A strong earthquake shook Hawaiʻi island late Friday, centered on the western flank of Mauna Loa and rattling homes and businesses across the Big Island. In many neighborhoods the shaking went on long enough for items to tumble from shelves and for pictures to sway on walls. There were no immediate reports of major structural damage, though residents were warned to be ready for aftershocks.
The U.S. Geological Survey first listed the quake at magnitude 5.9 before upgrading it to magnitude 6.0, placing the epicenter on Mauna Loa’s western flank at an estimated depth of about 15 miles. The agency located the epicenter roughly 8 miles south of Honaunau‑Napoopoo and about 22 miles south‑southeast of Kailua‑Kona, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center told the Honolulu Star‑Advertiser that the quake did not generate a tsunami, and the paper reported that the shaking was felt as far away as Maui and Oahu. The Star‑Advertiser’s early coverage pulled together initial details from officials and residents across the islands as people checked in from living rooms and parking lots.
Where It Hit And How People Felt It
U.S. Geological Survey “Did You Feel It?” reports showed dozens of quick community responses from across the islands, including reports from Lahaina on Maui and Mililani on Oahu. Those public accounts lined up with descriptions of a long, rolling quake that rattled nerves and knocked items from shelves in some neighborhoods, according to USGS.
What Scientists Say About Mauna Loa Quakes
Scientists at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory note that earthquakes around Mauna Loa are often connected to the weight of the massive volcano and to shifting magmatic and crustal stresses. They emphasize that isolated moderate quakes like this one do not by themselves signal that an eruption is imminent. The observatory issues regular status reports and public guidance for residents and visitors, according to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Aftershocks And Safety
Aftershocks followed the main event, and early sequences included a magnitude 3.2 tremor recorded shortly after the primary quake, according to EarthquakeTracker. Residents were urged to check their homes and workplaces for damage, steer clear of any downed power lines or suspected gas leaks, and follow official preparedness guidance; federal safety tips are available at Ready.gov.
County and state emergency agencies asked anyone who experienced damage to report it and to keep an eye on official channels for updates. Scientists will continue to track seismic activity beneath Mauna Loa and will issue formal notices if conditions change.
