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Photos: How Oʻahu responded to the tsunami warning

Hawaiʻi Public Radio | By HPR News Staff,
The Associated Press
Published July 30, 2025 at 3:35 PM HST
Oʻahu residents evacuate ʻEwa Beach to the side of Kunia Road due to the threat of a tsunami on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
Michelle Bir
/
AP
Oʻahu residents evacuate ʻEwa Beach to the side of Kunia Road due to the threat of a tsunami on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

A tsunami warning was issued for the state of Hawaiʻi Tuesday afternoon after a magnitude-8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia.

Oʻahu officials said there were "significant changes" in the ocean levels, especially on the North Shore. On Hawaiʻi Island, minor flooding was reported on streets.

Later in the night on Tuesday, the tsunami warning was downgraded to an advisory, which was in effect overnight. That advisory ended for the entire state at 8:58 a.m. Wednesday.

Here's how the community responded to the initial tsunami warning alert:

A traffic jam forms in Honolulu as people evacuate following a tsunami warning. (July 29, 2025)
Emma Caires
/
HPR
A traffic jam forms in Honolulu as people evacuate following a tsunami warning. (July 29, 2025)
Traffic at Ala Moana mall as people flock following a tsunami warning. ( July 29, 2025)
Tori DeJournett
/
HPR
Traffic at Ala Moana mall as people fled following a tsunami warning. (July 29, 2025)
Oahu residents seek refuge from the threat of a tsunami in a Walmart parking lot in Kapolei, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP photo/Michelle Bir)
Michelle Bir
/
AP
Oʻahu residents seek refuge from the threat of a tsunami in a Walmart parking lot in Kapolei, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP photo/Michelle Bir)
Firefighters prepare a rescue boat following a tsunami warning. ( July 29, 2025)
Tori DeJournett
/
HPR
Firefighters prepare a rescue boat following a tsunami warning. (July 29, 2025)
Bumper to bumper traffic formed on Kaheka St., as people evacuate following a tsunami warning.
Tori DeJournett
/
HPR
Bumper to bumper traffic forms on Kaheka St., as people evacuate following a tsunami warning.
Dennis and Devin Delatorre stand in the back of their truck waiting to return home after evacuating their ʻEwa Beach home in Kapolei Regional Park, Hawaiʻi, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP photo/Michelle Bir)
Michelle Bir
/
AP
Dennis and Devin Delatorre stand in the back of their truck waiting to return home after evacuating their ʻEwa Beach home in Kapolei Regional Park, Hawaiʻi, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP photo/Michelle Bir)
People fled Waikīkī following local law enforcement officials' urging to evacuate the area.
Laura Dux
/
HPR
People fled Waikīkī following local law enforcement officials' urging to evacuate the area.
ʻEwa Beach residents evacuated to the side of Kunia Road to escape the tsunami threat in Kapolei, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP photo/Michelle Bir)
Michelle Bir
/
AP
ʻEwa Beach residents evacuated to the side of Kunia Road to escape the tsunami threat in Kapolei, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP photo/Michelle Bir)
Ewa Beach resident CJ Jasper evacuates his family and their dogs to the side of Kunia Road to escape the tsunami threat Kapolei, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP photo/Michelle Bir)
Michelle Bi
/
AP
ʻEwa Beach resident CJ Jasper evacuates his family and their dogs to the side of Kunia Road to escape the tsunami threat on July 29, 2025. (AP photo/Michelle Bir)
FILE - A sign indicates the border of the tsunami evacuation zone as traffic also forms in the background amid a tsunami warning. (July 29, 2025)
Maddie Bender
/
HPR
A sign indicates the border of the tsunami evacuation zone as traffic also forms in the backgorund amid a tsunami warning. (July 29, 2025)
Washington state resident Poppy Mellon fills his car with jugs of water in preparation for the tsunami threat at the Kapolei Walmart, Hawaiʻi, Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
Michelle Bir
/
AP
Washington state resident Poppy Mellon fills his car with jugs of water in preparation for the tsunami threat at the Kapolei Walmart, Hawaiʻi, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP photo/Michelle Bir)
Oʻahu residents evacuate ʻEwa Beach due to the threat of a tsunami on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP photo/Michelle Bir)
Michelle Bir
/
AP
Oʻahu residents evacuate ʻEwa Beach due to the threat of a tsunami on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP photo/Michelle Bir)
Wai'anae residents Jayda-Marie Tili, Jaylo Paris and Kayson Tili stand with their families as they were evacuated to a Walmart parking lot in Kapolei on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in preparation for the tsunami threat. (AP photo/Michelle Bir)
Michelle Bir
/
AP
Wai'anae residents Jayda-Marie Tili, Jaylo Paris and Kayson Tili stand with their families as they were evacuated to a Walmart parking lot in Kapolei on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in preparation for the tsunami threat. (AP photo/Michelle Bir)
Motorists are turned away from a gas station that closed to allow employees to go home in Honolulu on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, following a tsunami warning after a powerful earthquake struck off the coast of Russia. (AP Photo Jennifer Sinco Kelleher)
Jennifer Sinco Kelleher
/
AP
Motorists are turned away from a gas station that closed to allow employees to go home in Honolulu on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, following a tsunami warning after a powerful earthquake struck off the coast of Russia. (AP Photo Jennifer Sinco Kelleher)

Read and listen to past coverage from HPR:

Cars try to leave the Ala Moana area in Honolulu during a tsunami warning on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
Local News
Hawaiʻi avoids a major tsunami strike after alerts send people away from the coasts
Sophia McCullough
Traffic was bumper to bumper on the H1 as people evacuate for the tsunami generated by a 8.8 earthquake off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. (July 29, 2025)
Local News
What is a tsunami? How long does one take to arrive?
The Associated Press
FILE - A sign indicates the border of the tsunami evacuation zone on Kalākaua Avenue on Oʻahu.
Local News
Tsunami threat has passed for Hawaiʻi. Evacuees may return home
Sophia McCullough

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