Hilo Bay, Hawaii Tsunami Warning Issued: 11:00AM Saturday Feb 27, 2010

A tsunami warning has been issued for all Hawaii islands. An 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck near central Chile, South America and has generated a tsunami wave. A tsunami wave projected at 6 to 12 feet is forecast to first Hilo on the South East coast of the Big Island of Hawaii at 11:19 AM Hawaii time.

Local Hawaii residents are being warned to prepare for the impending tsunami by evacuating low-lying coastal areas state-wide and moving to higher ground.

On May 23, 1960, a 35 foot tsunami wave killed 61 people and destroyed most of Downtown Hilo, following a 8.5 magnitude earthquake off the coast of South America.