Residents across the Hawaiian Islands can breathe easy after a moderate earthquake struck in the waters off the Big Island on Thursday evening, with officials confirming no tsunami threat to the state.

The tremor, registering a preliminary magnitude of 4.6, occurred around 8:17 p.m. HST on July 9, 2026, in the deep ocean west-southwest of Captain Cook.

According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the event did not generate conditions that would lead to a tsunami, though some localized shaking may have been felt in nearby communities.

Data from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory placed the quake approximately 34 miles west-southwest of Captain Cook, at a depth of about 24 miles below sea level.

Scientists noted that the event appeared to have no effect on the volcanic activity at either Mauna Loa or the currently erupting Kīlauea.

Experts described the earthquake as a lithospheric flexure event. This type of seismic activity stems from the immense weight of the Hawaiian Islands gradually bending the underlying ocean crust and the brittle upper portion of the Earth’s mantle.

Such quakes are relatively common in the region due to the geological stresses involved.

The U.S. Geological Survey provided additional details on the quake’s epicenter at coordinates 19.238°N, 156.358°W, with a reported depth of 7 kilometers.

It was situated roughly 36 miles southwest of Kailua-Kona, farther from Hilo and other eastern parts of the island, and even more distant from Honolulu on Oahu.

While the shaking may have been noticeable to some on the Big Island, the overall impact remained limited, and authorities reported no immediate concerns regarding damage or further hazards tied to the volcanic systems.

This incident serves as a reminder of Hawaii’s position atop a dynamic tectonic environment, where the islands’ formation and ongoing geological processes continue to shape the landscape.

Residents are encouraged to stay prepared for earthquakes as part of living in this seismically active paradise.