Hawaii shows it's prepared for worst

Kona, Hawaii - Oceanographers were predicting a major tidal surge to hit the Hawaiian Islands. And government officials took the threat of a potentially killer wave seriously.

This is video I took while in the Kona resort community on the Big Island as early morning sirens and police warnings to evacuate were being announced. No one on the island knew exactly what to expect, but emergency management officials working with police cleared the ocean front properties. Thousands of people were forced to move to higher ground hours ahead of the expected tidal surge.

Once the tsunami reached the Hawaiian Islands here there were none of the big waves they had anticipated. But instead of disappointment it was more a sense of relief.

Relief because of what might have been.

The most recent 2004 tsunami devastation in Indonesia killed thousands. Hawaiian officials say they were determined not to let that happen here, and took extra measures to keep people safe.

The island's major tourist businesses along the ocean coasts were shut down for a good part of a day, but the feeling was better safe than sorry.