A routine afternoon at one of Honolulu’s most local-favorite breaks got a lot more tense on Monday when Honolulu Ocean Safety confirmed that an aggressive eight-foot tiger shark had been spotted in the Flies surf zone off Kakaako Waterfront. The sighting, reported shortly after 12:30 p.m., led to an immediate shark warning, with lifeguards posting signs along the shoreline and asking anyone who sees a shark to alert ocean safety personnel or call 911.
What officials said
According to Hawaii News Now, the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department confirmed the sighting and described the shark as “aggressive.” Ocean Safety responded by putting up bright yellow “Shark Sighted” signs near the Flies surf break and advising beachgoers to talk with on-duty lifeguards before heading into the water.
Where the sighting occurred
The Flies surf zone sits off the west end of Kakaako Waterfront Park, along a well-known South Shore stretch used by local surfers and paddlers. The HCDA Kakaʻako Makai master plan appendices identify Flies as one of the surf breaks along this industrial-turned-recreation shoreline, and note that the name “Flies” traces back to the area’s landfill-era history. HCDA.
How Ocean Safety is handling it
Lifeguards are keeping eyes on the lineup from both the shoreline and by watercraft while the yellow “Shark Sighted” signs stay up. Crews will continue to monitor the break and surrounding area until officials decide conditions are safe enough to fully reopen the water. Ocean Safety is reminding the public to check in with lifeguards for the latest ocean and beach conditions and to call 911 in an emergency, according to local reporting. Hawaii News Now.
Why tiger sharks show up near shore
Tiger sharks regularly use island-shelf habitat and will sometimes push in closer to shore when prey is plentiful, which helps explain why people occasionally have unnervingly close encounters. The State Division of Aquatic Resources keeps a running incidents list that notes several recent sightings and uninjured encounters around the islands, including a reported 12-foot tiger shark off Olowalu in May. DLNR.
Local coverage has also highlighted a string of shark-related warnings across Oʻahu this summer, including when a 12-foot tiger shark halts surf session off Haleiwa Aliʻi Beach.
Safety tips for beachgoers
If you spot a shark, the guidance is simple: leave the water calmly and notify a lifeguard or call 911 right away. The State Division of Aquatic Resources advises people to stay out of the water at dawn, dusk, and night, and to avoid murky water or areas where fish or turtles are behaving erratically. Officials also recommend swimming and surfing at beaches with lifeguards on duty and following their directions. More detailed safety advice is available from the state’s shark-safety guidance. DLNR.
For now, warning signs will remain up while lifeguards continue to watch the Flies area and will come down only after officials are satisfied that conditions have returned to normal, in line with how similar sightings have been handled earlier this summer. For the latest updates, beachgoers are encouraged to check with lifeguards on duty, follow city alert channels, and keep an eye on local coverage such as when a 12-foot tiger shark halts surf session on the North Shore.
