Hawaii tsunami watch canceled after 7.8 quake near Solomon Islands

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A Tsunami Watch has been canceled for Hawaii after a large earthquake struck near the Solomon Islands, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said on Thursday.

The quake struck around 7:38 a.m. HST with a preliminary magnitude of 8.0, but was later downgraded to 7.8 by the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter was approximately 40 miles west-southwest of Kirakira.

The large magnitude prompted the PTWC to immediately issue a watch for the Hawaiian islands, but it was canceled about an hour later as further analysis indicated no tsunami threat to the state.

When the watch was issued, the state Emergency Management Agency immediately started its tsunami alert protocol, notifying all counties of the possible threat. The initial watch said destructive waves could reach the state just before 3 p.m. on Thursday.

Hawaii has had several tsunami scares in recent years, but none has caused widespread damage.

"I'm really concerned about our complacency or lack of concern from residents because of what's happened in the past," said Vern Miyagi of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. "We have not been hit, but it's going to happen someday."

While there is no threat to Hawaii, tsunami alerts remained in place for the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and French Polynesia for several hours.