USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-05-23T07:57:02+00:00

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT 

On Friday, May 22, 9:46 p.m. HST, a magnitude-6.0 earthquake occurred 7 mi (12 km) south of Hōnaunau-Nāpōʻopoʻo on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 14 mi (22 km) below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes. 

The depth, location, and recorded seismic waves of the earthquake suggest that it was caused by stress due to bending of the oceanic plate from the weight of the Hawaiian island chain; the earthquake was not directly related to volcanic processes.  Strong to very strong shaking was reported on the west side of the Island of Hawaiʻi during the earthquake that happened this evening and could have resulted in light to moderate damage to infrastructure. Please report any observed damage to the County of Hawaiʻi Civil Defense Agency. Several aftershocks from the earthquake that happened this evening have already occurred. Most have been smaller than magnitude-3. Aftershocks may continue to occur in the coming days but are unlikely to be large enough to be felt or cause damage. We appreciate the more than 2,500 residents and visitors who submitted felt reports to the USGS website for this event; such reports help USGS and other responding agencies to understand the affected area and potential impacts of earthquakes. 

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to monitor Hawaiian volcanoes for any changes. 

EARTHQUAKE DESCRIPTION 

• Magnitude: 6.0 
• Date and Time: May 22, 2026, at 9:46 p.m. HST 
• Location: 7 mi (12 km) S of Hōnaunau-Nāpōʻopoʻo 
• Depth: 14 mi (22 km) below sea level 
• Aftershocks are possible in the coming days to weeks 

EARTHQUAKE INTENSITY AND AFFECTED AREA 

• Potential Damage: minor to moderate damage is possible based on earthquake intensity 
• Maximum Intensity, Modified Mercalli Scale (https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/earthquake-hazards/science/modified-mercalli-intensity-scale) 
• Community-reported: VII - very strong shaking 
• Instrument-derived: VII - very strong shaking 
• Felt Reports: More than 2662 within the first hour (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/) 
• Felt Area: Widely reported across the Hawaiian Islands 
• Visit NOAA’s Tsunami Warning Center website for updated information: https://www.tsunami.gov/ 

EARTHQUAKE MAPS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

• USGS National Earthquake Information Center Maps and Reports for this Event: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/hv74966427 
• USGS-HVO Interactive Earthquake Map of Hawaiʻi: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/earthquakes