Hawaii Tsunami Gridlock 2025: Officials Say ‘Over-Evacuation’ Fueled Traffic Chaos

After an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck near Russia’s Kuril Islands, Hawaii braced for a potential tsunami. While the resulting wave caused minimal damage, evacuation efforts in places like Honolulu revealed major challenges — especially gridlock caused by what officials now call “over-evacuation.”

Honolulu Sees Traffic Paralysis as Alerts Trigger Rush

David Sun-Miyashiro, a Honolulu resident living on the 31st floor, was safe from flooding but tried to pick up his father anyway. He barely moved a few blocks before abandoning his car and walking home with his son.

“If everybody tries to leave all at once, you’re pretty much paralyzed in place,” he said.

The earthquake struck mid-afternoon, overlapping with rush hour, and many residents reacted immediately to the alert — including those in already safe areas.

Officials: Some Evacuated Unnecessarily

According to Molly Pierce of Oahu’s Department of Emergency Management, the confusion came from overlapping evacuation zones. Standard tsunami zones were activated, but residents in “extreme” tsunami zones — who were already in safe areas — also fled.

Others drove to stores like Costco or tried to reunite with family before evacuating, further clogging roads.

Public Education Needed, Not Just Alerts

Ed Sniffen, director of the state’s Department of Transportation, said while he stands by the decision to alert early, “everyone tried to fill the extra time,” which worsened traffic. Many who didn’t need to evacuate left safe zones to refuel, shop, or relocate unnecessarily.

Officials emphasized that staying put in a secure location would have reduced congestion and helped those in actual danger evacuate faster.

Waikiki Gridlock Raises Red Flags

State Rep. Adrian Tam noted that Waikiki’s limited road access created a bottleneck. The tourist-heavy neighborhood has only four roads in and out, making it a top concern for future emergency planning.

“It does raise serious questions about how we address massive gridlock,” Tam said.

Hawaii’s Geography Offers Time—But Planning Still Crucial

Unlike regions on tectonic plate boundaries, Hawaii typically receives several hours of lead time for tsunamis. Most major threats come from distant quakes in Japan, Alaska, or Chile, as was the case Tuesday.

Officials ensured key escape routes were accessible, including a military road on Oahu and “Oprah’s Road” on Maui — a private road the celebrity has easement access to, opened for evacuees.

Tourists and Residents Remain Calm

Jake Bacon, a vacationing photographer from Arizona, spent 90 minutes in traffic evacuating from Bellows Air Force Station with his family. They later camped out overnight in a Safeway parking lot, safe and with amenities.

“I didn’t hear a car horn honk,” Bacon said, describing the evacuation as orderly and calm.
“Everybody acted in a way that just seemed… how you would want it to be.”

Source: The Seattle Times