State civil defense sirens will sound at 6 a.m. to alert residents that there is a tsunami warning for Hawaii.

After hearing the alert, residents are urged to listen to radio or television broadcasts to learn what to do next. Information on tsunami evacuation zones and what to do can also be found in the front of the phone book.

A magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit off the coast of Chile at about 8:30 p.m. last night. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued a tsunami warning at about 1 a.m. and residents are urged to stay away from the ocean.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a tsunami was generated, but it is not yet clear how large the waves will be when they hit Hawaii.

“;Sea-level readings confirm that a tsunami has been generated which could cause widespread damage,”; the center said in a bulletin after the magnitude-8.8 quake. “;Authorities should take appropriate action to respond to this threat.”;

Experts warned that a tsunami could strike anywhere in the Pacific, and Hawaii could face its largest waves since 1964 starting at 11:04 a.m.

Tsunami waves were likely to hit Asian, Australian and New Zealand shores within 24 hours of the earthquake. The U.S. West Coast and Alaska, too, were threatened.

A huge wave swept into a populated area in the Robinson Crusoe Islands, 410 miles off the Chilean coast, President Michele Bachelet said, but there were no immediate reports of major damage there.