A qualitative review of tsunamis in Hawaiʻi

Abstract

The Hawaiian Islands have a long history of destructive and deadly tsunamis from both distant and local sources. Gaining a more detailed understanding of the historical record of tsunami impacts is a key step in reducing the vulnerability of coastal communities to tsunami inundation. This paper explores the history and prehistory of tsunamis in the Hawaiian archipelago, while proposing methods to narrow the gaps in our current understanding of their impacts. Future strategies to reduce risk and improve resilience to tsunami flooding are also discussed and evaluated.