KAILUA-KONA — A magnitude-4.2 earthquake in the Alenuihaha Channel between the Big Island and Maui early Sunday was felt as far away as east Oahu.
More than 200 reports of having felt the temblor, which struck at 2:01 a.m.., had been received by the U.S. Geological Survey as of Sunday afternoon. The reports of light shaking came from people across the state, from Hilo to Honolulu and Kailua, Oahu. The majority of the reports came from Makawao, Maui (35); Waimea (30); and Kula, Maui (26).
According the USGS Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory, the earthquake was centered in the Alenuihaha Channel, about 16 miles southeast of Kaupo, Maui, and 21 miles northwest of Hawi. It had a registered depth of 11 miles.
HVO Seismic Network Manager Brian Shiro said the earthquake was likely due to bending of the oceanic plate from the weight of the island and poses no significant hazard. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported that no tsunami was generated by the earthquake, which also had no apparent effect on Kilauea Volcano’s ongoing eruptions.