Historical tsunamis · Mar 17, 1952, 3:58 AM UTC
1952 Hawaii tsunami
United States
The tsunami of Mar 17, 1952, 3:58 AM UTC originated near Hawaii (United States).
Key facts
- Date
- Mar 17, 1952, 3:58 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M4.5
- Depth
- 33 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 3.00 m
- Observation records
- 2
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 4.5 earthquake at a depth of 33 km.
The highest documented water height was 3.00 m (Kalapana, Hawaii, Hi, United States).
2 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
2Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1 | 3.00 m Kalapana, Hawaii, Hi | — | — |
| USA Territory | 1 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
2 / 2Individual documented observations for this event. Heights come from different measurement types and sources; not every location has a measured height.
| Location / station | Observed height | Distance from source | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalapana, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 3.00 m | 28 km | United States |
| Pago Pago, American Samoa · As | — | 4,073 km | USA Territory |
More tsunamis
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Historical Tsunami Database. Confirmed events only. Deaths and damage are database estimates; older records are incomplete. Water heights come from different types of observation.