I personally know kamaʻāina who had to flee their homes in the dead of night — scrambling up tall trees in the dark to survive a tsunami.
They said the ground shook beneath their feet as they ran and the wave sounded like being chased by a train.
As I write this, I think of them… their stories… and those who were not as fortunate.
There are many myths about tsunamis that persist despite scientific evidence and decades of real-life tragedy in places like Hilo and Kauaʻi.
As kamaʻāina we spend so much of our lives in and near the ocean that not understanding these misconceptions are plain dangerous.
Here are 10 tsunami myths Hawaiʻi locals still believe, and the facts that could save your life:
1. Tsunamis Are Just Big Surfing Waves
REALITY: Tsunamis are not normal ocean waves. They behave more like a rising wall of floodwater surging inland.
Unlike surfing waves, they don’t break neatly at the shore but can come as a series of powerful surges.
When the water recedes, it drags boats, debris, and sometimes bodies back out with it.
Don’t try to surf a tsunami. It’s not that kind of wave, babooze.
2. Tsunamis Only Happen in the Pacific Ocean
REALITY: While the Pacific Ocean is prone to tsunamis due to being surrounded by a tectonic belt of volcanoes and earthquakes known as the Ring of Fire, tsunamis can occur in any ocean or large body of water.
Tsunamis have impacted the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and even the Mediterranean Sea.
3. If the Water Recedes, You’re Safe Once It Returns
REALITY: A receding shoreline is one of the most urgent tsunami warnings. It doesn’t mean it’s safe. The first wave is often just the beginning. Later waves can be bigger and even more deadly.
People have drowned because they were nīele and went to check the beach after the first wave.
4. A Tsunami is a Single Giant Wave
REALITY: Tsunamis typically arrive as a series of waves, sometimes hours apart. The first wave might not be the most powerful, and later waves can cause more damage.
Your county and state emergency management agency will let you know when it is safe to go back makai.
5. You Can Outrun a Tsunami in a Car
REALITY: Tsunamis in deep ocean can move as fast as a jet — up to 600 mph. Even near shore, they can outrun your car in traffic or if roads are blocked.
In many cases, getting to higher ground on foot is faster and safer.
Bottom line: If local emergency officials say go — go. Don’t wait to “see it” with your own eyes.
6. Small Tsunamis Aren’t Dangerous
REALITY: Even “small” tsunamis can generate powerful currents and flooding. In harbors and narrow bays, the energy gets funneled, intensified and can cause major damage.
It’s not the height — it’s the massive volume of water.
7. Tsunamis Only Happen After Major Earthquakes
REALITY: Earthquakes are the most common trigger, but tsunamis can also be caused by underwater landslides, volcanic eruptions, or even meteor impacts.
8. You’ll See a Tsunami Coming From Far Away
REALITY: In deep ocean, tsunamis may only appear as a ripple or swell—barely noticeable. The height builds suddenly as the wave hits shallow coastal areas.
9. Tsunamis Hit Immediately After an Earthquake
REALITY: Some do. Others take hours. The massive tsunami that hit Hilo in 1960 after a Chilean earthquake took 15 hours to arrive — and still killed 61 people.
10. Only Coastal Areas Are in Danger
REALITY: Tsunami surges can travel miles inland depending on the terrain. Flat areas like Hilo or Kahului can be hit hard far beyond the beach.
Know the Truth, Save a Life
Tsunamis don’t just threaten property — they take lives. Knowing the facts could mean the difference between safety and tragedy.
If you found this article useful, please share it. You might just help save someone you love.
Mahalo nui.