Sight guide · Big Island (Hawaiʻi) · United States
Visiting Pacific Tsunami Museum
Housed in a former bank building on Kamehameha Avenue, this small museum tells the story of the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis that devastated Hilo's waterfront, with survivor accounts and exhibits on tsunami science.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Pacific Tsunami Museum is a museum in Hilo, Big Island (Hawaiʻi). Allow 1 hour; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Museum
- Area
- Hilo
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- history and rainy day
- Best months
- May and July–August
Plan a trip to Big Island (Hawaiʻi)
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About Pacific Tsunami Museum
Housed in a former bank building on Kamehameha Avenue, this small museum tells the story of the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis that devastated Hilo's waterfront, with survivor accounts and exhibits on tsunami science.
Tip: Pair it with a walk along the bayfront, where open parkland now stands on land cleared after the tsunamis.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1 hour.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Hilo, old-fashioned bayfront town of farmers markets, gardens and rain.
Best time to visit Pacific Tsunami Museum
Pacific Tsunami Museum is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- July: 30°C (86°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, busy crowds.
- August: 31°C (88°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, busy crowds.
- May: 29°C (84°F) highs, about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds.
When to visit Big Island (Hawaiʻi) has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Pacific Tsunami Museum is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Maunakea.
- No. 16 of the 19 sights in our Big Island (Hawaiʻi) things-to-do list.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Big Island (Hawaiʻi).
Near Pacific Tsunami Museum
Within walking distance of Pacific Tsunami Museum (straight-line distances):
- Liliʻuokalani Gardens — about 1.9 km away, 1 hour, free
- Rainbow Falls (Waiānuenue) — about 2.5 km away, 30 minutes, free
If you like Pacific Tsunami Museum
- Huliheʻe Palace — Kailua-Kona, 45 minutes
Staying near Pacific Tsunami Museum
Stay in Hilo ($$) to walk here: old-fashioned bayfront town of farmers markets, gardens and rain. All areas to stay in Big Island (Hawaiʻi).
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Pacific Tsunami Museum?
Plan 1 hour. Liliʻuokalani Gardens is about 1.9 km away in a straight line, so the two fit a half-day.
+Is Pacific Tsunami Museum free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Pacific Tsunami Museum?
May and July–August, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Pair it with a walk along the bayfront, where open parkland now stands on land cleared after the tsunamis.
+Do I need to book Pacific Tsunami Museum in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.