On July 29, 2025, tourists and locals in Hawaii received an urgent tsunami warning advising them to evacuate the coast and move inland or to higher ground.
Freshman Zephyr Martin traveled to Maui, Hawaii, on July 27, 2025, with his mom, dad and younger sister. He was on the beach when everyone received the emergency alert issued by the National Weather Service.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “Tsunamis are giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea. Out in the depths of the ocean, tsunami waves do not dramatically increase in height. But as the waves travel inland, they build up to higher and higher heights as the depth of the ocean decreases.”
The effects of a tsunami can be devastating—flooding, erosion and severe damage to property, people and the environment can occur. It is advised to find high ground or evacuate in the event of a tsunami.
“Almost everyone on the beach evacuated immediately,” Martin said. “The lifeguards told everyone it was a good idea to leave the area right away.”
A four-foot tsunami wave was observed in Haleiwa, Hawaii, following an 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Russia, one of the strongest earthquakes in history.
“It is, again, not just a three-foot wave. It is a forceful wall of water,” Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said. The tsunami made contact with the island of Oahu on July 29.
“Everything’s been OK so far. We haven’t seen a big wave,” the governor said while the event was taking place.
Martin said he didn’t get the brunt of the tsunami.
“On the other island, I saw a video and it hit the place—it hit the hotel and made a big wave,” he said. Martin added that if he were in a high-risk area, he “wouldn’t be too worried either. I’d just find high ground.”
Tsunamis aren’t particularly rare in Hawaii, which is made up of 137 islands in the Pacific Ocean. The state experiences a tsunami every 11 to 12 years on average.
Martin had only been to Maui once before. When asked if he had experienced a tsunami during his previous trip, he replied, “No.”
Martin and his family were not evacuated from the island, but they were encouraged to find high ground far from the beach. Even though their location was not at high risk, Martin said he appreciated the efficiency and precautions taken by the Hawaiian government to protect residents and tourists.
“We got, like, six or seven tsunami warnings telling us to evacuate immediately,” he said. Martin advises future tourists to “take careful precautions and check the weather before you run to the beach.”
Once the emergency alert was lifted, Martin was able to enjoy his vacation to the fullest. He recounted swimming with dolphins and turtles, as well as going cliff jumping.
Martin made it home safely on Aug. 1, and thankfully, no casualties were reported as a result of the tsunami.
The residents of Alameda experienced a tsunami warning back on Dec. 5, 2024.
