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Tsunami Debris Sightings

The table lists possible tsunami debris mentioned by a variety of sources. Dates are approximate find dates.
Date
Picture
Location
Description
Source
Between September and December, 2013
Sherwood Forest, Oahu
Four 6-to-14-feet-long notched beams
 Found by lifeguards David Loganbill and Laakea Davis, reported by Nikolai Maximenko.
12/07/2013
Lydgate Beach, Kauai
Boat front.
 Found by Pamela Brown / Kauai Stories. Reported by Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
11/24/2013
Donkey Beach, Kauai
Beam with many notches.
 Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
11/24/2013
Donkey Beach, Kauai
Notched beam.
 Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
11/24/2013
Donkey Beach, Kauai
Skinny log.
 Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
11/24/2013
Donkey Beach, Kauai
Plastic tablet with Kanji characters.
 Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
11/17/2013
Lydgate Beach, Waialua, Kauai
Tree trunk, app .55' long and 1.5' wide at breast height. Covered thickly with barnacles.
 Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
11/15/2013
Kailua Beach, Oahu Herman Allerstorfer
11/15/2013
Kailua Beach, Oahu
Two attached beams, thickness 4.75", length of longer beam 11.5' with 3 nicely done mortise and tenons.
 Herman Allerstorfer
11/12/2013
Donkey Beach, Kauai
Propoane tank
 Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
11/12/2013
Waipake, Kauai
Large wooden piece about 20' long with tongue and groove.
 Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
11/09/2013
Hanamaula Beach, Kauai
Beam 10' x 5.75" x 5.75" with mortises. Tongue of beam below fits into hole of this beam.
 Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
11/09/2013
Hanamaula Beach, Kauai
Beam 8' x 5.75" x 5.75" with mortises.
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
11/08/2013 Hanamaulu Beach, Kauai
Light buoy from a fishing vessel; more than 6' tall, with Kanji characters at base. May not be tsunami debris says Carl Berg.
11/07/2013 Hauula, beach across from Sacred Falls trail, Oahu
Wooden beam 15' long with notches and attached ropes.
Bonnie Wooten
11/05/2013
Kalama Beach on Kailua Beach, Oahu
Large log, length app. 20', diameter app. 3'.
Jim Borg, Star-Advertiser
11/02/2013
Malaekahana Bay, Oahu
20 ft. ~6" x 6" wood beam, many fine open, through, and stub mortises, maybe from a house.
 Gisela Speidel, IPRC
11/02/2013
Malaekahana Bay, Oahu Gisela Speidel, IPRC
11/02/2013 Malaekahana Bay, Oahu
25-ft to 30-ft pole, tapering in diameter from ~ 16" to 12", sawed at both ends. About 20' from above pole.
Gisela Speidel, IPRC
10/26/2013
Mahaulepu, Kauai
Log 24 feet long.
 Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
10/26/2013
Mahaulepu, Kauai
Log 18 feet long.
 Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
10/26/2013 Mahaulepu, Kauai
Tree trunk, 12 feet long.
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
10/20/2013
Larsen's Beach, Kauai
Propane tank like the one reported 9/26/13 from Lanikai, and not like
American tanks.
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
10/13/2013
Kapa'a lookout, Kauai
Wooden beam with mortise and tenon features.
 Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
10/04/2013
Kahuku, Campbell Wildlife Refuge, Oahu
Wooden Beam 20' X 4" X 12", routed on both ends to accept two upright beams. Plastic lettering denoted a village in Japan.

 Paul Sensano, DLNR
9/29/2013 Waipake, Kauai
Wooden planks with "nice" mortise and tenon joints. Perhaps a door or lid.
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
9/29/2013
Waipake, Kauai
Wooden beam with moritse and tenon features, gooseneck barnacles, large hard barnacles, and mussels.
 Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
9/26/2013 Lanikai Beach (Ocean Acess 9), Oahu
Propane tank with Kanji-like characters. Still contains gas.
Steve Clark
Exact date unknown; found 9/24/2013
Kamilo Point, Hawaii Island
Gabled roof end of small cabin with metal bracing holding all together. Beam length app. 15'.
 Megan Lamson, Bill Martin, and Hawaii Wild Life Fund
Exact date unknown; found 9/17/2013
North of Donkey Beach, Kauai
White plastic box: 2'x 2.5, with characters.
Exact date unknown; found 9/17/2013
North of Donkey Beach, Kauai
Skiff fragment: 4' in length, lettering "..MAHA" and "YANMAR."
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
9/07/2013
North of Donkey Beach, Kauai
Small fridge: 18"x18"x33", with Japanese label.
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
8/28/2013
Kapaa, Kauai
Fuel tank with "Oriental lettering," tank still contained fuel.
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
8/26/2013
Waipouli, Kauai
Black oyster buoy. "Getting a lot more of the oyster floats, didn't keep track of them."
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
8/17/2013
Turtle Bay, Oahu
Japanese fishing vessel.
8/14/2013
Kawela Bay, Oahu
Japanese fishing vessel.
8/13/2013
North of Donkey Beach, Kauai
20' insulated shipping- container side.
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
8/05/2013
Ki'i Point, Hawaii Island
Several figerglass and wood pieces from a small boat, with gooseneck and whlte barnacles.
 Megan Lamson, Bill Martin, and Hawaii Wild Life Fund
8/02/2013
Kamilo Point, Hawaii Island
Large glass lightbulb with Kanji characters.
 Megan Lamson, Bill Martin, and Hawaii Wild Life Fund
7/14/2013
Lat: 28 31.25N Lon: 129 21.66W
Sighted 15' chunk of floating telephone pole.
s/v Ciminal Mischief
7/13/2013
Lat: 28 18.7N
Lon: 134 58.9W
Sighted 35' floating tree trunk.
s/v Between The Sheets
7/13/2013
Lat: 28.35.014 N
Lon: 138.53.48 W
Struck what may have been a 10' section of telephone pole.
s/v Manatea
7/12/2013
One day before above location.
Large pieces of debris, a
couple of pieces of lumber looked like parts of a house
s/v Manatea
7/14/2013
Kunia Beach, Kauai
Oyster buoy with barnacles.
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
7/14/2013
North or Kealia Beach, Kauai
Remnants of a little fridge.
Carl Berg (Surfrider)
7/07/2013
Malaekahana, Oahu
Barnacle encrusted fishing vessel like others from tsunami.
Star-Advertiser
late June 2013
Pauko Beach, Island of Hawaii
Pallet with Kanji characters.
Cynthia Ho,
Keep Puako Beautiful
Site Coordinator
4/19/2013
Floated eight miles off of Waimea, Kauai; then lost to sight.
Fishing vessel like others from tsunami.
Spotted by fisherman; reported by Carl Berg (Surfrider)
4/15/2013
Barking Sands, Kauai
Large oyster buoy.
John Burger, Pacific Missile Range Facility
4/07/2013
Crescent City, CA
20-foot-long skiff, covered in pelagic gooseneck barnacles. Writing says "Takata High School"
Staff at Humboldt State University. Reported in NOAA Marine Debris Blog
3/19/2013
Makapuu, Oahu
Large black oyster buoy.
Cameron Fumar, UH.
3/19/2013
Waipake, Kauai
Small buoys with oyster shells.
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
3/19/2013
Waipake, Kauai
Small refrigerator door, 15"X22."
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
3/16/2013
Kai'ole Bay to Ki'i, Hawaii Island
Mini fridge/cooler with rollers; rice-cooker-like thermos with spout, large buoys from Sanshin-Kako Co., Ltd. , small plastic toy items: camel, rhinos, army figurines. For more photos click here.
Megan Lamson (Hawaii Wildlife Fund from Hawaii Wildlife Fund cleanup)
3/2013
Waipake, Kauai
Oyster buoy.
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
3/2013
Waipake, Kauai
Buoy with mussels.
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
Feb. or March 2013
Lepeuli, Kauai
Oyster buoy.
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
3/07/2013
Kapa'a Beach, Kauai
Plastic pallet, 4ft. x 4ft., floating flat in the water. Kanji characters on edges verified by Taro Nishijima from The Yomiuri Shimbun.
Don Heacok (DLNR), reported by Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
3/05/2013
Kailua Beach, Oahu
Thick rope of considerable length, possibly anchor rope, with many mussels.
Jim Borg
2/24/2013
Wailua Beach, Kauai
Made in Japan ATV tire, 19" rim, broken off from axle.
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
2/21/2013 (same photo as 2/15)
Kapaa Shores, Kauai
Large piece of floating dock similar to the one found on 2/15/2013.
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
2/21/2013
Kealia Beach, Kauai
42 yellow buoys.
Don Heacock (DLNR) and Carl Berg (Surfrider)
2/21/2013
Kealia Beach, Kauai
Ribbed buoy together with 3 other buoys and large styrofoam pieces.
Don Heacock (DLNR) and Carl Berg (Surfrider)
2/19-21/2013
Hanauma Bay
Large oyster buoy.
Nikolai Maximenko
2/14-21/2013
Campbell Wildlife Refuge, Kahuku
Large oyster buoys.
Bernard Capel
2/15/2013
Makapuu
Concrete encased styrofoam, 5ft. x 4ft: a dock? Barnacles & oyster shells.
Cammy Fumar; also reported by KHON2 TV
2/15/2013
Waipake, Kauai
Large oyster buoy.
Carl Berg and Surfrider-Kauai volunteers
2/14/2013
Kapaa, Kauai
Floating dock part.
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
2/13/2013
Malaekahana
20-ft. boat with barnacles and Kanji characters.
Scott Brady, in HawaiiNewsNow
2/2013, first week
Waipake, Kauai
Refrigerator door.
Carl Berg and Surfrider-Kauai volunteers
2/2013, first week
Waipake, Kauai
Small refrigerator.
Carl Berg and Surfrider-Kauai volunteers
2/2013, first week
Waipake, Kauai
Large buoy.
Carl Berg and Surfrider-Kauai volunteers
1/19/2013
Nohili Point, Barking Sands, Kauai
Buoy, appx. 250lbs, appx. 15ft long and 4.5ft in diameter. Kanji or Hangul characters. For story click here.
Dennis Rowley, Pac. Missile Range Facility
1/18/2013
Waialua, North Shore, Oahu
Cylinder, appx. 7ft wide, 3-4ft tall.
1/16/2013
Honokohau, Kailua, Kona
Skiff, appx. 18-20ft long, floating upside down.
Dennis Cintas, in Hawaii Tribune-Herald
First days of January, 2013
Hanauma Bay, Oahu
Refrigerator; Japanese tag, barnacles; floated several days in eddy; then entered bay.
Lynn Pullen and Alan Hong reported 1/07/2013
12/24/2012
Waipake Beach, Kauai
Small refrigerator door, Japanese tag, barnacles; found during daily beach cleanup.
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation
12/23/2012
Punaluu, Oahu
Skiff, 24ft long, found in surf; Asian green mussels; kanji characters on bow and side.
Leilehuanani Kane Tapado, in HawaiiNewsNow
11/29/2012
Kahana Bay, Oahu
Skiff, 20ft long, kanji characters, similar to other boats found from tsunami.
Brad Camphouse, reported 11/30 on HawaiiNewsNow,confirmed debris
11/10/2012
Kahuku Golf Club coast, Oahu
Refrigerator with barnacles and kanji characters and serial number.
Kahi Pacarro, found during Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii Event
11/04/2012
Kahala Beach Park, Oahu
3-gallon gas can; non-native barnacles and kanji characters
Chris Ostrander
10/24/2012
Off-shore Diamond Head lookout, Oahu
White plastic fragment (probably a lid), size of a large hand, with kanji characters
Francois Ascani, while paddling
10/18/2012
07°13' N by 150°54' W
Large black oyster buoy; floating high in water; only a few barnacles.
Jim Mackey sailing from Hawaii to Tahiti on This Boat
10/03/2012
Naalehu, Kau, Island of Hawaii
Metal object: appx.12ft tall, appx. 20ft diameter; on shore below Na`alehu.
Found by hikers, report by Julia Neals, Ka'u Calendar News
9/30/2012
Waimanalo Beach, O'ahu
Asahi beer crate, kanji characters, washed up on beach.
Found by John Gallagher, report HawaiiNewsNow
9/29/2012
700 miles north of Molokai
Skiff, 20ft long, barnacles. Owner in Japan found, not interested in having boat back.
Found by fisherman on the Zephyr, report by HawaiiNewsNow
9/28/2012
Kokee Beach in Hana, Maui
Plastic hardhat; letters "Toyo"; from Toyo Safety Industrial in Japan. Found in tidepool.
Kelson, Jud and Kelley reported to the IPRC
9/26/2012
Kawaihae Harbor, Island of Hawaii
Large red 500-watt lightbulb; kanji characters; gooseneck barnacles.
Kinkaid reported to the IPRC
9/24-28/
2012
Kaunakai beach, Molokai
Large grey 500-watt lightbulb; kanji characters.
Dane Christopher, report by Molokai Dispatch
9/24-28/
2012
East end, Kaunakakai, Molokai
Large plastic open-top container, kanji characters, washed up on beach.
Midge Nakagagawa, report by Molokai Dispatch
9/24-28/
2012
Ualapue, Molokai
Gasoline tank, still smelling of gasoline, kanji characters, found floating.
Local Keiki, Keahe and Namaka, report by Molokai Dispatch
9/24/2012
34°9' N by 178°4.4' E
Pleasure boat Sinonome, 1.5m above surface
Shinyoumaru, Japanese vessel
9/18/2012
Floated off Sea Life Park, Oahu
Blue box, appx. 4 - 5ft tall; label of company: Y.K Suisan Co., Ltd., destroyed by tsunami.
Workers at Makai Ocean Engineering, in HawaiiNewsNow
9/17/2012
30 miles north of Hana, Maui
Dock, 30ft x 50ft; after 3 days vanished. Floated through Molokai Channel in IPRC model.
Seen by Fisherman reported by HawaiiNewsNow
8/20/2012
Hanalei Harbor, Kauai
Large red 500-watt lightbulb; kanji characters; gooseneck barnacles.
Cody Kimura, reported by Carl Berg, Surfrider Kauai
8/19/2012
Kilauea Pt NWR, Kauai, similar to 10/18/2012 (photo source)
Floating black oyster buoy.
Carl Berg, Kauai Surfrider Foundation

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