USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-08-12T04:21:50+00:00

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT
U.S. Geological Survey
Tuesday, August 11, 2026, 6:42 PM HST (Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 04:42 UTC)

KAMA'EHUAKANALOA (VNUM #332000)
18°55'12" N 155°16'12" W, Summit Elevation -3199 ft (-975 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: UNASSIGNED
Current Aviation Color Code: UNASSIGNED

Summary: Magnitude-5.2 earthquake on Tuesday, August 11, 5:48 p.m. HST, beneath Kama‘ehuakanaloa (Lō‘ihi seamount), 26 mi (42 km) east-southeast offshore of Nāʻālehu on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 7 mi (11 km) below sea level.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT

On Tuesday, August 11, 5:48 p.m. HST, a magnitude-5.2 earthquake occurred beneath Kamaʻehuakanaloa volcano 26 mi (42 km) east-southeast offshore of Nāʻālehu on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 7 mi (11 km) below sea level.

The magnitude-5.2 earthquake is part of an ongoing sequence of earthquakes associated with unrest of Kamaʻehuakanaloa (formerly Lōʻihi) Seamount that started on Sunday, August 9. These earthquakes have no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes.

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

EARTHQUAKE DESCRIPTION

Magnitude: 5.2
Date and Time: August 11, 2026, at 5:48 p.m. HST
Location: 26 mi (42 km) ESE of Nāʻālehu
Depth: 7 mi (11 km) below sea level
Aftershocks are possible in the coming days to weeks

EARTHQUAKE INTENSITY AND AFFECTED AREA

Potential Damage: No damage to buildings or infrastructure expected based on earthquake intensity
Maximum Intensity, Modified Mercalli Scale (https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/earthquake-hazards/science/modified-mercalli-intensity-scale)
Community-reported: IV - light shaking
Instrument-derived: IV - light shaking
Felt Reports: More than 48 within the first hour (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/)
Felt Area: Mostly across the southern and eastern parts of the Island of Hawaiʻi
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/hv75018296
USGS-HVO Interactive Earthquake Map of Hawaiʻi: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/earthquakes

Background: Intermittent earthquake activity has been recorded in the vicinity of Kama‘ehuakanaloa (Lō‘ihi) since as early as 1952. The most energetic earthquake sequence occurred in July-August 1996, which included more than 4,000 earthquakes, with nearly 300 events larger than M3.0 and 95 events in the M4.0 to 4.9 range. More recently, a swarm of 100 earthquakes occurred on May 11, 2020, with 18 events in the M3.0 to 3.9 range. There are no working monitoring instruments on Kama‘ehuakanaloa volcano, whose peak is about 1,000 m (3,280 ft) below sea level. All real-time information about the volcano is derived from land-based seismometers on the Island of Hawai‘i.

More Information:
Kama‘ehuakanaloa website: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kama‘ehuakanaloa

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawaiʻi and American Samoa.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

askHVO@usgs.gov

Subscribe to these messages: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns2/
Summary of volcanic hazards from eruptions: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hazards
Recent earthquakes in Hawaiʻi (map and list): https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo
Explanation of Volcano Alert Levels and Aviation Color Codes: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanic-alert-levels-characterize-conditions-us-volcanoes