What are my risks?
Seismic Hazard Zones in Maui
County
In 1994,
Maui upgraded their Uniform Building Code seismic risk zone ranking
from a 2 to a 2B. Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe upgraded from
a 1 to a 2B. The UBC contain six seismic zones, ranging from 0
(no chance of severe ground shaking) to 4 (10% chance of severe
shaking in a 50-year interval).
For more
information about Seismic Hazards in Hawaii click
here.
History of Earthquakes on Maui
Each year
thousands of earthquakes occur in Hawaii, with the majority of
them too small to be felt except by highly sensitive instruments.
However, there have been earthquakes that jolted the islands.
The island of Hawaii has experienced numerous earthquakes of magnitude
5 or greater.
In 1871,
the Lanai Earthquake had a magnitude of 7 or greater. Massive
rockfalls and cliff collapse occurred on Lanai. House and churches
were flattened on the island of Maui and Molokai. Two houses were
reported to have split open on Oahu. And ground fractures and
land slippage was reported in Waianae and Lahaina.
Earthquakes
are not only concentrated on the Big Island. The 1938 Maui Earthquake
was assigned a magnitude of 6.7-6.9 with an epicenter located
only 6 miles north of the island of Maui. Landslides forced the
closure of the road to Hana, and long sections of the highway
collapsed into the sea. Waterpipes were damaged and the ground
cracked open on Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. Small landslides and
damage to home contents were even felt on Oahu.
History
of Earthquakes in Hawaii, M6 and Greater, 1868-Present
History of Earthquakes in Hawaii, M6 and
Greater, 1868-Present
|
Year
|
Date
|
Magnitude
|
Source
|
|
1868
|
Mar
25
|
6.5-7.0
|
Mauna
Loa south flank |
|
1868
|
Apr
2
|
7.5-8.1
|
Mauna
Loa south flank |
|
1918
|
Nov
2
|
6.2
|
Ka'oki,
between Mauna Loa and Kilauea |
|
1919
|
Sep
14
|
6.1
|
Ka'u
District. Mauna Loa south flank |
|
1926
|
Mar
19
|
>6.0
|
NW
of Hawai'i Island |
|
1927
|
Mar
20
|
6.0
|
NE
of Hawaii Island |
|
1929
|
Sep
25
|
6.1
|
Hualalai
|
|
1929
|
Oct
5
|
6.5
|
Hualalai
|
|
1938
|
Jan
22
|
6.9
|
N
of Maui |
|
1940
|
Jun
16
|
6.0
|
N
of Hawaii Island |
|
1941
|
Sep
25
|
6.0
|
Ka'oki |
|
1950
|
May
29
|
6.4
|
Kona |
|
1951
|
Apr
22
Aug 21
|
6.3
6.9
|
Lithospheric |
|
1952
|
May
23
|
6.0
|
Kona |
|
1954
|
Mar
30
|
6.5
|
Kilauea
south flank |
|
1955
|
Aug
14
|
6.0
|
Lithospheric |
|
1962
|
Jun
27
|
6.1
|
Ka'oki |
|
1973
|
Apr
26
|
6.3
|
Lithospheric |
|
1975
|
Nov
29
|
7.2
|
Kilauea
south flank |
|
1983
|
Nov
16
|
6.6
|
Ka'oki |
|
1989
|
Jun
25
|
6.1
|
Kilauea
south flank |
Source: Atlas of Hawaii, Third Edition, 1998