The officials were concerned that a higher than normal high tide around midnight, coupled with high surf along the western shoreline and the possibility of tidal surges resulting from an earthquake about 6:30 p.m. Hawai'i time off the coast of Japan, might pose a threat to homeless people camping along the shoreline.

Police and firefighters went to campsites along the Wai'anae Coast urging campers to relocate.

As of now, no ocean inundation problems anywhere on O'ahu have been reported.

According to an advisory issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the effects of the earthquake in the form of unusual surges or strong currents were due to arrive first at Nawiliwili, Kaua'i, at 12:23 this morning, then at Honolulu at 12:41 and finally at Hilo at 12:59 a.m.

At this time, there have been no reports of any unusual ocean conditions on any of the islands.

The earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 8.2, was centered near the Kuril Islands, to the north and east of Japan.

An 8.3 magnitude quake in the same area on Nov. 15 resulted in a "mini-tsunami" that caused unusual ocean surges and strong currents around many harbors and bays in the state, particularly on O'ahu and Kaua'i.

Mark Matsunaga, a city spokesperson, said the experience two months ago, coupled with a high tide near midnight and the large surf along the Wai'anae Coast resulted to the decision to alert campers of the potential danger.

"It wasn't an evacuation per se; we were just urging folks to move to the mauka side of the highway," Matsunaga said.

City buses were stationed at both ends of Farrington Highway along the coastline to aid in the relocation efforts if necessary.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami watch for Hawai'i at 6:41 p.m. and cancelled it about two hours later after determining that no Pacific-wide destructive tsunami had been generated by the earthquake.