April Fool's Day Tsunami

 1946 April Fool's Day Tsunami

On April 1, 1946 Hilo was hit by the most devastating tsunami in Hawaii's modern history. Death toll was 158. The tsunami was triggered by a 7.4-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Alaska. Some experts now say it was closer to 8.5-magnitude. The tsunami reached Hawaii in less than five hours.

The first wave that reached Hilo Harbor receded, taking all the water with it leaving boats sitting on the ocean floor and fish flopping out of water. Then the massive tsunami arrived as high as a 3-story building. Maximum height recorded in Haena was 45 feet. James DS Barros, administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said, “Tsunamis can strike with very little warning and cause enormous destruction.” He said, “We observe Tsunami Awareness Month every year in Hawaii, starting on the anniversary of the deadly April Fools' Day Tsunami that caused so much sorrow and damage . . .”

My father, Noboru Nomura, was in Hilo and took photos after the 1946 tsunami. He was born on the Ewa plantation on Oahu. When he was a baby, everybody was sitting around a bon fire. He reached out and grabbed a burning branch with his hand. His hand was badly burned and was permanently deformed as a partly closed fist. That hand was able to hold the steering wheel of a car. He became a taxi driver. He and my mother, who was a waitress, were married in April 1945, during World War II. They were not able to go on a honeymoon. When war ended, they planned to travel to Hawaii Island for their first wedding anniversary in April 1946. That's how they were in Hilo after the tsunami.

There are 14+ photos taken in the aftermath of the tsunami. They are a copy of actual photos taken by my father. There is a small charge to see the photos: $7.97 total for all photos. 

This money goes to the Hawaii Institute of Integrative Health, dba Hawaii Health Foundation, 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

After paying $7.97, you should be taken to the page with all 14+ photos. If that doesn't happen, email: mail@eHealthAndYou.com 

To download each photo, click on the photo. A popup should appear when you click each photo. The popup usually appears near the top or bottom of your computer screen. Click the popup to download the photo. Downloaded photos will be stored in your download file on your computer.

Powered by