1813 Tsunami: Hawaii, United States

The tsunami is mentioned in the memoirs of Ii [Reference #1534], who was one of the first Hawaiians to be educated by the Christian missionaries. In addition, he happened to be a nephew of a retainer of the Hawaiian king. His uncle took sick and wished to return home to Hookena, Hawaii Island. This was about 1813. On the advice of physicians, a hut was built for him from special palm leaves. While he lay in the hut, a strange rise in sea level occcurred. The sick man was "soaked" but was not carried off. Only one rise of water took place. (Reference #415)

Tsunami observed along Kona coast. (Reference #79)

There is confusion as to whether the year given in Ii's account is 1812, 1813, or 1814, but the 1812 date seems fixed by other sources. If so, the date of this tsunami event [December 21, 1812] closely matches the date of the Santa Barbara tsunami of December 21, 1812, and the wave in Hawaii may have been generated off the California coast. (Reference #236)

Papa's journey for the benefit of his health led to Hookena, his own land. There a ti-leaf thatched house was erected for healing purposes-a house of green ti leaves, according to the prescribed medical treatment. While Papa was lying there in this small hut, a strange rising of the sea brought water into the house and wet the patient. Only once did this happen (Reference #1534).