Structural Damage from Tsunami at Hilo, Hawaii

A team of engineers and scientists visited Hilo on the Island of Hawaii after the tsunami of 1960 to survey the damage. The principal items studied were the general wave characteristics and the structural damage caused by the waves. The portion of the survey which pertained to onshore effects is reported. Included are studies of height of wave, structural damage caused by the wave, and the pressures on structures from the force of the wave. The velocity of the wave was estimated by three different methods. Reasonable agreement was noted among the three methods. The damage caused by the tsunami is described in some detail, together with the various conditions which affected the degree of damage. Analyses of several structural elements are presented, and conclusions and recommendations are formulated.