Hee Nalu: But Don't Try to Surf a Tsunami

Learn the difference between surfing waves and tsunami waves, while watching incredible footage from the 2003 storm that generated giant waves in Hilo Bay. The huge waves covered the Bayfront area with rocks and debris, which many residents compared to tsunami damage; naturally, these 2003 waves were much smaller than tsunami waves. But the 2003 waves were large enough for surfers to ride at Singing Bridge, because the storm was pointed in just the right direction to send waves into Hilo Bay. Interviews with oceanographer Walt Dudley, NWS Kevin Kodama, and surfer Stan Lawrence provide insight as to why a tsunami is not a surfing wave. More information about tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes is on our web site at http://hilo.hawaii.edu/~nat_haz

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Tsunami
• giant
• wave
• Hawaii
• surfing
• Hilo