Tsunami Displaces Chicken Encampment in Olowalu

A tsunami triggered by a huge volcanic eruption near Tonga caused flooding that awakened campers and displaced a flock of chickens in Olowalu, and caused a general disruption of life elsewhere.

The Maui County Emergency Management Agency reported the tsunami waves lifted a boat from moorings in Manele Harbor, Lanai, and washed debris ashore in Hana, forcing closure of a road near Hamoa Beach Park ~ along with flooding at Olowalu Beach that affected about 15 campsites.

"Those poor chickens and roosters, they had just started crowing with the sun popping up," said Autumn Pua of Haiku, who was camping at Olowalu with a friend. "Now their feet are all wet, and they have nowhere to go."

"I think the chickens are traumatized," said Bo Johnson, her boyfriend. "Some even got stuck on islands as the wave slowly broke the shore and flooded the campground."

Aside from the traumatized chickens, the Hana road closure, and debris washing ashore in some areas, no other tsunami impacts were reported on the Valley Isle.

Still, the American Red Cross was contacted to help provide temporary shelter and relief for the homeless chickens.

A tsunami advisory for the state of Hawaii was lifted before 8 a.m. Saturday. Assessment of impacts continues.

“I ask everyone near the shoreline to be vigilant and exercise caution,” Mayor Michael Victorino said. “We will continue to monitor the impacts of this tsunami.”

Meanwhile over at Olowalu Beach on the west side, evacuated campers calmed their nerves after clearing the area.

"The waves didn't actually come up to us but they got higher than usual. It just raised the water bed enough since we were only about 20 feet from the water," said Alyssa Harpt of Long Beach, Calif. "We were told it was due to the new moon and the tides but found out later about the volcano."