February 20, 1871 Tsunami: Hawaii, United States
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake began at Hawaii, United States on February 20, 1871 at 08:41 UTC. Its effects were recorded at 1 place.
Where the waves reached
The source (white) and every runup with a place, colored by the water height recorded there. A ring is a runup NCEI marks doubtful.
- Under 1 m
- 1 to 3 m
- 3 to 10 m
- 10 to 30 m
- 30 m and more
- Height not recorded
The tsunami
- Date
- February 20, 1871, 08:41 UTC
- Source
- Hawaii, United States
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 7
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Very doubtful tsunami
- Source location
- 20.700° N, 157.000° W
The toll
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Houses damaged
- Some (about 51 to 100) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1871, February 20, 08:41. One of the strongest earthquakes ever felt in the Hawaiian Islands occurred on Feb. 19 at about 10:11 p.m. Earthquake damage was reported, but reports of a tsunami are vague and doubtful. Several reports indicate that no waves were observed at Honolulu, Lahaina, or any quarter. An incorrect date of February 18 is in some accounts. (reference #236)
1871, February 19 (or 18), about 22:00[local time]. On the Hawaiian Islands, there occurred one of the strongest earthquakes ever felt there. At Honolulu, first a brief vertical shock lasting 30-45 seconds was felt, followed by a series of horizontal tremors in a southwest - northeast
direction, during which it was difficult to remain standing and which made many people nauseous like sea sickness. The shocks were accompanied by a terrifying roar which lasted 10 seconds. Cracks formed in many brick and stucco buildings, and stoves collapsed. A tsunami was observed in
the port...(Perrey, 1875 b; Milne, 1913; Furumoto -et -al., 1973). Furumoto et al. (1973): M = 7. (reference #415)
Every runup
Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.
| Where | Country | Km from source | Water height, m | Inland, m | Measured by | First wave, UTC | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, Oahu, HI, HI doubtful | United States | 112 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1871The 1800sTsunamis of United StatesThe earthquakeThis day in weather historyAlerts in force
Sources
Tsunami events and runups 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 tsunami event 1019.