Honolulu police on all-terrain vehicles began clearing sunbathing tourists off Waikiki Beach just before 10 a.m. today as a tsunami was forecast to hit Oahu at 11:37 p.m.

In hotels in the tourist district, thousands of visitors moved to higher floors or left Waikiki as a tsunami generated from Chile moved toward the Hawaiian Islands.

Traffic was moving smoothly in contrast to the last tsunami warning in 1994 when Waikiki was caught in gridlock with tourists trying to leave and residents coming into Waikiki to try and see the tsunami.

This time, tourists and residents were urged to move upstairs, above the third floor, rather than get on the road.

But some tourists and residents still felt safer leaving the Waikiki.

“;It's a huge wave coming,”; said resident Tom Helm. “;I don't think it's going to be a good idea to be in Waikiki.”;

Helm said he was waiting for a ride to take him to his uncle's house in Kaimuki.

Canadian visitor Dwayne Melnyk, dragging his roller suitcase, said he and his friend Gwen Cherry were moving from the Waikiki Sunset to the 21st floor of an apartment complex in Waikiki further inland.

“;It's probably safer,”; Melnyk said.

“;We came to see Hawaii. This was not on our itinerary,”; said Richard Peterson, visiting from Indianapolis.