Watch the video: First tsunami waves hit Hawaii after powerful earthquake triggers warnings

Residents of Hawaii have been warned to evacuate to higher ground after a powerful 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia overnight on Wednesday.

The governor of Hawaii has warned residents that bigger waves could be on the way, after the first waves hit the island state following a tsunami warning triggered by a massive quake in a remote part of Russia.

The first waves, measuring 1.74 metres, were recorded at Kahului on Maui, with another measuring 1.49 metres recorded in Hilo. No significant damages have yet been recorded.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green told a news conference that further waves are to be expected after significant amounts of water receded along beaches — a typical sign of an imminent tsunami wave, Green said.

"That doesn't happen for no reason," Green said. He added: "That means there's activity in the ocean."

Two waves, including one at a height of 1.82 metres, were measured travelling towards the island.

The Hawaii Country Civil Defence Agency wrote on X that the danger wasn't "over yet".

"Initial wave impacts from the leading edge of the tsunami measured several feet at some monitoring stations, but 'follow-up' waves over the next several hours often are larger. Don't return to evacuated areas until the tsunami warning is officially lifted," it explained.

Residents have been advised to ensure they are at least 30 metres above sea level or two miles inland to be safe from the incoming waves. Flights in and out of Maui Airport have been cancelled.

Additional waves of half a metre have been recorded in California, the US National Weather Service said. Tsunami warnings in the state are in effect from Cape Mendocino to the state's border with Oregon.

The tsunami warnings were triggered after one of the strongest earthquakes on record struck Russia's Far East on Wednesday morning.

Damage has been recorded and evacuations issued in Russia's Kamchatka peninsula — the epicentre of the 8.8 magnitude quake.

The powerful quake has triggered tsunami waves in parts of Japan and Alaska and sparked warnings in parts of North and Central America and the Pacific Islands.