Live seismic activity in Hawaii — updated every 60 seconds from USGS data. Hawaii experiences regular seismic activity driven by volcanic hotspot activity beneath the Pacific plate.
Hawaii experiences regular seismic activity driven by volcanic hotspot activity beneath the Pacific plate. The Kīlauea volcano produces thousands of small earthquakes each year, most below M3. Major faults include Kīlauea South Flank Fault, Mauna Loa rift zones. Notable quakes include 1975 Kalapana (M7.7), 2018 Kīlauea eruption swarm (M6.9). The seismic risk is moderate. Tectonically, Hawaii lies on intraplate hotspot (hawaiian-emperor seamount chain). This page provides real‑time USGS data and historical context for Hawaii.
The region is defined by Kīlauea South Flank Fault, Mauna Loa rift zones, and the risk level is classified as Moderate. With a population of 1.4 million, understanding local seismic hazards is crucial.
Hawaii lies on Intraplate hotspot (Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain). The movement of these plates builds up stress, which is released as earthquakes. In subduction zones, one plate dives beneath another, generating some of the largest quakes on Earth. In some regions, strike‑slip faults produce frequent moderate earthquakes.
The strongest recorded earthquake in Hawaii was the 1975 Kalapana earthquake (M7.7). 1975 Kalapana (M7.7)
Hawaii experiences approximately 50-200 earthquakes per year, with 5-20 felt (M3.0+) and 0-2 potentially damaging events (M5.0+) annually, according to USGS historical data.
The most recent major earthquake in Hawaii was the 1975 Kalapana earthquake (M7.7). 1975 Kalapana (M7.7)
Yes. Hawaii is crossed by Kīlauea South Flank Fault, Mauna Loa rift zones, making it prone to seismic activity. The seismic risk level is classified as Moderate.
Drop, cover, and hold on. Stay away from windows, and if outdoors, move to an open area. After the shaking stops, check for injuries and be ready for aftershocks. Prepare an emergency kit with water, food, first aid, and a flashlight.
Data sources: USGS real‑time feed, USGS historical archive, and Wikipedia. Page refreshes live earthquake data every 60 seconds.