Shinmachi tsunami memorial, Hilo, Hawaii

Hilo city, county capital , is situated on Hilo Hay, on the north-east coast of the Island of Hawaii. With a population of approx. 40,000, Hilo is a "laid-back town" but is vulnerable to tsunami hazard. In 1946 Hilo Bay was inundated by a tsunami which devastated the waterfront area of Shinmachi, (lit. *New Town* in Japanese) killing 159 people. Shinmachi was re-built after 1946 only to be destroyed by another tsunami in 1960 which killed 61 people. After 1960 the low-lying waterfront area was made into the Wailoa River State Recreation Area. This image shows the Shinmachi tsunami memorial in this parkland.