Rising waters in Waikiki last night. Image: Sky News

The Hawaiian tsunami advisory has been cancelled after the islands were placed on a high alert last night following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake near the Queen Charlotte Islands off the coast of British Columbia.

At a depth of 17 kilometres, the earthquake struck at just after 5pm Hawaii time with people urged to move to higher ground out of inundation zones along the coastline and holidaymakers sent to higher floors in their hotel s.

The largest waves to hit were measured at approximately 1.5 metres high in Maui and there have been no immediate reports of damage on any of the islands.

“We have sustained no damage at all, it’s business as usual here,” a spokesperson from Hilton Hawaiian Village, Waikiki told e-Travel Blackboard this morning.

One person was reported dead and six injured following a fatal three-vehicle accident shortly after midnight on Kaukonahua Road near Oahu’s north shore.

“From what we understand, vehicles were on the shoulders of the roadway, I guess waiting out the tsunami,” Honolulu Police Lt. Robert Towne told Hawaii News Now.

All beaches are now open apart from Hanauma Bay in O’ahu, which is expected to remain closed for the remainder of the day, with beachgoers warned to be aware of strong currents across all the islands.

“We’re very, very grateful that we can go home tonight counting our blessings,” Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie said.

The National Weather Service has also cancelled tsunami advisories for Canada, Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California.