Tsunamis revisited

OK, I've had a few people say, "There wasn't any reason to worry, Japan is a long ways away."
Yeah, we were concerned. This is the best decription I've found online:

"At the deepest point in the ocean, Tsunamis can have a speed of 600 mph. Close to shore, this speed reduces to 30-40 mph. This energy of the wave's speed is transformed to increased height and sheer force. These waves can be a long as 100 kilometers and one hour apart. They can cross huge oceans without much loss of energy."

In 1946 a 24 foot Tsunami from Alaska hit Hilo, Hawaii killing 159 people. The wave was probably higher in Waipio Valley where it sept far back into the valley. Another Tsunami hit Hilo in 1960 as a 35 foot wave from South America killing 60 people. Wikipedia has some intersting graphics.

Yes, we were safe where we were, but if a 35 foot wave hit Kona, it would take out the airport and we wanted to get home reasonably soon. The 6 foot wave that hit Kona, Hawaii went on to create damage in California and South America.