.6

Deb

ris

Kai

mu

Bea

ch,

SO

yar

ds

from

so

uth

­w

est

end

12

/1

1500

20

8

.0

-0.4

7

.6

Swas

h in

san

d

Kal

apan

a,

pai

nte

d c

hurc

h an

d ca

noe

lan

din

g,

wat

er t

o r

oad

1

2/1

18

00

100

17

.0

Deb

ris

in g

rass

Kam

oam

oa

Cam

pgro

und

·12/

1 16

00

70

20

.0

Deb

ris

and

sto

nes

on

gra

ss

alo

ng

len

gth

O

I re

con

stru

cted

ru

ins

f Fr

om m

ap.

\0

I'i

.ss

Tab

le 3

. W

ave

runu

p h

eig

hts

on

Kau

co

ast

from

Haw

aii

Vol

cano

es N

atio

nal

Par

k t

o S

outh

Po

int

o

=o <I)

<I)~OO

+-

l +-

l

Lo

cati

on

Mea

sure

men

t

Dat

e T

ime

+-l

l.l-

l"Q

CIS

<I)

=<I)

.pof

U

II

I X

I:

l­o

CIS ~

~+-l<l)

I:l

<I) =

<I) ~

0.

.::3

::3

II

I

I:l

o opof

+-l

U

<I)

~

I:l

"0(1

) <I)

=

+-

l <I

)U

~

<I

) ::3

~

II

I E

vide

nce

~1Il+-l

0.

. opo

f «

l <

"0

~

I:l

CIS

g~

~

o u ~

o U

as

<I) l3

Yar

ds

Fee

t F

eet

Fee

t

Kea

uhou

Lan

ding

, H

awai

i V

olca

noes

N

atio

nal

Par

k

+20

an

d un

der

Hal

ape,

H

awai

i V

olca

noes

Nat

ion

al

Par

k

Pun

al\l

u2 1

2/2

0

93

0

1 +

20

-26

3+

18

Hon

uapo

1

2/2

1

14

5

30

22

.5

-0.9

2

1.6

Hon

uapo

Hon

uapo

4

Kaa

1ual

u

12

/2

11

45

30

12

/2

12

00

SO

12

/3 0

80

0-1

20

0

-

22.5

20

.0

-0.9

-0.9

21

.6

19

.1

16

.0

Mea

sure

d by

ob

serv

ers

from

U.S

. G

eolo

gic

al S

urve

y V

olca

no

Ob

serv

ato

ry

Do.

Sev

en h

ouse

s d

estr

oy

ed,

deb

ris

lin

e a

ll a

roun

d co

ve,

re

stau

­ra

nt

sev

erel

y d

amag

ed,

man

y h

igh

watermarks~

C

ount

y p

av

il­

ion

dam

aged

, 2

cars

des

tro

yed

, le

i st

and

des

tro

yed

, 2

smal

l p

avil

ion

s d

estr

oy

ed.

Wat

er

cam

e to

sea

war

d ea

rner

of

go

lf

sho

p.

All

Cou

nty

bu

ild

ing

s,

pav

ilio

ns,

sh

ower

s in

par

k d

estr

oy

ed;

hous

e d

estr

oy

ed,

mov

ed 4

0 y

ard

s;

corr

ug

ated

sh

ed d

estr

oy

ed.

Deb

ris

beyo

nd w

har

f.

Deb

ris

on cli

ff b

ehin

d s

how

er.

Deb

ris

all

aro

und

cove

.

,..~ "'f

kW,j"

",

Tab

le

3.

Wav

e ru

nup

hei

gh

ts o

n K

au

coas

t fr

om H

awai

i V

olca

noes

Nat

ion

al

Par

k t

o S

ou

th P

oin

t (c

on

t'd

.)

is

Cl)

Lo

cati

on

Mea

sure

men

t

Dat

e T

ime

Cl)

oO

l)

+-I~-o

Cl

l 4-

1 C

l)

is

Cl)

-.-4

()

Vl

>< s::

­o

Cll ~

~

+-

I Cl

) o

..V

l+-l

+-I s:: Cl) is

Cl)

~

o..

;:j

;:j

Vl

s:: Cl

l

s:: o -.-4 .....

'.J

(j) ~

~

+-I

-os:

: Cl

) Cl

) +-

I is

() ~

C

l) ;:

j ~

Vl

~

Cl

l

Evi

denc

e

0.. -

.-4

Cll

<"tl~

;:j

C

l)

c:::

is

o u o

Cl)

u is

Yar

ds

Fee

t F

eet

Fee

t

Eas

t 10

0 y

ard

s o

f S

ou

th P

oin

t li

gh

t an

d ra

ng

e m

arke

r 1

2/2

13

15

40

14

.0

Deb

ris

and

sto

nes

on

gra

ss

Eas

t o

f li

gh

t 50

0 y

ard

s 1

2/2

13

20

40

16

.5

Deb

ris

and

log

Eas

t o

f li

gh

t 55

0 y

ard

s 1

2/2

13

30

40

16

.5

Deb

ris

Eas

t o

f li

gh

t 60

0 y

ard

s 1

2/2

13

40

70

17

.0

Do.

Eas

t o

f li

gh

t 70

0 y

ard

s 1

2/2

13

45

50

16

.0

Do.

No

rth

east

1

mil

e o

f li

gh

t at

lau

nch

ing

ram

p 1

2/2

14

45

70

16

.5

Deb

ris,

lo

gs

No

rth

east

50

yar

ds

of

lau

nch

ing

ram

p 1

2/2

15

00

60

18

.5

Deb

ris

No

rth

east

50

yar

ds

of

lau

nch

ing

ram

p ·1

2/2

15

00

200

20

.0

esti

mat

ed

Deb

ris

and

3 fo

ot

log

No

rth

east

400

y

ard

s o

f fi

shin

g

cam

p,

two

cove

s up

th

e co

ast

12

/2

1440

13

0 1

8.5

L

ogs,

d

ebri

s

1A

long

pali

at

Hal

ape

it

was

es

tim

ated

by

Vol

cano

Ob

serv

ato

ry p

eop

le t

hat·

wat

er s

pla

shed

up

to a

bo

ut

30 f

eet.

2 S

ee F

igu

re

4.

3 W

ave

hei

gh

t ta

ken

fro

m co

ntr

acto

r's

elev

atio

n p

lan

. A

lmos

t u

nif

orm

ly l

8-f

oo

t co

nto

ur.

M

arks

on

p

av

ilio

n n

ear

wate

r's

edge

wer

e 18

fe

et

als

o.

4S

ee T

able

4 a

nd F

igu

re

5.

..... -

I -c

g

Tab

le 4

. D

etai

ls o

f K

aa1u

a1u

cove

on

sou

thw

est

Kau

co

ast

I-'

tv

e (1

) (1

)0

0

0

+J

+.l

+.l

l-<

",

s:=

s:=

s:=M

easu

rem

ent

t1l

t+-l

CD

(1)

0 "'(

1)

e (1

) e

(1)

e .~

U

ti

l (1

) +.

l +

J (1

)L

oat

ion

Sy

mbo

11

.~

Evi

denc

e><

s:=

-I-<

U

U

I-<D

ate

Tim

e o

t1l

I-<

At;

:3

CD

(1)

;:3

I-<

+.l

(1)

;:3

til

I-<

I-<

til

Att

ll+

.l

!-<

I-<

t1l

At·~

ct

l §

~

0 o

(1)

<"'~

0:

:S

u u

e

Yar

ds

Fee

t F

eet

Fee

t

Kaa

1ual

u a

12

/3

0950

80

1

5.0

-0

.6

14

.4

Deb

ris

Kaa

1ua1

u b

12

/3

0940

50

1

4.3

-0

.5

13

.8

Kea

we

tree m

arks

Kaa

1ua1

u c

12

/3

0935

40

1

6.4

-0

.4

16

.0

Do.

Kaa

1ua1

u d

12

/3

0930

20

1

4.8

-0

.4

14

.4

Do.

Kaa

1ua1

u e

12

/3

0932

10

1

4.9

-0

.4

14

.5

Do.

Kaa

1ua1

u f

12

/3

1002

2

12

.0

-0.6

1

1.4

D

o.

Kaa

1ua1

u g

12

/3

1010

5

13

.2

-0.6

1

2.6

D

o.

Kaa

1ua1

u h

12

/3

1018

5

13

.5

-0.7

1

2.8

D

o.

(nea

r w

reck

ed b

oat

)

Kaa

1ua1

u i

12

/3

1027

5

9.8

-0

.8

9.0

K

eaw

e tr

ee m

arks

Kaa

1ua1

u j

12

/3

1036

40

1

1.8

-0

.8

11

.0

Do.

Kaa

1ua1

u k

12

/3

1146

60

1

1.1

-0

.9

10

.2

Do.

Kaa

1ua1

u R..

--

200

Sto

ne

wa1

1lm

ocke

d do

wn

Kaa

1ua1

u m

1

2/3

11

25

5 1

5.2

-0

.8

14

.4

Kea

we

tree m

arks

Kaa

1ua1

u n

12

/3

1133

80

1

6.0

-1

1.0

1

5.0

D

ebri

s on

gra

ss

1Sym

bo1

no

tati

on

s co

rres

po

nd

to

th

ose

on

Fig

ure

5.

b -

_<

._

. _

_._

.•_.

~_

Tab

le 5

. W

ave

runu

p h

eig

hts

on

Kon

a co

ast

from

So

uth

Po

int

to K

awai

hae

s cu

Mea

sure

men

t

cu

oco

~~"'O

CIS

~

cu

s· cu

~

l:

cu S

l: ° .r

-!

~

l:"'O

cu

cu

S L

oca

tio

n

Dat

e T

ime

.r-!

(,

) rI

)

X l:

­°

CIS ~

~

~

cu

cu

~

g.~

~

(,) cu ~

~

(,) cu

~

cu ~ ::3

rI)

Evi

denc

e

p..rI)~

p..

'r-!

CIS

<"'O~

l:

CIS

::3

cu ~·s

~ ° u

~

CIS°

cuu

S

Yar

ds

Fee

t F

eet

Fee

t

Mil

o1..

1 :l

l.

Hoo

kena

, 10

0 y

ard

s to

rig

ht

of

I

pav

ilio

n

Hoo

kena

, 50

yar

ds

to le

ft o

f p

avil

ion

Nap

oopo

o,

50

yar

ds

sou

th o

f w

har

f at

Kah

e1e

hom

e

Nap

oopo

o at

old

wh

arf

Nap

oopo

o,

200

yar

ds

sou

th o

f p

ier

on p

oin

t

Kea

uhou

B

ay4

Kah

a1uu

B

each

Par

k to

left

of

pav

ilio

n

Kah

a1uu

B

each

Par

k to

rig

ht

of

pav

ilio

n

1 m

ile

no

rth

of

n at

4-m

i1e

mar

ker

Kai

lua,

K

ona;

p

ark

ing

lo

t o

f b

oat

h

arb

or

12

/3

12

/3

12

/3

12

/3

12

/3

12

/4

12

/4

12

/4 .

12

/4

12

/4

1355

1400

1700

1715

1745

0930

1040

10

50

11

03

1125

30

20

2 20

10

20

10

25

10

10

6.7

5.8

11

.5

12

.6

11

.5

9.2

7.5

9.8

6.5

6.5

-0.6

-0.6

-0.3

-0.3

-0.3

+0

.4

-0.5

-0.5

-0.5

-0.5

6.1

5.2

11

.2

12

.3

3_

6. 5

11. 2

9.6

7.0

9.3

6.0

6.0

Deb

ris

in g

rass

Hig

h-w

ater

mar

ks

on

san

d b

each

Deb

ris

on

gra

ss,

and

test

imo

ny

Deb

ris

on

gra

ss

and

in b

ushe

s

She

d carr

ied

50

yar

ds

seaw

ard.

Tw

o ca

noes

d

estr

oy

ed.

Mar

ks

in

tree.

Deb

ris,

w

ater

mar

ks

Deb

ris

on g

rass

Deb

ris

and

swas

h m

arks

in

san

d

Deb

ris

San

d on

par

kin

g l

ot,

te

sti

­m

ony

of

har

bo

rmas

ter.

I-

' c..

.

--

--

-_--.:

----

-,~~

-~~~

=--_

.;--

~-~~~

-..

.:=

=-

~ ~~_

=

~~-~----b

_-;.~L;,,,"_

_

........

.. _

_III!

IIIIIII!

I!!I1!1

1!!!11...._

-~-~-~-­

...,T

able

5.

Wav

e ru

nup

hei

gh

ts o

n K

ona

coas

t fr

om S

outh

Po

int

to K

awai

hae

(co

nt'

d.)

.... .... ~

S 4>

4

>°0

0

+J

+J+J~"O

I:::

I:::

I::

:n

l l.I

-t 4>

Mea

sure

men

t ....°

"04

>

S 4>

~

4>

S

....

(J

II

) 4>

+J

+J

CDL

oca

tio

n

(J

(J ~

E

vide

nce

>< I::

: -

~

o n

l ~

t:l

..::3

CD

CD

::3

Dat

e T

ime

::3

II)

~

II)

~+J4>

~

t:

l..1

I)+

J ~

~

nl

t:l..

....

as §

~

0 °

CD

<'1j~

c::

S u

ue

Yar

ds

Fee

t F

eet

Fee

t

Hon

okoh

au

Boa

t H

arbo

r at

lau

nch

ing

1

2/4

12

12

5 8

.0

-0.8

7

.2

Deb

ris

on

rock

s ra

mp

Hon

okoh

au

Boa

t H

arbo

r n

ear

har

bo

r­1

2/4

12

40

1 6

.2

-0.8

5

.4

Deb

ris

mas

ter

shed

Fis

hin

g s

hac

ks

just

no

rth

of

12

/4

1235

10

4

.0

-0.8

3

.2

Swas

h m

arks

in

san

dH

onok

ohau

5

Ana

ehoo

mal

u 1

2/4

13

25

7 4

.5

-0.7

3

.8

Mar

ks in

san

d

Kaw

aiha

e,

lau

nch

ing

ram

ps

12

/4

1430

5

2.5

H

igh

-wat

er m

ark

(-3

.5 w

ith

dra

wal

)

t T

hree

dif

fere

nt

grou

ps o

f fi

sher

men

who

wer

e at

their

can

oes

at

exp

ecte

d a

rriv

al

tim

e re

po

rt n

o w

ave.

2S

teep

ban

k.

3R

esid

ents

saw

oce

an f

10

0rb

etw

een

fir

st

and

seco

nd w

ave.

W

ater

fell

at

least-

6.5

feet.

4S

ee T

able

6.

5 Tw

o re

sid

en

ts h

ere

rep

ort

ed nothin~then

said

it

was

li

ke a

h

igh

tid

e.

a No

hig

h-w

ater

mar

ks

cou

ld b

e fo

und

on c

ora

l fl

at

5 fe

et

'abo

ve s

ea l

ev

el.

Tab

le 6

. D

etai

l ru

nup

at

Kea

uhou

Bay

, K

ona.

s (j

)

Lo

cati

on

1

Sym

bol

Mea

sure

men

t

Dat

e T

ime

(j)

0 b

I)-j

.)H

"t:l

cd

tH

(j)

S (j

) oM

U

rJl

K

~-

o cd

H

H

-j.)

(j)

o-'r

Jl-j

.)o-

"M

cd

<t:"t:l~

j.J

~

(j) S (j) H

0-.

::1

::I

rJl

~

cd

::I

(j

) 0:

: S

~

0 oM

-j.) U

(j) H

H

0 U

j.J

~

"t:l

(j)

(j)

S-j.

) (j

)

U

H

(j)

::I

H

rJl

H

cd

o (j

) u

s

Evi

denc

e

Yar

ds

Fee

t F

eet

Fee

t

Kon

a S

urf

Ho

tel,

50

y

ard

s in

sid

e

sou

th p

oin

t o

f co

ve

a 1

2/4

10

12

30

8.5

-0

.2

8.3

D

ebri

s on

g

rass

Tel

epho

ne p

ole

at

left

sid

e o

f p

ark

ing

lo

t b

12

/4

0910

3

7.8

+

0.3

8.1

P

ain

t m

arks

h

igh

wat

er

on p

ole

Div

e sh

op a

nd b

ehin

d

c 1

2/4

08

50

30

8.0

+

0.4

8

.4

Deb

ris,

h

igh

-wat

er m

arks

on

bu

ild

ing

To

rig

ht

of

cov

e,

beh

ind

wal

l ca

noe

sto

rag

e

d 1

2/4

09

30

50

9.2

+

0.4

9.6

D

ebri

s

Em

pty

lot

rig

ht

sid

e o

f ca

ve

e 1

2/4

09

30

30

8.6

+

0.4

9

.0

00

.

Nor

th p

oin

t o

f co

ve

old

hou

se

nea

r D

oc H

ill'

s

f 1

2/4

09

42

10

9.0

.

0 9

.0

Deb

ris

on

gra

ss

1Sy

mbo

l n

ota

tio

ns

corr

esp

on

d t

o

the

sket

ch b

elo

w.

Not

e:

Boa

t at

pie

r bo

ttom

ed b

etw

een

firs

t an

d se

con

d w

ave.

O

ne

20

-fo

ot

bo

at w

as

dep

osi

ted

on

par

kin

g lo

t.

A 3

6-40

fo

ot

bo

at w

as

sun

k.

Oth

er b

oat

s su

stain

ed

min

or d

amag

e.

..'~""·°ci·····~··'~-

.~m

hote

l '.'

0"

0·.· :~

o .' 0

0

'b

e-'

rJ d

ive

shop

V

I

c

17

HAWAII

Hala~,e

Punalu~, .:'

Honuapo /' 18'

6' .' .Kallua

9.3' '. ,Kahaluu C.P,

9.6' ~ Keauhou Bay "

21.6'

Figure 1. Maximum measured wave heights on the Island of Hawaii.

19

Point of maximum runup

Level line

Sea level at measurement time

Sea level at time of tsunami

Figure 2.· Diagram of runup measurement.

Fig

ure

3

. L

oca

tio

n o

f m

easu

rem

ents

at

Hil

o;

som

e sy

mbo

ls re

fer

to

Tab

le

1.

tV ....

"" J I,

23

.- . , .. . . \ .....-"!-"l'""......rIfIII!I"-:-:.

g.mlS'

;' ,..:-' 'iii Lei '.',., d' ~ I

" Stan~. I'l4 12 yds e. /, ... '·m.l'lS' ~""",ll~y~-;::::.s==:::::g~.~ f, wa ~ 4Syds"," iii 32yds. Ii, ..... b. ." , ­.....

...... 17yds III I m \30yds. ;/

.....a.:." __ -~- - -" ...... _..... \

(not to scale) Debris @ lSI contour

Legend: a. Ito house destroyed, moved 17 yards toward sea. b. House nearly intact, moved 30 yards inland. c. Dahlberg house, mostly destroyed, rotated 90·

clockwise, moved 11 yards to right then seaward 5 yards.

d. Carmichel A-frame house destroyed, moved 12 yards to right.

e. Mizuno house shattered, moved 48 yards,f. Cacholoa house shattered, moved 32 yards. g. Pavilion fence down and roof lifted. h. Small tile buildings destroyed. i. C. Brewer restaurant gutted. j. Golf house basement filled, golf carts flooded.

Figure 4. Punaluu, Kau, Hawaii showing houses destroyed.

25

(not to scale)

Figure 5. Kaalualu, Kau, Hawaii showing locations of measurements.

27

Hilo 1:12

N-t.t) o

Honolulu 1:6

o o t.t) o N

.q­t.t) o

Figure 6. Tide records of November 29, 1975 at Hi10 and Honolulu. (Horizontal bars are hour marks.)

29

.Kahului 1: 12

o o &t) o

Nawiliwili 1:6

o o cg

Fiiure 7. Tide records of November 29, 1975 at Kahului and Nawi1iwili.