A mass of marine debris discovered in a Hawaii sinkhole indicated a monster tsunami hit the island about 500 years ago, researchers said.

According to new research, an earthquake with the magnitude of 9.0 occurred in Alaska and brought 30-foot tall waves to Hawaii between 1425 and 1665.

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Contrary to the 1946 tsunami, which was known as the most destructive tsunami recorded in Hawaii history, the 30-foot tall waves was at least three times bigger than those in the 1946 disaster, LiveScience reported.

On April 1, 1946, an 8.1 magnitude earthquake hit the Aleutian Islands and a wall of water nearly 10 feet high smashed into the shores of Hawaii, killed around 170 people and left a great deal of damage in the state.

After the destructive tsunami that hit Japan in 2011, scientists questioned the preparedness of Hawaii and its ability to keep people safe from a massive tsunami.

Researchers came across evidence in the Makauwahi sinkhole near the island of Kauai that suggested a far greater storm. A similar event could occur again, according to the scientists in Hawaii.

The Japan earthquake was "bigger than almost any seismologist thought possible," said geophysicist Rhett Butler of University of Hawaii at Manoa and lead author of the study.

"Seeing the devastation it caused, I began to wonder, did we get it right in Hawaii? Are our evacuation zones the correct size?" Butler added.

Based on the study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, scientists found the unique geometry of the eastern Aleutians islands in Alaska would turn the largest post-earthquake tsunami energy directly towards the island of Kauai.

Tsunami models show an earthquake with a magnitude over 9.0 could produce water levels on shore 26 to 30 feet (8 to 9 meters) high, enough water to top the Makauwahi sinkhole wall.

Geologist Robert Witter of the U.S. Geological Survey in Anchorage, Alaska, said researchers gathered "geological evidence, anthropological information and geophysical modeling to put this story together that is enticing for a geologist, but frightening for people in Hawaii."

TagsMonster Tsunami, earthquake, Calamity, Disaster, Sinkhole