The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-08-31
Tidal Phenomena.

The position OF these Islands, being midway
between the Continents Of Asia and America,
imparis special interest to the study of all tidal
phenomena, aid particularly to those occurrences
known as : tidal waves" We will briefly
collate from reliable data, an account of these
remarkable oscillations of the ocean, as they
have been recorded
The first occurred in 1919, which, while the
sea rose and fell to a considerable extent, was not
productive of any serious consequences. The
natives, however, in their superstitiOus view,
considered it as prognosticating some dire event
to their nation, and when Kamehameha L. died
soon after, they considered that the unusual agi-
tation Of the sea had been the fOrerunner OF that
event.
On the evening Of November 9TH, 1887, Oc-
CURED a remarkable disturbance of the tides,
throughout the groups. ltwas carefully observed
Mt Honolulu by the late DIR. L. T.. b. Rookie, to
whose journal kept at the time, we are indebted
for particulars. Neither the barometer or Their
mometer indicated any unusual changes, when ut
five O'Clock in the evening the sea was observed
to be retiring with great rapidity. This recession
was more than eight feet; the reefs were left en-
tirely dry, and the natives ran out frolicking and
picking up the fish that were left by the retiring
waters. The sea, however, quickly commenced
to return, and in twenty-eight minutes reached
the ordinary height Of the highest tides; it then
commenced reeeding again, and fell six feet. 1t
rose a few inches higher ON it's third return, and
fell six and a half feet. This action continued,
with a gradually diminishing force and extent,
throrshout that night, and the forenoon Of the
following day. The greatest rapidity with which
il fell, was twelve inches in thirty seconds. On
Maui and Hawaii the wave was more powerful,
the water rose higher and considerable property
and some lives were lost. There was no very
unusual disturbance at the time in the crater of
Kllauea, and the simultaneousnes of the occur
renee throughout the group led to the belief that
the commotiOn originated ut some distance.
May 18th. 1871, the same circumstance took
place, though OF a much less general nature and
unattended with serious consequences. At about
half past five p. ", the water in the harbor OF
Honolulu was observed to be suddenly discolored
and breaking like n tide-rip. 1t then rushed
suddenly out, leaving the reef bare, and this
occurred twice in the space of forty minutes,
when it resumed its ordinary appearance. Sim
uItaneously at Labaina, about a hundred miles
distant, the rise and fall of the water WIS several
feet, aud occurred frequently at intervals of four
minutes each. rushing violently and with great
noise over the reefs. At about the same date a
similar phenomenon is recorded as having oc-
Cured at Kamschatka.
On the ID of April, 1865, at 6 O'Clock, P. NJ,
occurred a sudden rise and fall of the water in
Honolulu harbOr, TO the extent of 20 inches,
which was once repeated. Subsequently it was
-, b. Enwnn do
occurred the great tidal wave on the south coast
of Hawaii. The latter destructive wave rolled
in from the sea Immediately after a severe earth
quake shock and eruption of mud at keaiwa. 1t
was from forty to sixty feet in height. and receded
and advanced FIVE times, destroying a large
amount Of property and about twenty lives This
disturbance of the sea was of course local, and
attributable to the earthquake and eruption that
was Simultaneous, but all the other tidal waves
that have occurred here. being unaccompanied
by any unusual phenomena on the islands, are
Judged to have their origin in either submarine
e~ruptions at n distance, or earthquakes on the
South American continent. 1t may be observed
here. that the sea, in the latter instances, has
ALWAYS risen higher on the eastern and weather
sides OF the islands.
AT mi4nlBht5 Oh III ObH NSOf '
the natives living on the beach to the eastward
of Honolulu harbor were aroused by the sound
made by the water suddenly and with great force
retiring over the reef. The sound was described
by them as resembling a multitude wailiDg. The
return, however, was gradual in this instance,
high water mark being reached only on the
morning of the l4th at about Z O'Clock. 1t then
suddenly receded again, and as suddenly rose, in
the space of Is minutes 3 feet 10 inches At
half-past eight and at half-past two P. N. it rose
and fell as before, on the latter occasion marking
5 feet 4 inches. During the whole day OF the
18th. the tide rose and fell at short intervals, but