Magnitude 4.2 quake rumbles near Ka‘ū District of Hawai‘i Island

A magnitude 4.2 earthquake that rattled the Ka‘ū area this afternoon had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes, officials confirmed.

The tumbler struck at 4:31 p.m. and was 7.5 miles east-southeast of Pāhala at depth of 18.3 miles below sea level. The earthquake was widely felt across the island, with 89 felt reports in the first half-hour, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported. Reported shaking intensity was light and little or no damage is expected.

This earthquake is part of the seismic swarm under the Pāhala area, which has been ongoing since 2019. Earthquakes in this region have been observed at least as far back as the 1960s. Click here for more information on the history of earthquakes in the area.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to monitor Hawaiian volcanoes for any changes.