M3.5 Earthquake 23 km WNW of Maunaloa, Hawaii — December 3, 2024
2024-12-03 23:53:41 UTC (2024-12-03) · approx. 1:53 PM UTC-10 local
Felt by 880 people across surrounding communities. Maximum shaking intensity MMI 4.0 (moderate).
On December 3, 2024 at 23:53 UTC, a magnitude 3.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 23 km WNW of Maunaloa, Hawaii, at a depth of 7.6 km and coordinates 21.2168°, -157.4305°. The earthquake was reported felt by 880 peopleacross surrounding communities, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 4.0 (moderate). This earthquake was detected by 8 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 555, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 2.4 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 149 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Hawaii, a region characterized by intraplate volcanic activity over the Hawaiian mantle plume hotspot, with seismicity driven by magma intrusion and flank instability. View all earthquakes in Hawaii.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
What the Shaking Felt Like
At MMI 4.0 (moderate), people in the most strongly affected areas would have experienced: Mild shaking, similar to a passing truck. Hanging objects swing. Glasses and dishes may rattle. Not commonly felt outdoors.
ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity
Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 880 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Earthquake Details
-157.4305°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.5 earthquake near Maunaloa, Hawaii?
The magnitude 3.5 earthquake that struck 23 km WNW of Maunaloa, Hawaii on December 3, 2024 at 23:53 UTC had a depth of 7.6 km. It was felt by 880 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 4.0 (moderate). For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 21.2168°, -157.4305°, which is 23 km WNW of Maunaloa, Hawaii. View all earthquakes in Hawaii.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 3.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Hawaii had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Hawaii was the M7.9 Ka'u District earthquake of April 2, 1868. Today's magnitude 3.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: hv74555032). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 3, 2024). M3.5 Earthquake 23 km WNW of Maunaloa, Hawaii — December 3, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/hv74555032/