A travel influencer has come under criticism after filming and posting what appeared to be a 'tsunami watch picnic' during an official tsunami advisory in Hawaii, triggered by a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia's far eastern coast.
The influencer who was sharing a series of 'laidback' tsunami updates along with other people by her side in Hawaii on her TikTok came under the radar of other users who accused her of downplaying the seriousness of the event and "content farming" a potential natural disaster, prompting a wave of online backlash.
Hawaii Was On Alert After The Massive Quake in Russia
The controversy emerged after one of the strongest earthquakes in recorded history struck the Kuril-Kamchatka subduction zone in Russia, causing widespread tsunami alerts across the Pacific. Warnings and advisories extended to Japan, Russia, the US West Coast, and Hawaii, as aftershocks of magnitude five and higher continued to rattle the region.
While no major damage was reported in Hawaii, the National Weather Service had advised residents and visitors to remain cautious. 'The ocean remains dynamic and dangerous,' the agency said, warning of persistent waves and strong currents in the aftermath.
Viral Outrage: 'Tsunami Snacks For Your Picnic'
Amid the advisory, one influencer posted videos showing a group watching the ocean from high ground on Oahu's North Shore. The video quickly went viral, with other TikTok users accusing the group of being insensitive and opportunistic.
One user posted a sharply worded TikTok video calling out the behaviour, saying 'You're a travel nurse staying in Hawaii, and you decide to content farm a potential natural disaster? ..... It's clear you couldn't give one single f*** what happens to the people who live there.'
@daadisnacks unprecedented levels of narcissism #hawaii #tsunami #influencer ♬ Gymnopedie No.1 [Piano famous song](204824) - Kamimura Mahiro
The user continued, 'Hey, at least you have your tsunami snacks for your picnic, because if something happens to the natives, you can pick your tripod up and hop to the next place you're doing a little picnic.'
Influencer Defends: 'We Were in The Safe Zone'
In response to the backlash, the influencer involved posted a follow-up video clarifying their location and intentions. She explained that she and her group were on elevated ground, well within the designated green zone on tsunami safety maps.
'We were like 400 feet up... if [the tsunami] got us, the whole entire island would be cooked,' she said. 'We were with a ton of locals... they had all bought wine, High Noons, seltzers. They're all drinking up there, having a great time, hoping to see some waves.'
@tracie.love Replying to @justeatapple story time on why everyone seemed so chill lol #hawaii #oahu #tsunami #evacuate ♬ original sound - Tracie.love
She also stressed that she personally finds natural disasters frightening, having experienced hurricanes in the southern US. 'I hate natural disasters... I was freaking out,' she said. 'But the main thing I want y'all to know is we were in a safe zone. Nothing bad was going to happen.'
The video sparked mixed reactions with some users appreciating the clarification, while others felt the influencer had missed the point about optics and sensitivity.
Cruise Passengers Were Nearly Stranded
Elsewhere on the islands, the tsunami advisory had tangible effects. One cruise passenger, Amanda Berry, described to NBC News how her family was nearly stranded after their ship was ordered to leave port early. 'Employees started yelling at our group: 'Go back, go back. Your ship is going to leave early.' It was at that moment where I actually got scared,' she said.
The episode underscored the real concerns felt by both residents and tourists during the advisory period, even as official warnings were later downgraded.
Luckily, the tsunami did not cause widespread damage in Hawaii, but the incident has brought those influencers under scrutiny who ignore the responsibilities of being a better citizen in situations like disaster zones and particularly those whose platforms are built on travel and lifestyle content.
