An estimated 15-foot tiger shark seen just off the shoreline at Kekaha Beach on Monday prompted Kaua‘i officials to post warning signs and tell people to stay out of the water. No injuries were reported, but swimming and other ocean activities are on pause while Ocean Safety crews monitor the area.
The advisory covers swimming and other ocean activities, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Officials said the warning signs could be removed Tuesday afternoon if no additional sightings are reported.
Kekaha Beach Warning Could Lift Tuesday
For now, beachgoers are being told not to enter the water, even if the shoreline appears calm. The Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau can be reached at 808-241-4984 for updates, while Hawaii Ocean Safety lists Kekaha Beach Park as a lifeguarded beach with daily coverage from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The warning is not unprecedented for the west Kaua‘i beach. In November 2024, the County of Kauai posted signs and advised against ocean activities after a roughly 10-foot tiger shark was seen feeding near shore at the Intersections surf break.
The latest sighting also echoes another Kekaha shark alert, when lifeguards monitored the water before deciding whether regular activities could resume. As with that earlier incident, officials have reported no injuries in Monday’s sighting.
State Officials Put Shark Risk In Context
The Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources says tiger sharks are considered the most dangerous shark species in Hawaiian waters, although shark bites remain rare, averaging about three or four incidents a year. The state’s shark safety guidance also urges people to recognize that ocean conditions can change quickly and to treat the water as a wilderness environment.
Until the warning is lifted, beachgoers should follow the posted signs and lifeguard instructions rather than treat an empty patch of water as an all-clear. Any decision to reopen the water will come from Kaua‘i Ocean Safety after crews complete their monitoring.
