Pacific Tsunami Museum, Big Island

Pacific Tsunami Museum at a Glance

There aren’t many museums dedicated to natural disasters, but here’s one right in downtown Hilo. The Pacific Tsunami Museum is an informational site about the science and history of tsunamis, particularly the last Pacific-wide wave that hit the Big Island in 1946 and 1960. Aptly located in a tsunami zone, the museum aims to educate people about tsunamis and how they have-and continue to-affect Hawaiian culture.

The museum itself is fairly modest, occupying a single floor with various presentations and exhibits. However, it makes good use of its space and packs every wall with information, from basic tsunami facts to stories of the waves that have rocked Hawaii. There’s also a section on tsunami science and the technologies used to detect and minimize the damage of present-day tsunamis.

Most of the exhibits are a mix of educational plaques, text, photos, and occasional videos. Some of the videos are long, so if you’re really interested be sure to set a few hours aside for the trip. The most watched clip is the one detailing the destruction wrought on Hilo by the 1960 disaster. The screen is intentionally placed near the window so you can look out at the very spot where it happened.

The Pacific Tsunami Museum is open every day from 9am to 4pm. Kids under 5 are admitted free of charge; admission fees are $2, $6, and $7 for students, seniors and adults respectively. After your visit, you can take a stroll along the Hilo Bay, which is literally a stone’s throw away from the entrance.

Pacific Tsunami Museum in Bullet Points

Pacific Tsunami Museum Location

Address: 130 Kamehameha Ave, Hilo, HI 96720

Pacific Tsunami Museum Map (top)

Hilo Weather (top)

Now
70°F
Windchill:
70°F
Partly Cloudy
Location: Hilo, HI, US
Wind: 3 mph SW
Humidity: 87%
Visibility: 0.1 mi
Pressure: 30.08 in steady
Sunrise: 6:31 am
Sunset: 5:40 pm Fri
Hi: 78°F
Low: 66°F
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Sat
Hi: 79°F
Low: 67°F
Showers