M 4.2 Light Earthquake Recorded Near Naalehu, 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 4.2 earthquake occurred 22 kilometers east-southeast of Naalehu, Hawaii, at a shallow depth of 16.4 kilometers on Sunday night.
What this USGS earthquake report tells you, and what most readers miss
This notice was issued by USGS on April 6, 2026 and geographically references Hawaii. Its severity classification of "medium" 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 light earthquake with a magnitude of 4.2 (md) was recorded on March 2, 2026, at 08:39:47 UTC. The event occurred approximately 22 kilometers (13.7 miles) east-southeast of Naalehu, Hawaii. For local residents, the tremor took place at 10:39 PM Hawaii Standard Time on Sunday, March 1.
Location Details
The seismic event was centered at coordinates 19.017°N and 155.371°W. The earthquake originated at a depth of 16.38 kilometers (10.2 miles). This is considered a shallow earthquake; shallow seismic events (those occurring at depths less than 20km) are typically felt more distinctly at the surface than deeper events of the same magnitude.
Impact Assessment
Based on the current data from the USGS, there is no tsunami advisory, watch, or warning in effect for this event. No specific alert level color has been issued, and there are no immediate reports of damage or injuries associated with this magnitude 4.2 event.
What You Should Know
Earthquakes of this magnitude are classified as "light." While they are often felt by people near the epicenter and can cause noticeable shaking, they rarely result in significant structural damage. Residents in the southern region of the Big Island may experience minor aftershocks, which are common following an event of this size.
Source
Information for this report was provided by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.
Original source: USGS Official Notice ↗
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