Hawaii Home

Hawaiian Islands

Popular
Hawaii hotels

Hawaii > Hawaii sharks

Hawaii Sharks

The islands of Hawaii are surrounded by the ocean, and sometimes sharks come close to shore line. Not all of Hawaii sharks are aggressive to humans, and quite often the fear of sharks is based on ignorance and horror films like Jaws. But nevertheless there are some tips to be followed:

10 safety tips how to avoid the shark attack on Hawaii

• Swim, surf or dive with other people, and don't move too far away from assistance.
• Do not enter the water if you have open wounds or are bleeding. Sharks are attracted by blood and can detect it in very small concentrations.
• Stay out of the water at dawn, dusk and night when some species of Hawaii sharks move inshore to feed.
• Watch the activity of fish or turtles. If they start to behave erratically, leave the water. A shark may be present.
• Avoid excessive splashing in the water . Sharks are attracted by confused movements.
• Do not provoke or harass a shark, even a small one.
• Do not swim near people fishing or spear fishing. Stay away from dead animals in the water.
• Avoid harbor entrances, murky waters and steep drop offs. They are known to be frequented by sharks.
• Look for, read and obey all beach safety signs and symbols.
• Do not enter the water if sharks are are known to be present, and leave the water quickly and calmly if one is sighted.

Sharks in old Hawaii

People of old Hawaii respected sharks and believed that sharks to be their 'aumakua - spirit of a deceased ancestors that protected and guided the family.

Sharks were an important source of food and tools. The whitetip reef shark (mano lalakea) and hammerhead (mano kihikihi) were two most commonly eaten Hawaii sharks: their meat was cut into strips, salted, dried, then cooked when needed.

Thin but immensely tough and resilient, shark skin could be used for the heads of large wooden drums. The rough shark skin served as sandpaper for polishing bowls and woodworking.

Shark teeth, especially those of the tiger and great white, were made into weapons, lashed to war clubs, or mounted on wooden handles for use as knives or awls. Teeth were also used for making ceremonial objects.

Catching Sharks

Small sharks were caught by netting or by petting its head until it became accustomed to being touched, and then one day slipping a noose around its gills.

To catch a large shark, Hawaiian fishermen used hooks up to 12-inches long, usually carved of hardwoods and tipped with sharp bone points.

The proof of bravery and skill for a man was to catch niuhi (this name was given both for tiger and great white sharks on Hawaii). It was considered a sport for the alii (chiefs).
Commoners were not allowed to fish for niuhi, nor were women allowed to eat its flesh.

Explore the most common inshore species of Hawaii sharks>>