Tsunami Hazards Gallery
The photos in this gallery are courtesy of the Pacific Tsunami Museum, and they will not enlarge. Be sure and visit the Pacific Tsunami Museum web page for extensive photos, as well as more information.
Now available throughout Hawaii in surf shops and at Civil Defense, a free 18-minute DVD: He'e Nalu--But never try to surf a tsunami. Funded by Hawaii State Civil Defense, this video compares huge surfing waves generated by the November 2003 storm in Hilo with deadly tsunami waves. Scientists explain the nature of tsunamis and why you should be far inland during a tsunami watch or warning. View short clips of this DVD, and short clips of the 11/03 storm, in the Video Galleries below!
Downtown Hilo, heavily damaged by the 1946 tsunami, was battered again in May 1960. (Martin Polhemus Collection, Pacific Tsunami Museum.)
The hardest hit area in 1960 was the Waiakea peninusla: nearly every building was flalttened or floated away. Above, a school building. (Matt Chow collection, Pacific Tsunami Museum.)
Video Gallery: Why You Can't Surf a Tsunami
Videos are presented in Quicktime format. Scenes are taken from the He'e Nalu DVD described above. Get your free copy today at your favorite Hawaiian surf shop!
What makes surfing waves? View transcript.
Surfing waves vs tsunamis. View transcript.
Why you cannot surf a tsunami. View transcript.
A tsunami is a series of waves. View transcript.
Don't investigate between waves.View transcript.
A locally generated tsunami. View transcript.
Move to higher ground immediately.View transcript.
Video Gallery: November 2003 Storm
Videos are presented in Quicktime format. Scenes are from the huge storm in Hilo!
In November 2003, storm waves washed across Bayfront Highway. View transcript.
The waves left huge boulders and closed the highway. View transcript.
The storm flooded beach parks such as Onekahakaha. View transcript.
Near Singing Bridge in Hilo, storm waves provided excellent carving conditions. View transcript.
Surf this extraordinary had not been seen in Hilo in decades. View transcript.