USGS · August 11, 2026
Magnitude 5.2 earthquake — 42 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake was recorded near 42 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii on Aug 11, 2026, 05:48 PM (local time at the epicentre — HST, UTC-10), at a depth of about 10.7 km, according to USGS.
USGSFelt by 35 people · community intensity III (weak)Shaking IVPAGER GreenShallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-04 18:17 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 5.2 · local (Richter) magnitude
- Location
- 42 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii
- Local time at the epicentre
- Aug 11, 2026, 05:48 PM — HST, UTC-10
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-08-12 03:48 UTC
- Depth
- 10.7 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
- Coordinates
- 18.879, -155.233
- Felt reports
- Felt by 35 people · community intensity III (weak)
- Estimated shaking
- IV · Light
- PAGER impact alert
- Green — No casualties or significant damage expected.
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 428 / 1000 · notable event
- Solution quality
- 60 seismic stations used · 256° azimuthal gap (less well-constrained epicentre)
- Review status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
- Catalog
- USGS
Epicentre and nearby recent earthquakes
The highlighted circle is this earthquake. Smaller circles are other events recorded nearby in the last 30 days.
What the shaking was like
Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
Estimated instrumental shaking IV (Light): Felt indoors by many; dishes and windows rattle and parked cars rock.
People who reported it described intensity III (Weak): Felt indoors; hanging objects swing, like a passing truck.
Felt it yourself? USGS collects first-hand reports through “Did You Feel It?”, and those reports are what produce the community intensity above.
Who lives nearby
About 0 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 98,687 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Pāhala | 44.3 km NW | 1,356 |
| Discovery Harbor | 45.8 km WNW | 1,171 |
| Hawaiian Ocean View | 59.7 km WNW | 4,437 |
| Volcano | 62.7 km N | 2,575 |
| Fern Forest | 66.0 km N | 1,150 |
| Eden Roc | 69.3 km NNE | 1,386 |
| Fern Acres | 72.2 km NNE | 1,504 |
| Leilani Estates | 73.6 km NNE | 1,560 |
| Hawaiian Acres | 75.7 km NNE | 2,700 |
| Ainaloa | 76.3 km NNE | 2,965 |
Earthquake history in this area
No earthquake of magnitude 4.5+ has been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960.
Other earthquakes near this epicentre
No other earthquakes have been recorded within 100 km in the last 30 days.
Be first to know about the next earthquake near 42 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 42 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii earthquake?
Magnitude 5.2 (local (Richter) magnitude), at a depth of 10.7 km. Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
Exactly when did it happen?
Aug 11, 2026, 05:48 PM (local time at the epicentre — HST, UTC-10). In universal time: 2026-08-12 03:48 UTC.
Was it felt?
Felt by 35 people · community intensity III (weak). Felt indoors by many; dishes and windows rattle and parked cars rock.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Pāhala, 44.3 km NW (population 1,356).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
0 further events were recorded within 100 km of the epicentre in the last 30 days.
How do I get alerts for the next earthquake here?
Install the free SeismoWatch Android app, draw a box over this area, set a minimum magnitude, and turn alerts on.
About this page
Event data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and, in Venezuela, FUNVISIS. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.