Pete Barcinas (GU): Guam was placed on both a Tsunami watch and warning status as of March11, 2011 at about 7:07pm which extended till 11pm following the 8.9 Japan quake. Coastal roads and low-lying area residents were advised to seek high ground and refrain from traveling on roadways. Guam Airport experienced major air traffic due to en route japan flights being rerouted to Guam. As of this report, accommodations for those travelers are being made at the terminal. This included flights that left Guam to Japan and returned. A key section of the popular tourist destinations (Tumon bay or hotel row) which is located on the beach were affected by preparedness activities. Roads were closed into this area during the warning period.
The University facilities served as shelters and media reported evacuating a senior citizens facility to a shelter. No university response initially, since the coordination came from the Guam Civil Defense Office Guam Homeland Security. ...Governor's message referred to the subject matter experts on this matter.
Pete had kudos for having a ommunications protocol for weekends and after work hours. Also, Guam served as a destination for flights that had been destined for the impacted area.
Wayne Nishijima (HI)): After a night of anticipation, the waves came and there was some damage to infrastructure and property. We dodged the "bullet" for the most part, again. Fortunately no injuries or fatalities. The impact varied considerably in different locations. The tsunami warning was changed to an advisory for 3 of the 4 counties, but Hawaii County continues to be under warning status. The Kona (west side of Big Island) area was probably hardest hit area in the State.) Damage (flooded hotel lobby, road damage, boats ripped loose from moorings, debris on roadways,and one house was reported to be washed away) was due to rising waters and not to wave action.
As for Extension actions in response to the tsunami warning, none that I know of.
All schools have been closed for the day and some major shopping centers in inundation zone have been closed for the day, as a precaution.
Chris Conger and Darren Okimoto (HI Sea Grant) also reported in that it was a tense night and that waves were smaller than had been predicted.
_______________
March 12 additional detail provided by Wayne: Oahu, for the most part was OK. The biggest damage was to docks in small boat harbors that were torn loose along with the boats tied to them. A number of boats were also damaged. Maui and Kausi had flooded streets with debris. Haven't heard of much damage.
The West coast of the Big Island was hit the hardest. Several hotels, condos, homes, and businesses were flooded; the pier in Kailua-Kona was damaged and condemned; sidewalks and street in Kailua-Kona were damaged; one house in Napoopoo was swept out to sea and 6 others were destroyed. One boat was sunk.