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An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.5 struck the Waimea area of the Big Island Thursday morning just as residents made last-minute preparations for the onslaught of Hurricane Iselle later in the day.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at 6:24 a.m. and was centered 7 miles west-northwest of Waimea at a depth of nearly 10 miles.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center on Oahu said the quake did not generate a tsunami.

Hawaii County Civil Defense Director Darryl Oliveira says there haven’t been any reports of damage. He said a moderate quake is "not uncommon" for Hawaii.

A Waimea grocery store employee said the quake didn’t cause any apparent damage in the building and didn’t knock anything off shelves.

The USGS’ "Did you feel it?" web site for the quake generated scores of responses from across Hawaii island, and even two from as far as Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, about 165 miles away.

Hawaii island is expected to soon start feeling the impact of Hurricane Iselle which is predicted to make landfall Thursday evening.