4.7 quake off Big Island rattles island chain, no tsunami threat
A magnitude-4.7 offshore quake shook the Big Island and reached Maui, Molokai and Oahu, but officials said it posed no tsunami threat and no damage was expected.
The magnitude-4.7 earthquake that struck offshore of the Big Island late June 9 was felt from the Hāmākua side across parts of the island chain, but officials said it posed no tsunami threat and was not expected to damage buildings or infrastructure. For residents who felt the shaking, the key takeaway was immediate: this was an offshore tectonic quake, not a sign of volcanic unrest at Mauna Loa or Kīlauea.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit at 10:37 p.m. HST about 14 miles east of Pāpaikou, at a depth of roughly 24 miles below sea level. More than 716 felt reports came in during the first hour, with reports from the Island of Hawaii, Maui, Molokai and Oahu. The broad reach made the shaking noticeable well beyond the Hāmākua coast, even though the event was deep enough to reduce the odds of serious local damage.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the quake had no apparent impact on Mauna Loa or Kīlauea and was similar in origin to recent West Hawaii temblors, but unrelated to the magnitude-6.0 earthquake on May 22 and the magnitude-4.6 quake on June 2. Seismologists said the source was likely the bending of the Pacific plate under the weight of the Hawaiian Islands, a type of earthquake that occurs as the island chain loads and flexes the rigid lithosphere below it.
That distinction matters in Hawaii, where residents live with both volcanic and tectonic quakes. USGS describes these deep structural adjustments as one of the main earthquake types in Hawaii, separate from quakes tied directly to eruptive processes inside active volcanoes. The June 9 event fit that pattern: offshore, deep, widely felt, and not linked to magma movement.
Aftershocks are possible in the coming days to weeks, so residents are still being urged to keep earthquake plans current and know how to respond when shaking starts. HVO said it continues to monitor Hawaiian volcanoes for any changes, while seismologists watch for whether the offshore flexure pattern continues around the island chain, including south of the Big Island and north toward Oahu.
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