Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Its tropical weather, gorgeous volcanic mountains, lush green scenery, and epic waves are every nature lover’s and surfer’s dream. From big to small, a host of sharks call the sea around Hawaii home. Great white sharks lurk in the clear blue waters, eating large fish and riding the waves alongside the surfers. Some of the biggest surf competitions take place in Hawaii. Let’s separate the myths from reality and discover how dangerous the water is.
Common Types of Sharks in Hawaii
Hawaii is home to an epic amount of land-dwelling animals and a plethora of sharks and other marine life in the water. It is a mesmerizing addition to the United States, and it shows in the number of tourists visiting every year. It’s possible to view whale sharks during their migration, as well. Each year, we hear about shark attacks happening in Hawaiian waters, some of which are fatal or very serious. But how dangerous is the sea, really?
There is a lot of hype when discussing shark attacks, and myths and facts sometimes get confused. Surfers, divers, and fishing charters tell elaborate stories similar to “the biggest fish I ever caught” stories. We’re here to unlock the truth about sharks in Hawaii and put the myths back where they belong. Let’s look at the type of sharks in Hawaiian waters and if they are to blame for unfortunate events.
Great White Shark
Great white sharks have been demonized since the book and movie JAWS came out in the mid-seventies. In all reality, they don’t deserve the “man-eater“ title because they do not like the taste of humans, and when one is mistakenly bitten, it’s typically a one-and-done because the shark spits out the person and goes off in search of tasty fish or seals. These massive sharks can grow to be 21 feet long and 2,000 pounds. They tend to stick to deeper water past the waves, but that is also where surfers, kayakers, paddle boarders, and others are.
According to the Hawaiian Shark Incident List, the only great white attack happened on 12/4/2021 in the evening when sharks were actively feeding. The attack was not fatal, and the survivor suffered lacerations of their arm. So, don’t blame the great whites; they’re just minding their own business.
Hawaiian Black Tipped Reef Sharks and Other Reef Sharks
Reef sharks are one of the most abundant sharks in Hawaii. Their population is large and contains numerous species. It is rare, but these medium-sized sharks occasionally bite swimmers, scuba divers, and surfers. The most common reef sharks are the black-tipped reef shark, white-tipped reef shark, gray reef shark, and the oceanic white reef shark. Reef sharks measure five to eight feet long and hang around reefs and caves. Scuba divers and spearfishers are the people most commonly bitten. Any spearfishing is counted as an unprovoked attack when the shark bites the diver. The divers are in the sharks’ home, after all.
Cookie Cutter Shark
Cookie-cutter sharks are small, but what are nightmares made of? These sneaky sharks stealthily swim up to unsuspecting victims and chomp a cookie-cutter-like circular bite out of them. They have extremely sharp teeth and typically grow to 20 inches long. They are sometimes called the cigar shark because of their shape. While they aren’t as dangerous as a tiger shark, you still don’t want to meet one of these little guys.
Tiger Shark
Tiger sharks are known to be large, extreme predators that are responsible for many shark attacks. They are related to bull sharks, who tend to have a higher testosterone level than other sharks, aiding in their aggression. When looking at the Hawaiian Shark Incident list, tiger sharks come up repeatedly. Since June 1995, 77 confirmed tiger shark attacks have occurred in Hawaii. That’s 77 out of 166 in that date range. Plenty of attacks are on the list where the shark type is unknown, and at least some of those may be from tiger sharks.
Tiger sharks can grow to be 18 feet long and weigh 2,000 pounds. They are big, agile, fast-swimming sharks referred to as the trashcans of the oceans because they taste-test everything and end up eating a lot of objects that aren’t even close to food, like tires. The unfortunate items they are eating shouldn’t be in the ocean in the first place. Many tiger shark attacks aren’t attacks, but they test out what you are and if you taste good. They will rarely eat a human. There are far more tasty fish in the sea.
Shark Attacks in Hawaii: What’s Myth and What’s Reality
The bites aren’t all fatal, and most people do not get seriously injured, but it does happen. Hawaii is not the shark attack capital of the United States or the world, but plenty of incidents occur annually. It’s also important to look at the number of people entering the ocean in Hawaii. There are millions every year, and those people could enter the water shimmering like fish scales, decide to try shark fishing or go for a dusk swim. Here are a few facts to help keep you safe while swimming on your dream vacation.
- Never go swimming alone.
- Never go swimming at dawn or dusk. This is when daytime and nighttime fish are switching activities, and plenty of predators are waiting for the switch.
- Never wear shimmery jewelry, bathing suits, nail polish, or anything else in the ocean. Sharks can mistake them for fish scales.
- Stay in shallow water around other people. Large sharks can attack in as little as one to two feet of water, but it’s rare. It’s much safer along the shoreline than past the breakers.
- Do not shark fish or spearfish. Otherwise, there’s a dramatic che you had the bite coming.
- Stay away from people who are fishing, fishing boats, and anywhere you see birds diving into the ocean or where fish are jumping out. Chances are they are being chased by something much bigger. The birds feast on the tidbits left over from the shark’s meal.
