On most days, hundreds of homeless people are scattered along Oahu's beaches from the Leeward Coast to Waikiki.

Yesterday many of them had evacuated by 9:30 a.m., but a few refused, unwilling to leave the beaches they call home despite the dire threat of a tsunami.

George, who declined to give his last name, said he would stick it out in Waikiki as long as he was allowed to because he did not think anything would happen.

“;I don't believe something that happened 3,000 miles away will put these palm trees under water,”; he said.

Perry Brown, who has been homeless along the Waikiki shoreline since 2006, took refuge in a nearby hostel.

Checking his watch, he decided to leave the beach area around 10:30 a.m. for higher ground. He said the last time he saw a commotion of yesterday's magnitude was during the 2006 earthquake that caused an islandwide power outage.

“;The difference is a quake will bring people out of buildings,”; he said. “;Back then, everyone came out, barbecuing food and talking story. Now everyone's gone. It's a lot emptier. It's pretty eerie.”;

A handful of homeless people gathered in a spot on Kalakaua Avenue near Kapahulu Avenue and said they would wait out the tsunami.

Kaluna Kaneakua, 23, held up a yellow boogie board.

“;This is my ride,”; he said. “;Soon as I see that wave come ... jump right off the end of that wall,”; he said of the Kapahulu groin.

In Leeward Oahu, some homeless left their tents behind and were picked up by friends or family members while many of the homeless opted to stay on the shoreline.

A woman who identified herself only by her last name, Kaiwi, said she was unfazed by the warning, saying nothing happened during the previous warnings.

Kaiwi and about 34 people who live in a cluster of tents on the beach near Princess Kahanu Avenue did not want to leave, fearing their belongings would be stolen. “;We're not going to let anybody take it away,”; said Kaiwi, who has been living on the beach for a decade.