Sharks in Hawaii made the news again after a surfer was bitten on Sunday by a large shark at iconic Hanalei Bay Kauai. There are only preliminary reports thus far, but we know this occurred at about 4 p.m. A friend of Beat of Hawaii had been surfing at that spot, called The Bowl, earlier in the afternoon but did not see a shark and encountered no problems.
The injuries, reported to not be life-threatening, were to the surfer’s leg. He was transported to the hospital for treatment. He was reported to be a Kauai resident.
There are shark signs now posted at Hanalei Bay, and no swimming is permitted until Monday afternoon at the earliest. Visitors and residents are requested to stay out of the water at this time.
Normal beach closures after a shark attack or sighting, per the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources, is to let 24 hours pass without shark activity before reopening. Kauai lifeguards will keep watch. If they don’t see sharks for 24 hours, the beach closure signs will be removed. As of early Monday afternoon, there were no updates on the beach’s reopening.
Hawaii shark bites are a rarity.
On average, there are between three and four shark bites per year in Hawaii. When compared to the ten million visitors that visit Hawaii, it is a very small number. And severe shark bites are even fewer in number.
Are some Hawaii beaches shark-safer?
Any beach in Hawaii can have sharks. Yet, some beaches do see far fewer problems with sharks than others. Check the Hawaii Shark Incidents List from the state’s DLNR to see shark problems at beaches throughout Hawaii. Some of the beaches that have reported fewer issues include Waikiki Beach, Poipu Beach Kauai, Napili Bay and Kapalua Bay Maui, and Hapuna Beach Big Island. But we have known of issues at almost every beach in terms of at least prior shark sightings.
184 Hawaii shark attacks in the past 200 years.
Information from the International Shark Attack File, is the only comprehensive source of shark attack information, including that from Hawaii.
While the kind of shark in Sunday’s Hanalei Bay attack isn’t yet known, the majority of shark attacks have been by tiger sharks in Hawaii. Tiger sharks are considered to be among the three most dangerous ones worldwide.
The chances of being bitten by a shark are less than one in a million. And the chances of a serious injury are much less.
State of Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources
Good shark safety tips.
- Swim with others when a lifeguard is present.
- Don’t swim far from the shore.
- Avoid swimming near river mouths where sharks may be attracted.
- Be aware that sharks are most active at dawn and dusk.
- Avoid bright jewelry and clothes.
- Heed shark warning signs. Do you remember this video from last year? Watch the people ignoring the warning signs and entering the water.
We have been making the trip nearly every year for more than 35 years, and some years we came twice. Sadly, as we were looking at the taxes and fees of the condo we had reserved months ago, the cost of the rental car, the airfare, the cost of gas and food, and then add in the new cost of hourly outrageous parking fees in downtown Kona, the parking fees for the BI beaches, the “how to act” videos and growing anti-visitor sentiment we decided to cancel our Feb. trip. Instead we booked a 14 day South Caribbean Cruise for less than half the cost, and where tourists are welcomed. Maybe Hawaii officials will realize that just because visitors can afford the price doesn’t mean they will put up with being taken advantage of.
Hi Sheryl.
Thanks for more than 100 comments. Please let us know how your travels go.
Aloha.
I noticed you mentioned don’t wear shiny jewelry or bright clothes. What are you supposed to do leave that expensive diamond ring and Rolex watch behind on a beach towel so someone can just steal it when they see you go in the water. Don’t wear bright clothing but what dark clothing so you look like a baby seal to a shark? Two shark attacks in one month. Sure some locals aren’t chumming the waters at night just to keep tourists off the beaches.
@Don… Now that’s funny… chumming the waters. LOL. And don’t bring your diamond ring or Rolex to the beach to begin with!