March 2010 | aloha-hawaii.com:statewide:natural hawaii:sharks

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March 2010 | http://www.aloha-hawaii.com/hawaii/sharks/

An imposing reef shark at Sea Life Park, Oahu.

SHARKS: THE FACTS ABOUT HAWAII’S OCEAN PREDATORS

Author: AFH

Bethany Hamilton was lying on her surfboard, rocking gently with the waters off Makua Beach on Kauai’s North Shore. The 13-year-old surfing prodigy was getting ready to take on another set of waves.

"The shark just came and attacked me," she later told a news reporter. "He got hold of my arm and kind of jerked me back and forth a little, and then he was gone."

The attack occurred on October 31, 2003. Bethany Hamilton lost her left arm that day to a shark, estimated to be between 10 and 15 feet in length. It was the 12th shark attack in Hawaiian waters in three years. The last fatal shark attack occurred in 1991, when a woman was mauled by a tiger shark in waters off Olowalu, Maui.

According to Hawaiian legend, each island has its own shark god. The king of all shark gods was Kamohoali‘i, brother of the fire goddess, Pele. Many Hawaiian families also had personal shark aumakua (guardian spirits).

There are numerous types of sharks found near Hawaii’s shores. The most dangerous and aggressive is the tiger shark, which averages 12 to 13 feet in length. Other sharks in Hawai‘i include hammerheads, reef sharks, black tip sharks, white tip sharks and sandbar sharks. Sharks may be viewed Hawaii’s marine life attractions, including Sea Life Park and the Waikiki Aquarium on O‘ahu and the Maui Ocean Center on the Valley Isle.

Shark attacks are very rare. Still, it helps to heed these safety tips: Don’t swim or surf alone. Stay out of the water at dusk, dawn and night. Don’t go into the water if you have open wounds or are bleeding. Avoid areas with murky waters. Don’t wear high-contrast clothing or shiny jewelry. Refrain from excessive splashing. Stay away from dead animals or animals in distress in the water. If you encounter a shark, leave the water quickly but calmly.

Bethany Hamilton remained calm, and experts say that may have saved her life. What’s more, her life-changing experience hasn’t prevented her from pursuing her dreams. Just 10 weeks after the attack, Hamilton placed fifth at a National Scholastic Surfing Association tournament on the Big Island.

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