Jeffrey Booker, a tourist from Orlando, Florida, was visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park when he received a tsunami warning on his phone. The Pride of America cruise ship, on which Booker and his friends were traveling, was ordered to leave port. However, they were still on the mountain and couldn't return to the ship in time.

"There was no way to get back to the ship on time," he said. His group is now figuring out how to deal with being stranded on the island.

Tourists stand on a balcony at the Alohilani Resort overlooking Waikiki Beach after authorities issued a tsunami warning in Honolulu today. Photo: Reuters

Tourists stand on a balcony at the Alohilani Resort overlooking Waikiki Beach after authorities issued a tsunami warning in Honolulu today. Photo: Reuters

Earlier, the US Coast Guard required all commercial vessels to leave Hawaiian ports and prohibited new ships from docking until the tsunami warning was lifted.

All ports in Hawaii are now closed, not accepting arriving ships. Ships near the area or en route to the islands are required to stay offshore until conditions are safe.

Island authorities have opened several emergency shelters for visitors and residents on islands such as Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island of Hawaii for evacuation. The state governor warned that the tsunami would "envelop the islands," urging people to seek higher ground quickly.

In Honolulu, located on Oahu, the second-largest island, Mayor Rick Blangiardi asked residents in low-lying areas to evacuate immediately. He advised people to stay calm but "take action."

The warning was also broadcast through the city-wide siren system, while traffic jams occurred due to the wave of evacuations.

The 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia's east coast not only affected Hawaii but also caused disruptions at several airports along the US west coast.

Many flights to Honolulu were delayed or diverted back to their points of origin, such as Los Angeles, Vancouver, or San Francisco. Two major airlines – Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines – have delayed flights to the islands and allowed passengers to change their itineraries free of charge.

Experts say this earthquake was not as powerful as the 2011 Fukushima disaster, but high vigilance is necessary. According to seismologist Harold Tobin of the University of Washington, if the seismic energy is pushed out to sea instead of inland, "that would be fortunate." People and tourists don't need to panic if they are far from the coast or a few meters above sea level, especially in areas far from the epicenter. Places at higher risk are harbors, beaches, and coastal towns.

"The situation in Hawaii will be the first test to assess the risk of impact on other countries along the Pacific Rim," he said.

Anh Minh (CNN)