Small tsunami hits Hawaii as thousands flee

Thousands of Hawaiians fled Saturday as Chile's massive earthquake triggered a tsunami warning, although many breathed relief as the first waves turned out to be small.

President Barack Obama's native state sounded tsunami sirens for the first time in 16 years from early in the morning, with authorities flying small planes to remote areas to warn coastal residents of danger to come.

Some 15 hours after the 8.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Chile, the first waves came ashore in Hawaii. Viewers across the United States watched live on television as it broadcast from Hawaii's sun-kissed beaches.

The highest tsunami registered half a meter (20 inches) at Kawaihae on Hawaii island, the largest in the archipelago. But the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that waves could come for hours to come.

"There is an active tsunami moving through Hawaii right now," said Nathan Becker, an oceanographer at the center. "A tsunami is a series of waves, not a single wave."

While there were no reports of injuries or damage, Becker said it was probably the largest tsunami to hit Hawaii since 1975.

Authorities ordered some 144,000 people in coastal areas, mostly on Oahu, to evacuate, saying they were prepared for a "destructive-type tsunami."

"Smaller than we thought," said Cheryl Piel of Calgary, Canada, who canceled a trip to Maui because of the tsunami. "Just glad nobody was hurt."

Jill Nakasone, who takes care of her in-laws who are in their 90s, said the warnings were rekindling memories of deadly tsunamis decades ago.

"It's hard on the old people," she said. "They're really nervous."

Ahead of the tsunami, long queues formed outside gas stations along the busy Kalanianaole Highway on Oahu. In Hilo, residents left for higher ground and packed into grocery stores where shelves of bottled water were emptied.

"Nothing fresh," said Chris Phan of Kaimuki as he stopped in to buy batteries, water and cup noodles. "Something that can hold us for a couple days."

Kealas Killion, a produce worker, said the lines started at about 2:00 am and the water shelves were cleared within four hours as employees worked frantically to restock the shelves.

"I don't even bother stacking it on the shelf," he said.

Before the evacuation, some residents walked their dogs next to Kapiolani Park by Waikiki Beach to calm them down.

Residents in Maui were urged to avoid flushing toilets and limit how much water they poured down the drain as authorities shut down the wastewater system in anticipation of the tsunami.

On Oahu, all beach parks, golf courses and the zoo were closed. Fleets of public buses provided free transport for anyone needing to leave evacuation zones.

Hawaii's Department of Transportation urged ships and shipping companies to get their vessels out of port ahead of the waves.

Kirk Caldwell, Honolulu's managing director, said the city worked with hotels to warn tourists in the renowned Waikiki Beach area to move to the third floor or higher.

At least 214 people were killed in the earthquake which struck some 70 miles (115 kilometers) from the coastal Chilean city of Concepcion.

Governments across the Pacific's "Ring of Fire" implemented emergency preparations that were beefed up after the Indian Ocean disaster of 2004, when a series of immensely destructive waves killed more than 220,000 people.

Charles McCreary, director of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, told Hawaii News Now that everyone should take the warnings seriously.

"Don't put yourself in harm's way. Don't go down to the beach to watch this. A tsunami is a series of waves; the hazard could go on for hours," he said.