The big earthquakes occur in Hawaii when the mass of the volcanic cone pushes down and out on the plane of the Pacific tectonic plate on which it sits. The Pacific plate is pushing in a northwestward direction. Pressure builds up and the earth at the outer edges of the volcano land mass snaps and crumbles as slippage occurs.

 

The most destructive earthquake in Hawaii happened April 2, 1868 on the Kona coast and more than 81 people died. The quake caused damage around the entire island and destroyed more than 100 homes. The magnitude 7.9 earthquake was felt as far away as the island of Kauai. The area most affected was the Ka'u district where a resulting landslide of mud generated a 15-meter tsunami.

 

During the early morning hours of November 29, 1975. At 3:35 a.m., a magnitude 5.7 jolted the Big Island of Hawaii. There were no reports of severe damages, however, many were frightened. This event would prove to be merely a foreshock. By 4:47 a.m., everyone had fallen back to sleep, only to be awakened once more by a larger, even more frightening magnitude 7.2 shock. "Earthquake lights" of white to bluish flashes or glows lasting several seconds were reported by a number of observers. Earthquake lights are associated with major earthquakes and have been observed in Japan and California. The lights are believed to be results of earthquake-induced distortions of the atmosphere.

 

This type of destructive earthquake generally occurs about once every ten years. The most recent large earthquake in this area had a magnitude of 6.7, occuring in 1983 and causing $6 -$7 millions in damage.

 

On rare occasion an earthquake not related to volcanic activity can happen on the island of Hawaii. In 1973 a magnitude 6.2 happened north of Hilo, injuring 11 people and causing $5.6 millions worth of damage. Earthquakes like these are hard to predict.

 

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