4.0 earthquake in ʻAlenuihāhā Channel off Maui coast; NO tsunami expected for Big Island

The National Weather Service’s Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu said a magnitude 4.0 earthquake has occurred in the ʻAlenuihāhā Channel between Maui and the Big Island at 6:47 a.m. on Dec. 16.

It was about 19 miles south/southwest of Hana on Maui.

Although some areas of Hawai’i may have experienced shaking, no tsunami is expected for the Hawaiian Islands.

The earthquake originally was said to be at a depth of about 18 miles. But the U.S. Geological Survey said in an 8:47 a.m. update that the earthquake was at a depth of 8 miles below sea level. It also said aftershocks are possible in the coming days to weeks.

The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.   

“This earthquake is probably related to a crustal readjustment related to Haleakalā volcano and is not related to volcanic activity,” the observatoryʻs update said.

More than 110 “felt reports,” were recorded in the first two hours at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/.

USGS National Earthquake Information Center Maps and Reports for this Event: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/hv73271992/executive.

USGS-HVO Interactive Earthquake Map of Hawaiʻi: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/earthquakes.