M 3.2 Earthquake 18 km N of Pāhala, Hawaii

Source: USGS · Hawaii

Areazine synthesizes this USGS earthquake report directly from USGS's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.

A magnitude 3.2 ml earthquake struck 18 km north of Pāhala, Hawaii, at a depth of 6.45 km.

What this USGS earthquake report tells you, and what most readers miss

This notice was issued by USGS on August 23, 2026 and geographically references Hawaii. Its severity classification of "low" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken - "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to - Earthquakes - determines the monitoring protocol behind it, which shapes what follow-up action (checking for structural damage, watching for aftershocks, reviewing local building codes) is relevant and which agency holds authority over the assessment.

Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to verify its scope, source, and timestamp, then compare related notices without assuming that one record proves a broader trend.

Areazine pairs this record with the original agency URL so you can check the primary source before acting. Its related labels are earthquake, seismic, usgs, Hawaii.

What Happened

A magnitude 3.17 ml earthquake occurred 18 km N of Pāhala, Hawaii, at a depth of 6.45 km. The event took place at 2026-08-23 12:25:17 UTC.

Location Details

The epicenter was located at latitude 19.3675, longitude -155.4998. This shallow depth (less than 20 km) is typical for crustal earthquakes in the region.

Impact Assessment

The earthquake was felt by 1 person according to reports. No tsunami was generated (tsunami advisory status: 0). No alert level was issued.

What You Should Know

Earthquakes of this magnitude (M 2.5-3.9) are often felt but rarely cause damage. Residents should be prepared for possible aftershocks.

Source

USGS Event Page

Original source: USGS Official Notice ↗

All Earthquakes →

Nationwide notices with similar length or severity timing 8

Two Areazine-derived peer sets for this USGS earthquake report: nearest notices by body length and by same severity near the same agency date. Peers come from other categories so they are not the same-feed Related list above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this USGS earthquake report.

What is this USGS earthquake report about?
A magnitude 3.2 ml earthquake struck 18 km north of Pāhala, Hawaii, at a depth of 6.45 km.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by USGS. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "low" severity. No immediate action required, but stay aware.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Hawaii. Check with USGS for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Earthquakes updates?
Browse the full Earthquakes feed on Areazine at areazine.com/earthquakes/ for the latest updates from USGS and other agencies.