Pacific Tsunami Museum

The Pacific Tsunami Museum is an educational facility in Hilo housed in a former bank building that focuses on tsunami science, historical events, and survivor accounts. The exhibits explain how tsunamis form and the impact they have on people and communities.

The museum was born from a collection of survivor stories gathered in 1988 and found its permanent home through a building donation in 1997. These two milestones allowed the stories and lessons of tsunamis to become permanently accessible to the public.

The museum preserves through photographs, artifacts, and personal accounts the experiences of communities shaped by tsunami events. These collections show how such disasters have touched the lives and memories of local people.

The museum is located downtown in Hilo and operates on weekday and weekend schedules, so plan your visit accordingly depending on when you can go. Discounted rates are available for seniors and military personnel, making visits more affordable for various groups.

The building features a photovoltaic system that makes it energy-efficient and demonstrates green practices at the site. Additionally, the museum is currently developing an exhibit about the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption, examining recent events and their impacts.

Location: Hilo CDP

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-16:00

Phone: +18089350926

Website: http://tsunami.org

GPS coordinates: 19.72593,-155.08673

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:55