The Tsunami: Seventy Years Ago

Tomorrow is the seventieth anniversary of the tsunami. The two big tsunamis affected different parts of coastal Hilo. There used to be many buildings along the makai side of Kamehameha Avenue. When the 1946 wave hit, most of them were smashed up, but the mauka buildings largely escaped damage.

This is perhaps the most known photo from the tsunami, of people running up Ponahawai Street.

And this is one of many buildings along Kamehameha wrecked by the tsunami.

Another Tsunami Warning

Yesterday afternoon, with news of a Richter 8.2 earthquake in Chile, came the anticipation of a tsunami that would arrive about 3:30 a.m., sixty-eight years after a tidal wave crashed into Hilo and Laupahoehoe (although that tsunami originated in the Aleutian Islands). We've had many tsunami warnings, watches, and advisories in recent years, to the point where people become complacent. But the 2011 tsunami from Japan wrecked the Kona Village Resort and even washed a beach house into Kealakekua Bay.

That afternoon I wondered if I should postpone meeting Hattie at the farmer's market the next morning, but the evening news pointed out no flooding was predicted. The ocean would be rough. I decided to go downtown the next day.

Nearing the market today, I could smell the salt air.