On Friday, a seismic event rattled the Big Island of Hawaii, as Mauna Loa, the world's largest active volcano, experienced a magnitude 5.7 earthquake. Though initially reported by the U.S. Geological Survey as a magnitude 6.3, the quake originated on Mauna Loa's southern flank, 23 miles deep and 1.3 miles southwest of Pahala.
The tremor, occurring after 10 a.m. local time, had repercussions, shaking items off shelves and causing power outages in Naalehu, affecting around 300 customers. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of substantial damage, and it did not trigger a tsunami.
Derek Nelson, manager of the Kona Canoe Club restaurant, described the impact: "It shook us bad to where it wobbled some knees a little bit... It shook all the windows in the village."
The Hawaiian Electric Company reported the power outage in Naalehu, which appeared linked to the earthquake. The event unfolded less than two hours before a separate quake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.6 struck Southern California.
Mauna Loa, part of the Big Island's volcanic landscape, last erupted in late 2022. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory attributed the seismic activity to the weight of the Hawaiian Islands bending and stressing the Earth's crust and upper mantle. This phenomenon, rooted in the islands' mass displacing the Pacific oceanic plate beneath them, can lead to earthquakes.
Helen Janiszewski, an assistant professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, explained that the Hawaiian Islands, resting on the Pacific oceanic tectonic plate, boast some of the world's largest volcanoes. The accumulated mass of rock associated with the islands can displace the Pacific plate, causing occasional earthquakes.
Despite the intensity of the quake, the observatory reported no impact on Mauna Loa or the neighboring volcano, Kilauea. Telescopes on the summit of Mauna Kea, home to advanced observatories, also showed no immediate damage.
While there were no apparent disruptions at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Jessica Ferracane noted that the earthquake was "much more intense" than usual. Earthquakes are not uncommon in the region, occurring regularly due to the volcanic activity that has shaped the Hawaiian Islands over millions of years.
The seismic event could be felt in Honolulu, highlighting the interconnectedness of the Hawaiian Islands. Big Island Mayor Mitch Roth, experiencing the quake during a medical appointment, quickly mobilized emergency management officials.
Grace Tabios, owner of a store in Naalehu, described the impact on her husband at their coffee farm and the chaos in her store as jars and items tumbled from shelves. The incident serves as a reminder of the geological dynamics that shape the unique and ever-changing landscape of the Hawaiian Islands.
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