Tsunami Hazard at Ke-Ahole Point, North Kona

Abstract

The 100-year tsunami runup height at Ke-Ahole Point, Hawaii has been variously estimated as between 6.7 feet and 15 feet above sea level. The estimates have been assigned to various near-shore loci, and at least two different methods have been used to estimate runup profiles transverse to the shoreline and 100-year tsunami inundation limits. By one combination of methods of estimation, the fenced area of the sea-coast test facility of the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii, graded to 11 feet above mean sea level, would be inundated by the 100-year tsunami.