A camp used by homeless people on Maile Beach in Waianae, Hawaii, sits empty Saturday after emergency officials warned campers of a possible tsunami. (Marco Garcia/Associated Press)

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has cancelled its tsunami warning for Hawaii, with the state apparently escaping the roiling waves unscathed.

Gov. Linda Lingle said no damage has been reported in any county. Tidal surges were observed Saturday along the coasts but did not roar ashore. She's calling it "a great day, now that it's over."

The first waves looked more like an extreme fluctuation in the tide than the giant tsunami that Hawaii and other Pacific islands were bracing for after a magnitude-8.8 quake devastated Chile on Saturday.

The wave began affecting Hilo Bay on the Big Island just before noon local time. Water began pulling away from shore, exposing reefs and sending dark streaks of muddy, sandy water offshore. Water later washed over Coconut Island, a small park off the coast of Hilo.

The tsunami was causing a series of surges that were about 20 minutes apart, and the waves arrived later and smaller than originally predicted. The highest wave at Hilo measured 1.6 metres while Maui saw some as high 1.8 metres.

An official at the tsunami centre said Hawaii likely "dodged a bullet." Spokesman Gerard Fryer, a geophysicist, defended the decision to urge evacuations of coastal areas, saying "better safe than sorry."

The tsunami raced across the Pacific Ocean in terrifying force after the quake hit Chile hours earlier, giving Hawaiian officials had ample time to get people out of the potential disaster area.

Sirens blared in Hawaii to alert residents to the potential waves. As the waves expected arrival drew near, roads into tourist-heavy Waikiki were closed. Police patrolled main roads, telling tourists to get off the streets.

Authorities even flew overhead in a Cessna blaring warnings to people to get out of the potential danger zone, and residents in Honolulu lined up at supermarkets to stock up on food and batteries. Cars lined up 15 long at several gas stations.

The waves also hit California, but barely registered a notice amid stormy weather. No injuries or property damage are reported. Authorities reported unusual tidal surges to the south of Santa Monica, in San Diego.

A tsunami warning — the highest alert level — was in effect for Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Samoa and dozens of other Pacific islands. An advisory — the lowest level — includes California, Oregon, Washington state, parts of Alaska, and coastal British Columbia.

With files from The Associated Press