USGS HVO Press Release — Magnitude-4.3 Earthquake between Maui and Kaho‘olawe
A magnitude-4.3 earthquake occurred at 6:34 p.m., H.S.T., on Tuesday, November 23, and was located between Makena, Maui, and Kaho‘olawe at an estimated depth of 17 km (11 miles).
As of this morning, the USGS "Did you feel it?" Web site (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/dyfi/) had received 1207 felt reports, indicating that the earthquake was felt throughout the islands, from O‘ahu to Hawai‘i Island.
This earthquake is one of a dozen magnitude-4 and above earthquakes located beneath Haleakalā volcano in the past 50 years. All these earthquakes have been located deeper than 10 km (6 miles) and are most likely structural adjustments of the Earth's crust due to the weight of the growing Hawai‘i Island.
Earthquake locations automatically posted last night on the HVO Web site (tux.wr.usgs.gov) suggested that the magnitude-4.3 earthquake and two later, smaller ones—at 6:51 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.—occurred along the same northwest linear trend. Closer examination of all three earthquakes confirmed that all epicenters were most likely located in the same area between Maui and Kaho‘olawe Islands, but the composite nature of the quakes will require further analyses to determine final parameters.
None of the earthquakes had any noticeable effect on the continuing eruption of Kīlauea Volcano, nor did they produce any detectable changes at Haleakalā Volcano.
Daily updates about ongoing eruptions, recent images and videos of summit and East Rift Zone volcanic activity, maps, and data about recent earthquakes in Hawaii are posted on the HVO website at https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo.
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