The September 22, 1988 earthquake

M5.1near Kekaha, Hawaii

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake 6.2 miles deep, 43.8 miles off Kauai County. The 78th strongest in Hawaii’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles in the catalogue, which runs from 1900.

The earthquake

Magnitude: 5.1; local magnitude (ml)
Depth: 6.2 mi; 10.0 km below the surface
Local time: Thursday, September 22, 1988; 12:30 HST; 22:30 UTC
Epicentre: 21.10°N, 160.87°W; 43.8 mi from Kauai County
In Hawaii’s record: 78th; strongest of 39,637 since 1900
Within 50 miles: 1; county; more on this date

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event hv284355 (“153 km SW of Kekaha, Hawaii”). The USGS event page carries the ShakeMap, felt reports and the official summary.

Counties and cities within 50 miles

Distance from the epicentre to each county boundary (zero when inside) and to each city centre.

Counties

Kauai CountyHI · 43.8 mi

Earthquakes around the epicentre

1 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles of this epicentre since 1973.

No earlier earthquake of magnitude 5 or more within 50 miles in the catalogue since 1900.

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog. Local time is the time zone of the county nearest the epicentre. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them.