Amateur radio operators throughout Hawaii responded to the tsunami caused by the magnitude 8.9 earthquake off of Honshu, Japan that occured on March 10, 2011, 7:46 pm HST.
Activities are chronicled here. It's not a question of "If", it's a question of "When".
Enjoy, and feel free to drop me an e-mail if you have any questions.
Amateur radio operators responded to the needs around the tsunami warning issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center following the magnitude 9.1 earthquake off of Honshu, Japan.
The alert was received at 8:15 pm, and inter-island call tree was immediately put into effect. The magnitude of the quake at that time was set at 7.9 in order to initiate the tsunami alert. Notices were also posted on Facebook and Twitter. ARES and RACES radio operators responded to EOCs at the State and county Civil Defense EOCs, and other locations.
State CD amateur radio operations in the EOC, KH6HPZ, started at 10:30 pm on 147.06/147.04 MHz, and on 7088 kHz. Interference from Japan operations on 7088 kHz caused SCD to change the frequency to 7092 kHz. Net operations later shifted to 3888 kHz due to better propagation. The microwave link at Haleakala was out of service. The SCD tsunami watch net opened at 2:15 am, and closed at 4:05 am.
The sirens sounded at 9:55 pm, 12:14 pm, 2:13 am, 2:43 am.
These stations checked in on the VHF repeater network. No formal reports were passed due to limited visibility in the darkness.
- KH6JMM Wailua, East side of Kauai
- WH6AIL Hanapepe, Kauai
- NH6YS Kauai
- AH6JA Downtown Hilo, Big Island
- WH6IM Paradise Park, Puna, Big Island
- KH6EJ Hilo EOC, Big Island, no HF capability
- KH6MEI Honolulu, Oahu. Kaheka and Makaloa
- AH6RH State CD EOC, Diamond Head
The HF net had six check-ins and no formal reports.
- NH7CJ Anahola, Kauai
- KH6HC Healtcomm, Oahu
- WH7TU Wailuku, Maui
- WH6FC Ocean View, Big Island
- AH6JA Hilo, Big Island
- AH6KW Kailua-Kona, Big Island
- NH7UA Kawaihae, Big Island
- KH7T Waimea, Big Island
- AH6CP State CD EOC, Diamond Head
Dave K7GPS operated the APRS position remotely via the Internet from Spokane, Washington providing timely updates to the APRS status display. See: ARRL article
Chuck N6NCT was notified and the call tree for Oahu DEM was initiated. Tom WH6DJF initiated the watch net on 146.88 MHz. Fifty check-ins and no formal reports were reported.
Mel KH6H was notified and Maui County was activated. Operations was on 147.02 MHz. Five check-ins and seven reports were reported. WH6KX reported at 3:54 am that the water level at Kahului Harbor had dropped five feet.
- WH7XS Makawao, Maui
- KH6HHG Makawao, Maui
- KH6CC Red Cross Shelter - Eddie Tam Center, Makawao, Maui
- WH6KX Across Kahului Harbor
- KH6PO Haiku, Maui
- KH6H Maui County EOC
At 8:30 am, Mayor Peter Carlisle issued an ALL CLEAR for the City and County of Honolulu. Residents could return to tsunami evacuation areas.
See: ARRL article
A reminder: Being prepared is a personal responsibility. Being aware of emergency response and recovery procedures before an incident is also a personal responsibility. See: Personal Preparation
The expected wave arrival time for Kauai was originally 2:59 am, then 3:07 am. Nawiliwili Harbor received the first wave at 2:59 am. Wave heights reported by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center were:
Location | First Wave Arrival (HST) | Height | Time | Height | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tern Island, French Frigate Shoals | 2:24 am | 1.2 ft | |||
Nawiliwili Harbor, Kauai | 2:59 am | 1.6 ft | 3:43 am | 2.5 ft | |
Hanalei, Kauai | 3:06 am | 2.8 ft | |||
Makapu'u, Oahu | 3:06 am | 2.8 ft | |||
Haleiwa, Oahu | 3:16 am | 3.3 ft | 3:29 am | 3.6 ft | |
Barbers Point, Oahu | 3:08 am | 2.3 ft | 3:07 am | 2.3 ft | |
Makapu'u, Oahu | 3:12 am | 1.6 ft | |||
Honolulu Harbor, Oahu | 3:14 am | 2.2 ft | 4:10 am | 2.3 ft | |
Kahului Harbor, Maui | 3:27 am | 5.7 ft | 3:40 am | 6.0 ft* | * 3:40 am reading was clipped. Wave was larger than the reading. Damage in Maalaea and Kihei area |
Lahaina, Maui | 3:35 am | 1.6 ft | Damage in Lahaina Harbor | ||
Kaumalapau, Lanai | 3:40 am | 1.0 ft | 5:31 am | 3.0 ft | |
Kawaihae, Big Island | 3:33 am | 3.0 ft | 4:13 am | 4.0 ft | Damage in the Kailua-Kona and Kealakekua area |
Honuapo, Big Island | 3:40 am | 0.1 ft | |||
Kapoho, Big Island | 3:40 am | 0.1 ft | 4:08 am | 0.2 ft | |
Hilo, Big Island | 3:42 am | 3.4 ft | 3:57 am | 4.3 ft | |
Honokohau, Big Island | 3:45 am | 1.4 ft | |||
Milolii, Big Island | 3:50 am | 2.2 ft |
At 10:15 am, PTWC issued a bulletin with this evaluation.
TSUNAMI WAVES THAT CAN BE A HAZARD TO SWIMMERS AND BOATERS AS WELL AS TO PERSONS NEAR THE SHORE AT BEACHES AND IN HARBORS AND MARINAS ARE NOW AFFECTING THE STATE OF HAWAII. THIS HAZARD COULD CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE SITUATION IS BEING MONITORED CLOSELY AND THE ADVISORY WILL END WHEN THE HAZARD HAS PASSED.
The quake did not occur with the usual coinciding of the new or full moon. The moon was only 32% full; not quite a quarter moon, and Japan was rotating towards the view of the moon.
Moon image courtesy of the BMDO/NASA's Clementine satellite, Earth image courtesy of the NASA Earth Observatory and computation courtesy of Fourmilab.
The quake was correlated with the arrival of a solar CME (Coronal Mass Ejection). The sunspot activity had just turned up from a relative low. An X-1.5 flare erupted from sunspot 1166 just before 0000z on March 10, 2011.
You can see the arrival of a south magnetic field in the interplanetary magnetic field as recorded by the ACE spacecraft magnetnometer. The Bz component was already negative and goes strongly negative at 0610z on March 10, almost 24 hours before the quake. A negative Bz component has the effect of reducing earth's protective magnetic field, making it more prone to the effects of an incoming CME.
Review the Solar Ion Data Archive. At 2011 03 10 0600z, which is almost 24 hours before the onset of the quake in Japan, you can see a rise in the proton density from the nominal 1.2 protons per cubic centimeter to 11.3. The readings persist for another two hours before returning to nominal levels.
You can see the three-day graphs for GOES 13 based on data received every 5 minutes for March 7, March 8 and March 9.
You can see a corresponding drop in the electron density on this graph.
Data, images and plots are from the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center FTP site and the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory .
Activation Event
I was talking with Jonathan, VE6VTX from Alberta, Canada via IRLP on Robin AH6CP's 444.350+ repeater for about twenty minutes when the alert came through.
It was Jonathan's first IRLP contact, and after stepping him through the basics, I stepped him through exchanging email addresses with US amateur radio operators using the ARRL.NET reflector. We discovered that both of us are avid photographers, and Jonathan was in the middle of sending me a photo of his via email when the email containing the tsunami alert sent at 8:15 pm came through about 8:16 pm. The text of the message read:
TSUNAMI WATCH 1 TIME 0746 PM HST 03/10/11 MAG 7.9 LOC NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU JAPAN 38.0N 142.9E ETA 0259 AM HST 03/11/11
I notified Jonathan that I had to end the radio contact and start the tsunami notification.
Towards the end of the fourth hour of the Coast-to-Coast AM world-wide radio show Jonathan calls into host George Noory within the last three minutes of the show. George and I met several years ago when he came into town to broadcast from the KHVH-AM 830 studio. Jonathan related the events surrounding that radio contact and the emerging moments of the notification when I had to end his radio contact. He then made contact with Australia notifying them of the tsunami watch. Jonathan mentioned my name and call sign, put in a plug for amateur radio, wished me well, hoped I was okay and extended a prayer. That was while Robin and I were operating at the State Civil Defense EOC. You can listen to the phone call using the links on the Coast-to-Coast AM web page.
I was later informed by radio operator Gerry WB2VIE onboard the cargo freighter SS Lihue who was listening into Coast-to-Coast AM on radio KPNW AM 1120 out of Eugene, Oregon that he heard Jonathan's phone call. Gerry and I met on the same AH6CP repeater last year in the August timeframe. Gerry's due into town next weekend.
You can hear the clip. It starts at 8:04 into this YouTube clip.
It is a small world.
Videos
These are links to videos of the tsunami action in Hawaii.
- NWS/PTWC Alert Bulletin via Oceanic Cablevision
- Tsunami wave hits Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
- Tsunami wave hits Honolulu (Aina Haina), Hawaii
- Tsunami Aerial Reconnaissance - Maui HI - March 11, 2011 - Filed By Wendy Osher
- Tsunami Maui- Kahului Harbor 2011
- Tsunami Maui Lahaina Harbor - March 2011
- Tsunami Maui Hawaii Maalaea Harbor March 11 2011
- Tsunami wave striking Kihei Maui
Hawaii Tribune-Herald Reporting
These are links to articles from The Hawaii Tribune-Herald.
- Tsunami hits Hawaii shores; evacuation order still in effect for parts of Big Island
- Big Island had time to prepare
- Relief and despair at dawn on Big Isle
- Kona shops, hotel are inundated
- Stranded Japanese visitors distraught
- Scare last year was a dress rehearsal
- 7 Kealakekua Bay homes destroyed
- Photo Gallery
- Big Island officials upbeat after initial assessment
- Hoffmann presses case for more sirens
- Official: It's 'business as almost-usual' on island
- Officials still evaluating state's tsunami damage
- Economists: Japan's disaster will impact Hawaii's economy
- Kona pier may need some work
- Artifacts are uncovered at Puuhonua
- Tsunami shuts Kona resort
- Isles' hurricane evacuation centers come up short
- Big Island sends aloha
- Hawaiian Tel offers free calls to Japan
- 12-hour fundraiser nets $27K for Japan
- County grapples with evacuation gridlock
- Volunteers speed cleanup
- Setting the record straight
- Japanese tourists still coming to isles
- Kona Inn restaurant reopens after tsunami
- Big Isle damage tops $14M
- Hulihe'e Palace reopens today
- Parker ohana turns theater into a shelter
- Is there radiation in isle's water?
- Rotarians raise $45K for emergency shelters in Japan
- Hirono surveys tsunami damage
- Bill would tow cars from possible disaster areas
- Hilo event to aid tsunami victims
- Setting the record straight
- Hilo tsunami tales to be shared
- Big Island sending love to Japan
- How well do you know the volcano in your backyard?
West Hawaii Today Reporting
These are links to articles from West Hawaii Today.
- Tsunami hits Hawaii shores; evacuation order still in effect for parts of Big Island
- Coast Guard: Kailua Pier condemned
- Tsunami destroys homes along Kealakekua Bay
- Residents take shelter from tsunami
- Major tsunami damage in West Hawaii
- W. Hawaii hit hardest by tsunami
- Kai Ehitu loses boats in tsunami
- Kailua Pier deemed safe
- Japan victim support funds established
- Tsunami siren requirement vote postponed
- Isle evac centers rated only for Category 1
- Tsunami closes Kona Village
- County still grappling with evacuation gridlock
- Sending aloha to Japan
- Volunteers vital to tsunami cleanup efforts
- Kona Inn restaurant reopens after tsunami repair
- Palace reopening today
- Area water shouldn't be affected by Japan nuke leaks
- 3-24 brf Kona Aloha for Japan raises $55K caj
- Radiation and health
- Hirono surveys tsunami damage in Kailua-Kona
- JAL temporarily reducing flights to Hawaii
- Council considers $1M funding for tourism promotion
- Kailua-Kona disaster recovery centers aid tsunami victims
- TSUNAMI RESPONSE - We were lucky
- Tsunami victims benefit from art sales
- Well-wishers have chance to express sympathy to Japan
- Japan's tsunami debris Big Island-bound
- Recent disasters underscore need
- Hawaii officials -- No risk from trace radiation
- Few applying for tsunami recovery assistance
- Hawaii milk radiation levels declining
Maui News Reporting
These are links to articles from Maui News.
- Tsunami warning issued for Hawaii
- Hawaii issued wave warning
- Closed roads delay Maui News deliveries
- Tsunami advisory canceled; harbors, boats, homes sustain damage
- Inouye�s wife unharmed
- Budget targets agency
- After tense night, damage light
- Boats sink; docks break apart
- Tsunami leaves Mauians in awe
- Tsunami swamps isle shores, sweeps away home
- Riding out a tsunami
- Business back to normal, for most, after waves hit
- Red Cross aids residents on Molokai, Maui
- Crews assessing and cleaning up damage in Hawaii
- Hawaii crews work to assess damage
- Hawaii utilities shifted power to stave off outages
- Damage from surge minor
- Tsunami swamps isle shores, sweeps away home
- Fund begun for victims
- Remainders from the tsunami
- Business, residential damage reports sought
- Gov. Abercrombie visits Maui to assess tsunami damage
- Concert and candlelight vigil among aid efforts for victims
- Tsunami fallout surveyed
- Abercrombie�s brief visit to show it�s business as usual (video available)
- Banks offer ways to help
- Red Cross aids those harmed by tsunami
- They Came from the Sea With the March 11 Tsunami
- Volunteers invited to help restore fishpond
- From stranded to saved to sea
- Rotary encouraging donations for Japan
- Volunteers sought to host those displaced by tsunami
- Crisis in Japan hits close to home for UH-MC students
- Japan disasters could slow tourism rebound
- Efforts ongoing to aid victims of Japan disasters
- The Japanese Quake: KKHS grad experiences the shaking
The Garden Island Reporting
These are links to articles from The Garden Island.
- Residents, visitors react to eventful night
- Tsunami leaves Kaua�i mostly unscathed
- Westsiders ride it out with 'ohana
- County all geared up for tsunami response
- Mayor issues 'all clear'
- Tsunami swamps Hawaii beaches, brushes West Coast
- Scenes from our tsunami
- Hundreds join mayor in prayers
- KCCC prisoners �stay put� through tsunami warning
- Oceanic offers customers free calls to Japan through April 15
- Tsunami: read all about it
- Kaua�i exchange student shares experience in Japan
- Tsunamis take away Kona Village Resort jobs
- Obama approves aid for Hawaii tsunami repairs
The Star-Advertiser Reporting
These are links to articles from The Star-Advertiser.
- 200 boats damaged; harbors remain closed after tsunami strikes
- Airport open, but some flights canceled because of tsunami
- Delta, U.S. Airlines Cancel Tokyo Flights After Earthquake
- Small quakes shake Big Island
- Japan quake ranks as 5th largest since 1900
- Airport open, but some flights canceled because of tsunami
- Tsunami delays some paper deliveries
- Evacuate all coastal areas immediately, Hawaii Civil Defense says
- Japanese-speaking people can listen to KZOO-AM1210 about tsunami
- Kauai opens evacuation centers
- City issues tsunami refuge locations
- History's strongest earthquakes
- Text of tsunami alert from city Department of Emergency Management
- Warning Center's message as tsunami reaches Hawaii
- Nervous residents stocked up for tsunami
- Hawaiian Electric prepares for the tsunami
- Tourists, residents in Waikiki were evacuated to upper floors
- Statement by President Obama
- Tsunami hits Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
- Tsunami warning canceled for Guam
- Tsunami talk: Oahu resident react
- U.S. Coast Girds for Tsunami After Japan Quake, Hawaii Waves
- Residents stock up on supplies
- Pacific Tsunami Warning Center defends evacuation
- Nanakuli High saw many more evacuees this year
- UH sporting events will still be played
- Tsunami warning center raises magnitude of Japan quake to 9.1
- Non-emergency city, state and federal court employees given day off
- Visitors praise handling of Waikiki evacuation
- Three Hawaii hotels damaged in tsunami
- Japan-Hawaii air travel nearly grounded after disaster
- Beachgoers ignore lifeguards and enter water despite closures
- Hawaii bank starts fund for earthquake victims
- South Pacific islands hit by tsunami swells
- Tsunami resistant' dock breaks at Haleiwa harbor
- Tsunami surge continues at Waikiki Beach
- Waves bring flooding on Maui, damage in Kailua-Kona
- Search called off for boater who left Keehi Lagoon due to tsunami
- Damage comes into focus
- Honolulu Festival cancels fireworks out of respect for victims of Japan disaster
- Disaster subdues festival fun
- Maui sees boat damage and flooding but little else
- Surging waters batter Hawaii harbors
- 2 dozen quakes shake Big Island in Kalapana area
- Flights paused while visitors coped
- Tsunami kills thousands of albatross nesting at Midway Atoll
- Hawaii hotels repairing tsunami damage
- JAL adds extra flights to return stranded passengers to Japan
- Hawaii hotels repairing tsunami damage
- Tsunami damage estimate for Hawaii now tens of millions
- City conducting siren tests at Hanauma Bay, Waialae Beach
- All-clear given after evacuation at state Attorney General's office
- USGS upgrades Japan quake magnitude to 9.0
- Damage thwarts Hawaii-to-Japan communication
- Abercrombie tours areas damaged by tsunami
- Tsunami briefs
- Tsunami damage extensive at two Big Isle resorts
- Tsunami uncovered signs of ancient Hawaii
- Recovery cheers governor
- Tsunami ravages Midway albatross nests
- Tsunami briefs
- Owners of tsunami-damaged property advised to report through referral service
- Tsunami cripples 2 Big Isle hotels
- Our current problems will seem puny if a major tsunami ever hits the islands
- Waves allow discovery of archaeological sites
- Officials say 110,000 albatross chicks on Midway killed in tsunami
- Kona Village closing due to tsunami, laying off workers
- Tsunami briefs
- FEMA to gauge isle damage
- Radiation from Japan yet to be detected in Hawaii
- Tsunami briefs
- No risk from trace levels of radioactivity in Hawaii, EPA says
- Oldest known mother albatross survives tsunami
- $500,000 gone from tsunami-cracked bank vault
- Maui mayor says AT&T failed during tsunami prep
- Tsunami Briefs
- First Hawaiian Bank raises $600K to Japan relief
- Oceanic Cable providing free calls to Japan
- Tsunami briefs
- Hawaii tsunami damages estimated at $30 million
- HTA plans tourism push
- Tsunami watch-March 25
- Abercrombie seeks federal help for tsunami recovery
- Hilo Hattie donates $10,000 for Japan relief
- Maui marine creatures among survivors of tsunami
- Tsunami Watch-March 26
- Hawaii Civil Defense will set up disaster assistance center in Kona
- Japan disaster shows need to diversify isle visitor base
- Japan nuclear isotope that reached Hawaii identified as iodine-131
- Japan Airlines cuts flights to Hawaii and other destinations
- Tsunamis drag newborn monk seal away from mother
- Civil Defense sirens tested today and tomorrow
- Japan's tsunami debris headed for West Coast, then Hawaii
- Hawaii braces for economic forecast after tsunami
- Tsunami-swept island cut off from power and water
- Tsunami Briefs-March 29
- Radiation in isles from Japan is identified as iodine-131
- Atolls' tsunami damage compared to warming
- Crisis prompts JAL to trim isle flights
- No levels of radiation found in Hawaii milk
- Tsunami delays departure of Honolulu Zoo tiger cub
- Hawaii could be fallback site for firms in Japan
- Oahu skirted calamity with tsunami, city says
- Hilo residents remember 1946 killer tsunami
- Despite crisis, Hawaiian Air sticks with plans for Japan
- Utility tries to seal leak spilling radioactive water
- Aiding Japan
- Tsunami-damaged Kona Village Resort lays off workers
- Couple survives tsunami atop roof on far-flung atoll
- Japanese disasters threaten hotels� gains
- Hawaii hotels might struggle to repay debt as Japanese travel dips
- Golf clinic April 16 to benefit Japan relief
- Rainbow Drive-In holds chili sale to benefit Japan disaster relief
- Hawaii can lead by example in responding respectfully and donating generously to disaster victims in Japan
- Japanese market ebbs as debts come due
- Hawaii will absorb brunt of Japan earthquake debris
- Boaters bemoan lack of aid
- Obama declares disaster for Hawaii
- Safes and cash wash up on Japan shores after tsunami
- Concert raises $1.6M for tsunami victims
- Kids race to aid Japan
- Size of isle volcanoes factors into severity of potential quake
- Aid for Japan slow to reach hard-hit areas
- Honolulu firm offers decontaminant and training assistance to Japan
- Traces of radiation found in isle milk
- Hawaii raises more than $3M for quake-struck Japan
- 'With Aloha' funds will aid Japan hospital
- Isle entertainers continue aid for devastated Japan
- Tsunami reverberates in isle arts communities
- Radiation? no problem
- Big Island groundwater tested for radiation
- Big Island groundwater tested for radiation
- Hawaii unit restored military computer links after quake
- Scientists help tsunami injured Hawaiian monk seal
- Tsunami had limited effect on endangered monk seals
- Strontium-89 from Japan found in Big Island milk
- Agency approves disaster loans for tsunami damage
- Radiation levels tail off in tests of milk and air
- Japan�s consul grateful for outpouring of aloha
- Federal aid making way to isle shores
Copyright © 1997-2015 Ron Hashiro
Updated: November 4, 2012 DISCLAIMER: Ron Hashiro Web Site is not responsible for the content at
any of the external sites that we link to and therefore
are not necessarily endorsed by us.