If I remember right wasn’t it Hilo that had the worst tsunami impact back then?
In reference to Hilo’s 1960 Tsunami:
http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/1994/94_05_20.html
Yes, much of the downtown area was destroyed. When the town was rebuilt, most of it was moved further inland and the coastal low area is now a very nice city park.