UPDATE – (12:30 p.m.) – The Tsunami Watch for Hawaiʻi has been cancelled. More information (Tsunami Watch For Hawaiʻi Cancelled)

image of interactive map courtesy USGS / labels added by BIVN

UPDATE – (12:30 p.m.) – The Tsunami Watch for Hawaiʻi has been cancelled. More information (Tsunami Watch For Hawaiʻi Cancelled)

(BIVN) – The State of Hawaiʻi is under a Tsunami Watch, following a powerful earthquake in the Pacific Ocean, located near New Zealand.

From the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center at 9:38 a.m. HST:

Based on all available data, a tsunami may have been generated by this earthquake that could be destructive on coastal areas even far from the epicenter. An investigation is underway to determine if there is a tsunami threat to Hawaiʻi.

If tsunami waves impact Hawaiʻi, the estimated earliest arrival of the first tsunami wave is 04:35 p.m. HST (Thursday, March 4 2021)

Further messages will be issued hourly or sooner as conditions warrant until the threat to Hawaiʻi has passed.

The Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense issued this message:

An earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0 has occurred at approximately 9:28 am HST in the vicinity of New Zealand

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a Tsunami Watch for the Island and State of Hawaii.

A Tsunami Watch means an earthquake occurred that may have generated a tsunami.

It is not known at this time if a tsunami has been generated.

If a tsunami has been generated, the estimated time of arrival is today at 4:35 pm Hawaii Standard Time.

I say again, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a Tsunami Watch for the Island and State of Hawaii.

It is not known at this time if a tsunami has been generated.

You will be informed as conditions change.

UPDATE – (11:35 a.m.) – From Hawaiʻi Governor David Ige:

Gov. David Ige and the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) are working with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the National Weather Service at this hour, to evaluate the potential tsunami threat to Hawai‘i. The state is currently under a Tsunami Watch which means a tsunami may impact Hawai‘i, but the threat and potential impacts are still being determined. More information is expected within the hour.

HI-EMA advises all Hawaii residents and visitors to monitor local media for updates. Persons in low-lying areas should begin emergency preparations.