A tsunami watch for Hawaii and Maui County has been downgraded to an advisory as of 10:23 a.m.
The islands are not expected to see a tsunami generated as a result of a massive earthquake near Samoa this morning, said Maui Civil Defense Administrator Gen Iinuma. But there could still be a stronger-than-normal high tide, or "tidal surge."
The surge would start around 1 p.m. and build gradualy to a peak around 1:45 p.m., and could last for several hours afterward, he said.
"We still want a precautionary note to swimmers and boaters," he said.
Because of the "wraparound effect," shores on all sides of the island could be affected, he said.
Similar conditions in 2006 led to a three-foot tide in Kahului Harbor that lasted for several hours, Iinuma noted.
An 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck in the South Pacific between Samoa and American Samoa around dawn, sending terrified residents fleeing for higher ground as a tsunami swept ashore, flattening at least one village. There were no immediate reports of fatalities.
The temblor hit at 6:48 a.m. Tuesday (1748 GMT) midway between the two island groups. In Apia, families reported shaking that lasted for up to three minutes. The U.S. Geological Service said the quake struck 20 miles (35 kilometers) below the ocean floor, 120 miles (190 kilometers) from American Samoa and 125 miles (200 kilometers) from Samoa.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a general alert for the South Pacific region, from American Samoa to New Zealand. It said there were indications a tsunami wave could be ''destructive'' along some coastlines.
New Zealander Graeme Ansell said the beach village of Sau Sau Beach Fale was leveled.
''It was very quick. The whole village has been wiped out,'' Ansell told National Radio from a hill near Samoa's capital, Apia. ''There's not a building standing. We've all clambered up hills, and one of our party has a broken leg. There will be people in a great lot of need 'round here.''
A tsunami swept into Pago Pago, capital of American Samoa, shortly after the earthquake, sending sea water surging inland about 100 yards (meters) before receding, leaving some cars stuck in mud.
The staff of the port ran to higher ground, and police soon came by, telling residents to get inland.
In Fagatogo, water reached the waterfront town's meeting field and covered portions of the main highway, which also was plagued by rock slides.
In Samoa, the powerful quake jolted people awake.
''It was pretty strong; it was long and lasted at least two minutes,'' one resident told local radio.
''It's the strongest I have felt, and we ran outside. You could see all the trees and houses were shaking,'' he said.
Sulili Dusi told New Zealand's National Radio that ''everything dropped on the floor and we thought the house was going to go down as well. Thank God, it didn't.'' Along with neighbors, they fled to high ground.
She said the tsunami hit the south side of the island, and some ''cars have been taken.'' She did not elaborate, but added ''we just thank God no life has been taken yet.''
Another resident, Dean Phillips, said the southern coast of Upolu island had been struck by the tsunami.
''The police are sending everybody up to high ground,'' he said.
Local media said they had reports of some landslides in the Solosolo region of the main Samoan island of Upolu and damage to plantations in the countryside outside Apia.
There were no immediate reports of injury or serious damage from local emergency services, but people reported cracks in some homes and items tossed from shelves.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu issued a tsunami warning for numerous islands in the Pacific, including the Samoas, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, French Polynesia and Palmyra Island.
