Researchers believe a massive tsunami triggered by an earthquake in Alaska hit Hawaii about 500 years ago. Published on October 23, 2014 in Researchers: Hawaii faces greater risk from tsunamis than previously believedFull resolution (500 × 334) Researchers believe a massive tsunami triggered by an earthquake in Alaska hit Hawaii about 500 years ago. Researchers believe a massive tsunami triggered by an earthquake in Alaska hit Hawaii about 500 years ago.