Hilo Clock

Hilo Clock, Big Island

Hilo was hit by tsunamis twice in the past century. The first time was on April 1, 1946, when a tsunami that was generated by a large earthquake off of Alaska hit the cities of Hilo and Laupahoehoe, killing 159 people and causing a lot of damage to Hilo’s bayfront and other east-facing shorelines on the Big Island. On May 23, 1960, another tsunami (this time generated by an earthquake off of Chile), again hit Hilo, this time killing 61 people.

The clock (which stood in the city at that time) was hit by the 1960 tsunami and since then stands with its hands frozen in time – 1:04 a.m. Townspeople refurbished it, but decided against restoring it to working order in honor of those who perished in the tidal waves. The clock is located on Kamehameha Avenue in front of the Naniloa Golf Course.

Hilo Clock Overview

Clock was hit by the 1960 tsunami that hit Hilo
Clock stopped working the moment the tidal wave hit Hilo, at 1:04 a.m.
Townspeople refurbished the clock, but didn't restore it to working order in honor of those who died
Today, the clock is a memorial