Sixty years ago today, April 1, 1946, tsunami kills 159 in Hawaii
Apr 1, 2006, 8:56 pm
#1
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Sixty years ago today, April 1, 1946, tsunami kills 159 in Hawaii
The tsunami that devasted Hawai`i (and especially Hilo on the Big Island) struck. It was followed by another one fourteen years later.
While not on the scale of the destruction of the 2004 southeast Asian tsunami, the effects of the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis remain very much alive in and around Hilo and the Hamakua coast.
Perhaps the saddest story is the schoolchildren and teachers who were washed out to sea at Laupahoehoe Point. A friend of mine's brother was one of the children killed. The only reason that my friend wasn't killed is because his mother let him stay home from school that day.
If you've not visited the Tsunami Museum in Hilo, it's a powerful place
www.tsunami.org
While not on the scale of the destruction of the 2004 southeast Asian tsunami, the effects of the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis remain very much alive in and around Hilo and the Hamakua coast.
Perhaps the saddest story is the schoolchildren and teachers who were washed out to sea at Laupahoehoe Point. A friend of mine's brother was one of the children killed. The only reason that my friend wasn't killed is because his mother let him stay home from school that day.
If you've not visited the Tsunami Museum in Hilo, it's a powerful place
www.tsunami.org
Last edited by cblaisd; Apr 1, 2018 at 8:08 am
Apr 1, 2008, 4:03 pm
#3
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Apr 1, 2008, 10:51 pm
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Thanks, also, for the reminder.
Every once in a while, the History Channel or Discovery Channel (or one of those) has a show on the 1946 tsunami, with interviews of a few survivors. Terribly sad.
Last time I was in Hilo, I spent two or so hours at the museum. I could easily have been there much longer. A very powerful place.
riftime
Every once in a while, the History Channel or Discovery Channel (or one of those) has a show on the 1946 tsunami, with interviews of a few survivors. Terribly sad.
Last time I was in Hilo, I spent two or so hours at the museum. I could easily have been there much longer. A very powerful place.
riftime
Apr 1, 2009, 3:57 pm
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Apr 1, 2010, 8:55 am
#7
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There is ample reason that Big Island folks, particularly, were so nervous about last month's tsunami warning.
A moment of silence for those lost in both the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis.
A moment of silence for those lost in both the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis.
Apr 1, 2017, 12:18 pm
#10
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The 1946 tsunami was generated by a magnitude-8.6 earthquake in the Aleutian Islands. It took five hours for the waves to reach the Hawaiian Islands. Unfortunately, there was no warning system at that time. There was devastation to homes, schools and businesses in Hilo and elsewhere, to the piers at the Port of Hilo, and to the railroad track and train cars.
Rather than describe the aftermath, I will tell stories to paint a picture of what experiencing it was like....
Rather than describe the aftermath, I will tell stories to paint a picture of what experiencing it was like....
Jun 8, 2017, 12:40 am
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cblaisd. Just looked at all the posts on this thread. Thank you for continuing to remind us of our history. It is important that someone keeps this in our thoughts.
Also in our thoughts should be the knowledge that there have been historical tsunamis in Hawaii in which at least 24 ft. high tsunami waves have inundated landward at least 330 ft. These massive tsunamis originate in the Aleutians and periodically have affected Hawaii. It has been 500-600 years since the last huge tsunami. I hope we never actually see another one of these.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...14GL061232/pdf
Also in our thoughts should be the knowledge that there have been historical tsunamis in Hawaii in which at least 24 ft. high tsunami waves have inundated landward at least 330 ft. These massive tsunamis originate in the Aleutians and periodically have affected Hawaii. It has been 500-600 years since the last huge tsunami. I hope we never actually see another one of these.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...14GL061232/pdf
Apr 1, 2018, 8:17 am
#12
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