Laupahoehoe and the tsunami

In 1946 there was a quaint town, train station and school along the eastern coast called Laupahoehoe. April 1, 1946 changed it all when a series of tsunami waves struck. At first, as the ocean receded, the kids at the school ran out and had fun gathering stranded fish with their hands. But then, inevitably, the tsunami waves started to come in. The tallest wave was over 50 feet. At sea level, there was little chance of surviving. 24 students and teachers were killed. Today, there is a memorial and the Pacific Tsunami museum has oral accounts of the disaster. It sadly serves as a teaching opportunity to everyone to run away, not towards, the beach when waves suddenly pull out.Read more