The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has canceled the tsunami watch for Hawaii, according to State Civil Defense.

The 8.3 magnitude earthquake which occurred off American Samoa did not generate a tsunami that will affect Hawaii, officials said. The tsunami watch, which was issued at 8:05 a.m., was canceled at 10:23 a.m.

However, officials warn, coastal areas in Hawaii could experience sea-level changes and or unusual currents lasting up to several hours. Because of this all beach parks are closed islandwide until tomorrow morning.

Ray Lovell, state civil defense spokesman, said Hawaii will be under a tsunami advisory until 7 p.m.

State harbor officials and city emergency management officials, whose lifeguards patrol Oahu beaches, have been alerted to note unusual wave and current movement.

“The watch is cancelled, which is good news,” said Russell Pang, chief of media relations for Gov. Linda Lingle. “The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is still monitoring to see if there’s unusual or dangerous currents.”

State Civil Defense had activated its Emergency Operations Center and stayed in touch with the counties’ civil defense agencies, he said.

Pang said he had been in touch with the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Transprotation, whose officials also had been monitoring the situation.