On the heels of a massive earthquake in Japan earlier today, fears of a tsunami threatening Hawaii quickly spread across the island state. As soon as the quake struck the Asian nation of Japan, tsunami warnings were sounded for Hawaii and the west coast of the U.S. mainland.
According to president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Associated, Mike McCartney, hotels throughout the state implemented a “vertical evacuation.” Hawaii hotels had their guests get as high as possible within the hotel to keep them above the potentially deep flood waters that were coming as a result of a tsunami.
The tsunami warning could not have come at a worse time for the state of Hawaii as many hotels on the island of Waikiki were full in preparation of the Honolulu Festival that was to start on Friday. While the Honolulu international airport remained opened during the warning, several flights that were headed towards the island state turned around and headed back to the mainland. No reports of major damage have been reported as a result of the tsunami.
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