3.3

M3.3 Earthquake 40 km ESE of Naalehu, HawaiiAugust 12, 2026

2026-08-12 03:16:55 UTC (2026-08-12) · approx. 5:16 PM UTC-10 local

MagnitudeM3.3(ml)
Time03:16 UTC5:16 PM UTC-10
Depth13.1 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates18.884°, -155.243°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On August 12, 2026 at 03:16 UTC, a magnitude 3.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 40 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii, at a depth of 13.1 km and coordinates 18.8843°, -155.2425°.0

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1.1 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 105 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred 26 days ago 42 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 22 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 18.88°, -155.24°

Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking

Aggregated felt-report intensity from submitted citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.

USGS DYFI community-reported intensity map for the M3.3 earthquake near 40 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii

Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.3 ml
Depth
13.1 km
shallow crustal
Location
18.8843°N
-155.2425°E
Community Intensity
1.0
CDI from reports

Technical Information

Event ID
hv75018276
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
162
Stations Used
54
Azimuthal Gap
255.0°
Min Station Distance
0.340°
RMS Residual
0.13 sec
Last Updated
2026-09-03 01:09:39 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.3 earthquake near Naalehu, Hawaii?

The magnitude 3.3 earthquake that struck 40 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii on August 12, 2026 at 03:16 UTC had a depth of 13.1 km. For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 3.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Is this the same earthquake as the M5.2 one earlier?

No. This magnitude 3.3 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 42 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.3 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: hv75018276). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, August 12, 2026). M3.3 Earthquake 40 km ESE of Naalehu, HawaiiAugust 12, 2026. Retrieved September 3, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/hv75018276/