Hawaii Tsunami: Hotels Implement 'Vertical Evacuation'

In the wake of the massive earthquake (click for live blog) that struck Japan Friday, tsunami warnings have been issued for the west coast of the United States (it is expected to hit Hawaii around 3am local time; the National Guard is on standby).

Hawaii hotels are "implementing a vertical evacuation," Mike McCartney, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Associated, told the Honolulu Star Advertiser. "We are in touch with all hotels and they have an evacuation process in order," he added. In a "vertical evacuation", hotel guests are moved to the higher floors.

While Honolulu International Airport remains open, seven or eight jets headed towards the Hawaiian islands have turned around, according to local KPUA Radio.

Tourism officials say that hotels in Waikiki are nearly full in preparation for the Honolulu Festival meant to start on Friday.

Comments

[nokaoi]

03:38 AM on 03/12/2011

the vertical evacuation sounds like hotels not wanting to lose the night's charge from the paying guests. if it had been big and real wouldn't want to be 6 stories up.

[nokaoi]

03:27 AM on 03/12/2011

i live in maui. a little flooding, nothing too bad. during the night and in the morning they closed the roads close to the coastline. all's well.

[1deepstar]

11:37 PM on 03/11/2011

I live in Kona, Big Island, and have posted a Tsunami news page on my website at www.everbluefreediving.com including pics and vids of the tsunami and aftermath.
We were hit with an 11ft wave as were many places in the islands. Maui and other islands got a lot of damage but they only seem to want to talk about Oahu/Honolulu in the media...

[satanlite]

01:49 PM on 03/11/2011

Wow. Callous disregard for safety in the name of profits.
 
What happens when the foundation shifts or supports are damaged by the water or incidental flooing, debris? These hotel owners are playing with lives for the sake of shot term profits. True koch sucking Americans.

[donbrown]

01:57 PM on 03/11/2011

A six foot wave is not going to do that kind of damage. There would be no place for thousands of tourists with cars and bags to go from Waikiki. They did exactly the right thing with minimal disruption.

If a 30 foot wave were predicted, as in Japan, the emergency response would be different.

[bybeautydamned]

04:36 PM on 03/11/2011

We may suck a lot of "koch" (and we like it!) but what is your nation's claim to fame? Talking out the blow hole? Speaking on topics of which you know nada? Wow. Admirable.

[satanlite]

04:48 PM on 03/11/2011

No, sorry, but feel free to yak up your ASSumptions if you like. I mean, you like the koch so do whatever misguided action you think is appropriate.

[donbrown]

01:40 PM on 03/11/2011

No major damage here is Hawaii... though reports are coming in from the Big Island's Kona Coast on some houses washed away and an 11 foot surge in isolated spots.

Roads to the North Shore of Oahu, filled with surfers from all over the world, are closed right now, but no reports of serious damage.

Kahului Harbors on Maui had some minor boat damage.

No word yet from Kauai, Molokai or Niihau..

[VietVet67]

01:16 PM on 03/11/2011

Just got word from friends who live in Hawaii. Everything is fine with them. All they witnessed were ~3 foot waves.

[KelaMa]

01:09 PM on 03/11/2011

Some damage at the harbors, neighbor island hotels some damage but nothing bad on Oahu where most of the people are. Okay west coast, it's your turn now. Be safe not sorry!

[Passerineblue]

08:21 AM on 03/11/2011

Let's hope that the Royal Hawaiian and other older hotels are preserved.

[JumpySnark]

11:05 AM on 03/11/2011

Let's hope there is no appreciable damage, and that this is all (a necessary act of) over-preparation.