September 21, 1908 Earthquake: Hawaii, United States
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Hawaii, United States on September 21, 1908 at 06:31 UTC, 33 km below the surface. It caused a tsunami.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- September 21, 1908
- Time
- 06:31 UTC
- Place
- Hawaii, United States
- Magnitude
- 6.8 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 33 km (21 mi)
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 19.000° N, 155.000° W
- Country
- United States
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this earthquake.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1908, September 20, 20:15 [local time]. There was an earthquake with source south-east of Hawaii Island. There were tremors of 9-10 degrees in the district of Puna, at Kalapana, Kahena, and Kauaea, 6 degrees at Hilo, including the little island in Reeds Bay, and about 4 degrees at the volcanic observatory near Kilauea Crater. It was felt in Kau district (at Punaluu), in Kona district (at Kailua, Holualoa, Hoopuloa) and on the north of the island (at Waimea, Kapaau+). It was felt lightly at Honolulu. The shore in the Puna district may have sunk 10 cm (a few inches). The water in the harbor and in the rivers of Hilo rose 0.3-0.8 m (1-2 1/2 feet).
[21.IX; 6h31m; 19.4 N., 154.9 W.; M = 6.3] (reference #415)
1908, September 21 06:31:0 UTC. 19 N, 155 W, magnitude 6.8 Ms. (reference #9910)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- April 3, 1868, SE of, Hawaii, United States
- November 29, 1975, Hawaii, United States
- March 17, 1952, Hawaii, United States
- May 4, 2018, Puna District, Hawaiian Islands, United States
- June 26, 1989, Puna District, Hawaiian Islands, United States
- November 16, 1983, Kapapala, Hawaii, United States
- April 26, 1973, Hilo, Hawaii, United States
- August 21, 1951, Hawaii, United States
- October 15, 2006, Hawaiian Islands, United States
- March 20, 1926, Hawaii, United States
More
Significant earthquakes of 1908The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1908Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 6252.