Quake Triggered Tsunami Hits Hawaii posted 11 minutes ago by AP
Excerpt:
HILO, Hawaii – Scientists have confirmed that the tsunami triggered by the earthquake in Chile has reached Hawaii.
The extent of the damage was not immediately clear, but the effects of the tsunami were obvious.
Water began pulling away from shore off Hilo Bay on the Big Island just before noon, exposing reefs and sending dark streaks of muddy, sandy water offshore. Water later washed over Coconut Island, a small park off the coast of Hilo.
ETA: helpful links for the curious.
How Tsunamis Work
Excerpt:
The resulting waves are hard to predict for several reasons. Nobody knows how a quake has affected the seafloor until hours, days or even months after the event. And a tsunami is almost imperceptible on the open ocean, rising to full ferocity only as it nears the shore.
Tsunami Waves