![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.bigislandnow.com\/file\/bigislandnow\/2026\/05\/Earthquake-damage-from-KAPA-FM-post-commenter-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a>Tricia Gardiner shared this photo with a comment on a KAPA Radio Facebook post<\/strong><\/a> Friday night, May 22, 2026, about the strong magnitude-6.0 earthquake in West Hawai\u02bbi. \u201cJust south of [Miloli\u02bbi]. Here\u2019s my pantry. Gives you an idea of what the rest of my house looks like,\u201d wrote Gardiner in her comment. \u201cNo one hurt thankfully. I feel like I\u2019m in shock.\u201d<\/p>\nSumming it up, Hawai\u2019i County Civil Defense reported in an update at 7:54 a.m. Saturday that the strong temblor caused rock slides on portions of Highway 11 and N\u0101p\u014d\u02bbopo\u02bbo Road<\/strong><\/a> in South Kona, multiple road closures, power outages, structures to shift on their foundation and other property damage.<\/p>\n Many people around the Big Island and beyond reported feeling the shaking caused by the strong temblor. But the closer to the epicenter, the more rocking and rolling were experienced and the more damages that are likely.<\/p>\n Several reports of items falling off cupboards, out of cabinets and off walls were made across social media. Some even posted that they had small cracks appear in walls or parts of their ceilings because of the earthquake.<\/p>\n Hawaiian Electric reported at about 10 a.m. Saturday that 70 of 1,000 customers affected by the temblor remained without power<\/strong><\/a> and crews were continuing restoration efforts.<\/p>\n Big Island police also advised the public to avoid portions of two West Hawai\u02bbi roadways late Friday night and into early Saturday morning, May 23, so crews could clean up large rocks and debris that fell onto the roadways as a result of the earthquake.<\/p>\n Those roadways were cleared by about 6:30 a.m. Saturday.<\/p>\n Motorists should be aware, however, that debris piles could be on the side of the road until crews can fully complete their removal.<\/p>\n Hawai\u02bbi County Mayor Kimo Alameda said in a 12:44 a.m. Saturday video post<\/strong><\/a> on social media that Kona Community Hospital in Kealakekua, about 5 miles north and slightly west of Honaunau, reported minor damage, but no interruption of services.<\/p>\n KTA Super Stores-Keauhou had items fall on the floor, but the mayor said the grocery store would open Saturday morning as usual.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have reports of downed utility lines, power outages in South Kona, about 500 [Hawaiian Electric] customers are without power, and they\u2019re checking on it as we speak,\u201d Alameda said in the video.<\/p>\n Hawai\u02bbi County Department of Water Supply was also checking on water tanks in the area where the earthquake struck.<\/p>\n \u201cDue to reports of damage, [Hawai\u02bbi County] Civil Defense is encouraging all residents and businesses to assess their property for possible damage to buildings, utilities, water catchment and roadways,\u201d says a Saturday morning post on Hawai\u2019i County Mayor Kimo Alameda\u2019s Facebook page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Officials urge those in areas where the temblor was strongly felt to check for any damages to their home, especially gas, water and electrical utility connections.<\/p>\n Those who sustained damage are asked to self-report those damages to Civil Defense online<\/strong><\/a> or by calling the agency at 808-935-0031 for assistance.<\/p>\n U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude-6.0 earthquake<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0rattled low and slow for at least a minute at 9:46 p.m. Friday, May 22, striking about 7.5 miles south of H\u014dnaunau-N\u0101p\u014d\u02bbopo\u02bbo at a depth of just greater than 15 miles on the west side of the Big Island.<\/p>\n There were more than 2,660 \u201cFelt Reports\u201d within the first hour after the quake, the farthest reported by that time from Wahiaw\u0101, O\u02bbahu \u2014 about 206 miles from where the quake struck on the Big Island.<\/p>\n At least one person not among the \u201cFelt Reports\u201d reported feeling the temblor from farther away.<\/p>\n \u201cYo! I felt that earthquake here on Kaua\u02bbi!!! Has to be bigger than 5.9!\u201d said a Kaua\u02bbi resident, speaking about the preliminary magnitude measurement provided by officials. \u201cCrazy! \u2026\u00a0Scary!!!!\u201d<\/p>\n Most by that time were from the nearby Kailua-Kona area, with reports of very strong shaking and possible moderate damage based on the intensity report<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0from U.S. Geological Survey.<\/p>\n Hawai\u02bbi County Civil Defense reported the quake happened on the west flank of Mauna Loa volcano, mauka of H\u014dnaunau.<\/p>\n \u201cThe depth, location and recorded seismic waves of the earthquake suggest that it was caused by stress due to bending of the oceanic plate from the weight of the Hawaiian island chain; the earthquake was not directly related to volcanic processes,\u201d stated Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in an information statement released later Friday night.<\/p>\n It had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or K\u012blauea volcanoes.<\/p>\n National Weather Service also reported there was no tsunami threat from the strong shaker, which Hawai\u02bbi Island Radio Scanner Community reported had an epicenter in the area of P\u0101hoehoe\/Honokua Nui Ahupua\u02bba in South Kona.<\/p>\n The group also said damage assessments were underway around Hawai\u02bbi Island.<\/p>\n \u201cStrong to very strong shaking was reported on the west side of the Island of Hawai\u02bbi during the earthquake that happened this evening and could have resulted in light to moderate damage to infrastructure,\u201d said the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory statement.<\/p>\n Civil Defense and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory also warned \u2014 as with all earthquakes \u2014 there is the possibility of after-shocks.<\/p>\n \u201cSeveral aftershocks from the earthquake that happened this evening have already occurred,\u201d the volcano observatory said in its information statement. \u201cMost have been smaller than magnitude-3. Aftershocks may continue to occur in the coming days but are unlikely to be large enough to be felt or cause damage.\u201d<\/p>\n Two temblors of note \u2014 albeit weaker \u2014 did later strike in nearly the same location as the magnitude-6.0. <\/p>\n A second magnitude-3.2 quake<\/a><\/strong> struck about 6 minutes after the initial quake at about 6 miles south of H\u014dnaunau-N\u0101p\u014d\u02bbopo\u02bbo at a depth of about 13 miles.<\/p>\n More than 40 \u201cFelt Reports\u201d were made within the first hour after that quake.<\/p>\n![\"Hawaiʻi](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Earthquake-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Hawai\u02bbi County Mayor Kimo Alameda explained some of the damage from a magnitude-6.0 earthquake that struck shortly before 10 p.m. Friday, May 22, 2026, on the Big Island. (Screenshot from Video: Courtesy of Hawai\u02bbi County)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Earthquake-5-22-26-USGS-1024x602.jpg\")
<\/a>Courtesy Map: U.S. Geological Survey earthquake website<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Earthquake-2.jpg\")
<\/a>The 6.0-magnitude earthquake on the Big Island on May 22, 2026, caused rockslides onto roadways. (Screenshot from Video: Courtesy of Hawai\u02bbi County)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/USGS-quake-intensity-graphic-810x1024.jpg\")
<\/a>Courtesy Graphic: U.S. Geological Survey earthquake website<\/p>\n
![\"Big](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Earthquake-3.jpg\")
<\/a>Big Island residents reported items flying off shelves during the 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck on May 22, 2026. (Screenshot: Hawai\u02bbi County video)<\/p>\n