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Keauhou Landing four days after the magnitude 7.7 earthquake and tsunami. The dark area indicates the area inundated by the tsunami, which hit this area as soon as the ground shaking of the earthquake stopped. The tsunami reached its maximum height within the Halapē-Keauhou Landing area, where it averaged about 9 m above low water. This part of the island subsided 3 to 3.5 m during and immediately after the earthquake; it is not known whether waves swept the coast before or after the subsidence was complete. The scouring action of the tsunami was most extensive in this region. The high splash mark was delineated on land by a pile of trees, bagasse, rocks, and other debris and by the inland margin of a zone of withered leaves and grass killed by salt water. The tsunami deposited great numbers of small fish, crabs, and other sea life up to the high splash mark, but rarely were large water-worn beach cobbles and coral heads carried this far. The stench of rotting marine life was strong for many days afterward. |
