this past weekend earthquake and tsunami sent tons of debris into West Coast . A portion of that headed east for Hawaii , Alaska , Pacific Ocean . Officials are receiving reports of items coming ashore . Lynne Talley , a physical oceanographer with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego , said the debris was initially carried on the swift Kuroshio current , but slowed as it joined another current west of Hawaii . It 's difficult to predict exactly the path .
this past weekend earthquake and tsunami sent tons of debris into West Coast . A portion of that headed east for Hawaii , Alaska , Pacific Ocean . Officials are receiving reports of items coming ashore . It 's difficult to predict exactly the path .