HONOLULU -- Calls poured in on Tuesday at the Hawaii office of American Samoa's governor in from people who want to know about their loved ones after a powerful earthquake hit the islands.

Workers received dozens of calls at the Dillingham Boulevard office after the 8.0-magnitude quake hit between Samoa and American Samoa.

Gov. Togiola Tulafono happened to be in Hawaii for meetings.

The first tsunami hit less than 10 minutes after the earthquake struck, Tulafono said.

"By the time they got the first warning, the first waves had hit already. This is one of those situations, no matter what you do, it would have been impossible to help a lot of people," Tulafono said.

His office said the governor hopes to fly out as soon as Tuesday night on a military airlift to the islands.

Workers at the office said that landlines are down at the islands. There is some cellular phone service working occasionally, but word out of the islands is limited, they said.

"Since reports of the Samoa natural disaster were communicated this morning, I have received many calls from concerned people throughout Hawaii and the mainland United States urgently appealing for updates on the extent of this emergency, and offering their assistance," Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann said in a written statement.

Associated Press reporter Keni Lesa said three or four villages on the popular tourist coast near the southern town of Lalomanu on Samoa's main island of Upolu had been "wiped out" by waves that roared ashore early Wednesday. Read More

The office started a food drive. You can donate canned goods, rice bags, bottled water and other non-perishable food to the office at 1427 Dillingham Blvd. Suite 210. It is located above Boulevard Saimin.

The governor's office began the American Samoa and Samoa Tsunami Relief Fund. People can make donations at any Bank of Hawaii branch.