In addition, the news being sent out to everyone on the Mainland was originating in Honolulu. And the reporters were interviewing tourists in Waikiki who came up with intelligent on-air statements like "It really felt like an earthquake!"
One lady further promoted an early rumor by telling a reporter that she had heard that a tsunami was coming and ran inland from her Waikiki hotel until she confronted the Alawai Canal that runs parallel to Waikiki. Not being able to get across, she and a friend headed toward Diamond Head and climbed part way up the side to "escape any incoming waves." One Mainland reporter asked her, "Isn't it dangerous to head inland because that's where the volcanoes are?"
Then, the TV channels began running scenes of a historical Victorian-style home in Manoa Valley (above the University of Hawai'i campus) whose chimney had collapsed and caused substantial damage to the home. This seems to be the only building on the whole island of Oahu that suffered any damage, but it was played over and over and gave the impression that all of the islands had suffered similar devastation.
In geography, location makes a huge difference. The Wailuku River that flows into Hilo Bay is the approximate boundary separating the lava flows of Mauna Loa from those of Mauna Kea. Being younger, the lava flows of Mauna Loa on the southern side of the river are right at the surface. Virtually all buildings sit directly on solid rock. On the north side of the river, the ancient lavas have decomposed into very deep top soils, as much as 12-15'. It is here along the Hamakua Coast that much of the "pure cane sugar from Hawai'i" originated in the former sugar cane fields.
Many of the homes built here sit on soil and are not anchored on bedrock. When the earthquake hit, not much moved in Hilo. Sitting on bedrock made a difference. Although there was some pretty violent shaking, it was all "in place."
Examples = my wife's full coffee cup was sitting on some magazines on the coffee table in the living room less than six inches from the edge. Severe shaking took place for almost 20 seconds. The cup did not "travel." It stayed in its spot, but about half of the coffee slopped out of the cup. At one of the larger bookstores downtown, only a couple of items fell off a top shelf. All books and other items stayed put. At a popular fishing supply store the only things that fell were three rolls of monofilament fishing line.
The owner of the fishing store also lives on the Mauna Loa flow side of the river. Nothing fell or broke in his house. By contrast, the owner of the bookstore lives in a house set on the deep soil of the north side of the river. Most things in their house fell. She had the same experience sixteen years ago when a similar earthquake hit. These are the same results one sees in San Francisco. The lesson is clear - build your house on solid rock.
Out of all this, the island of Oahu and the city of Honolulu have become the outstanding example of human induced disaster. To compound matters, FEMA officials have now arrived. As with Katrina, the last thing we need are more know-it-alls to increase the incompetence pool.
