USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2023-12-28T17:52:23-08:00

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT 

On Thursday, December 28, 3:16 p.m. HST, a magnitude-4.4 earthquake occurred 4 mi (7 km) southeast of Pāhala on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 8 mi (12 km) below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes. 

This earthquake appears to be the result of faulting on the offshore section of Kīlauea’s Southwest Rift Zone. While the earthquake was felt at Kīlauea’s summit, it did not cause any changes in seismicity or deformation. 

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

EARTHQUAKE DESCRIPTION 

• Magnitude: 4.4 

• Date and Time: December 28, 2023, at 3:16 p.m. HST 

• Location: 4 mi (7 km) SE of Pāhala 

• Depth: 8 mi (12 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: V - moderate shaking 

• Instrument-derived: V - moderate shaking 

• Felt Reports: More than 90 within the first hour (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/) 

• Felt Area: Widely felt on the southern part 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/hv73699997 

• USGS-HVO Interactive Earthquake Map of Hawaiʻi: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/earthquakes