Japan earthquake: Hawaii struck by tsunami
Thousands of people were evacuated from the outlying US state's coastal areas ahead of the waves' arrival at about 3.07am local time (1307 GMT).
US President Barack Obama said he was monitoring the threat to Hawaii, his home state, and the US West Coast which is expecting waves later on Friday.
About 30,000 residents live in Hawaii's coastal inundation zones.
The first wave of the tsunami passed through Midway Island - a small atoll at the north-western end of the Hawaiian archipelago - at about 1125 GMT, bringing a wave of more than 8ft, the local Star Advertiser newspaper reported.
The governor of Hawaii ordered the evacuation of coastal areas and warned residents to take the threat seriously.
Waves of about 3-6ft were expected to hit all Hawaii's main islands.
The main airports on Maui, Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii have been shut down, and the US Navy has ordered all warships in Pearl Harbor to remain in port in case they are needed for rescue missions; Kazinform cites BBC News.
See www.bbc.co.uk for full version
