Magnitude 4.2 Earthquake Shakes Hawaii Big Island Coast

A magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck offshore near the southern coast of Hawaii's Big Island on Tuesday morning, centered about 20 miles below the ocean surface near Pāhala. The quake caused light shaking felt across multiple areas including Ka‘ū, Puna, Hilo, and parts of Hāmākua, but no tsunami warning was issued and no damage was expected. The event was part of ongoing seismic activity in the region, which has experienced a series of small earthquakes and a seismic swarm since 2019. Officials and the USGS confirmed the earthquake was unlikely related to volcanic activity at Kīlauea or Mauna Loa volcanoes. The quake was recorded by multiple agencies with slight variations in magnitude, ranging from 3.6 to 4.2, but all agreed on the moderate depth and offshore epicenter. Residents in nearby communities were encouraged to report their experiences through seismic apps for rapid alerting.