HAWAII OCEAN SAFETY

Ocean Movements

Visitors often underestimate the power of the currents and the waves in Hawaii.

Never turn your back to the ocean is rule number one. There can be surprising sneaker waves and you never know when they come up. If you are close to the water, always keep an eye on it!

Never swim or kayak alone. There can be currents that are not visible from the shore and you might find yourself in big trouble if you get into one of those.

If you are in doubt, ask one of the lifeguards about the current ocean conditions. They are there to keep an eye out for you, but even they have their limits. Don’t take chances.

Ocean creatures

Jellyfish - Especially after storms and between 9 and 12 days after a full moon, you can run into jellyfish. One of the most common jellyfish is the Portuguese man-of-war. They are small, but their sting is extremely painful. You can recognize them by their long blue, threadlike tentacles. You can often see them swept on the beach. They look like a little glump of jelly with blue areas. Don’t enter the water when you see one of them.

In case you do get stung, a local remedy is to put meat tenderizer on the affected areas. For a quick help, the locals swear by using urine on the skin. Not very appetizing, but you won’t care much once you feel the burn.

Do not use vinegar as it can make the pain worse. And in any case, do not scratch. It’s recommended to rinse your skin with ocean water or freshwater as much as you can. Should you experience an allergic reaction and any breathing difficulty, immediately call the emergency line.

Sharks - Once you enter the water, your place in the food chain changes and not to your favor. But, not to worry, it does not happen often that a swimmer, diver or surfer gets hurt or even killed by a shark. The chances that you’ll get hit by a car in Waikiki are bigger than that. Just keep some common sense rules in mind when you are playing in the ocean.

Most shark attacks occur when the predators of the ocean confuse human beings with the regular items on their menu. On a surfboard you might remind them of a seal. That’s why most attacks have been on surfers, but even those are extremely small in number compared to the thousands of surfers out in the ocean every day. Try to surf in groups and avoid the evening and early morning hours and pay close attention to what is happening around you. Other shark attacks have happened in murky waters. Sharks don’t see very well and might want to check out what is moving.

Also avoid swimming and diving close to a harbor or to a busy shipping route as well as in the mouths of rivers. When snorkeling, avoid being in the middle of a school of fish and watch the movements of the marine animals around you. If you see fast and erratic behavior, you should get back to the beach quickly.

Don’t rely on the dolphins to protect you. They usually take off too when they feel a shark approaching and are not the most confrontational. Always stay close to your boat and stay aware when hanging out with Flipper and friends.

Other marine animals

Murray Eels - The eels are usually harmless unless they feel threatened. They live in caves in the reefs. When you see an opening in the corals and rocks, don’t put you hand in it and not even close to it. When you see an eel swimming close to you, just stay calm and do not approach it. Let it go its way and it will not touch you if you don’t try to touch it.

Turtles - The “honu” are very common in Hawaii, yet still threatened by extinction. They need our protection and are not a danger. Yet, they too can bite if they feel threatened. Be careful and respectful when you meet one of those elegant and ancient creatures in the water. Keep your distance and just enjoy their presence. In some areas such as Laneakea Beach on the North Shore of Oahu, the turtles are used to people feeding them with seaweed and can become very friendly when they see you in the water. You might see yourself surrounded by a group of them checking you out curiously. This can be intimidating, but don’t panic and don’t make any fast movements towards them. And please don’t try to touch them. Turtles are very sensitive to bacteria and there are not many of them left.

Sea Urchins - Their shape speaks for itself. The needles and the poison inside them can be extremely painful once under your skin. They inhabit the reefs, sometimes very obvious, sometimes hidden in small nooks and grannies. Don’t touch them and watch your step when in the water.


Coral - The edges of the coral can be very sharp and cut your skin before you even feel it. Watch where you place your feet and be careful when surfing and boogie boarding over a reef in shallow water.