Very few museums in the world are dedicated to remember natural disasters. But in downtown Hilo, you can find one dedicated specifically to tsunamis. The Pacific Tsunami Museum was created to hold information on the science and history of tsunamis. There are special exhibits that show the Pacific-wide tsunamis that hit the Big Island in 1946 and 1960. The museum itself is also located in the "tsunami zone."
Dedicated to educating people about tsunamis and how they affect Hawaiian culture, the museum is a fairly small building. It is made up of a single floor with many exhibits, but it uses its limited space well. Every wall is filled with information about the facts of these natural disasters and the science behind them. There are even stories about how the tsunamis have impacted the islands.
Most exhibits mix educational texts with photos and videos, using multi-media to help educate the public. One in particular shows the destruction that came upon Hilo in the 1960 tsunami. The screen for the video is next to the window that allows you to look out at the spot where the tsunami hit. Many of the videos offered are lengthy, so be sure to budget a few hours at the museum to take it all in!