The Pacific Tsunami Museum occupies a 1930 bank building that survived both of Hilo's catastrophic tsunamis — 1946 and 1960 — and tells the story of those events with genuine force. The exhibits include survivor testimonies, photographs of the destruction, scientific explanations of how tsunamis are generated, and material on the global tsunami warning system that was built largely in response to these disasters.
The human testimony is what makes this museum work. Survivors recorded their accounts for the archive, and the audio stations around the building play them in their own words. The contrast between the cheerful sunny morning described in the accounts and the devastation that followed within minutes is sobering. The museum also covers Pacific-wide tsunami history and includes warning information for future events. Allow 1–2 hours.