Footage posted online shows a resident watching a televised basketball game as a chilling computer generated voice speaking over the broadcast declares “this is not a drill.”
The threat this afternoon later turned out to be a false alarm, with Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency confirming there was no imminent attack.
The automated TV message said: “Stay indoors. If you are outdoors, seek immediate shelter in a building.
“Remain indoors well away from windows. If you are driving, pull safely to the side of the road and seek shelter in a building or lay on the floor.
“We will announce when the threat has ended.”
Terrified residents took to twitter as the initial alert was issued after they received automated warnings through their mobile phones.
The message read: “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”