Last night at 8:44 p.m. HST, a magnitude-3.7 earthquake occurred near the village of Hana on Maui at a depth of 6.2 miles below sea level. The earthquake, which had no apparent impact on either Mauna Loa or Kīlauea volcanoes, was widely felt on Maui, Hawai‘i Island, and Moloka‘i. No damage to buildings or infrastructure is expected.
Earthquakes in this region are not common but have occurred occasionally. They are caused by bending of the crust beneath the islands and associated adjustments related to the weight of the islands.
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory will continue to monitor Hawaiian volcanoes for any changes.