What Types of Sharks Live in Hawaii?

When you really stop and think about the ocean, its size, and all that lives in it, it’s quite incredible. All around the world, many different species of fish swim in the very ocean that we love to look at, swim in, and retreat to for peace and serenity. In the ocean that surrounds Hawaii, there are many different species of fish, ocean dwelling mammals, and even reefs that thrive in the warm waters, creating a diverse ecosystem that is only a small part of the vast ecosystem of the oceans around the world. One of the most important ocean dwellers, especially in Hawaii, is the shark. Residing at the top of the food chain, sharks help to keep fish populations under control, creating a healthy food chain for the ocean and the world.

Sharks are quite intimidating, and just the site of one will cause your heart to race and your palms to sweat, even if you are in a boat or viewing them in a shark tank. An encounter with a shark is never an easy chore, but there are safe options for viewing sharks, like a Hawaii Shark Cage Tour off of the North Shore of Oahu, and you can witness a variety of shark species in their natural habitat, while you view them from just inches away.

There are many species of sharks that live around Hawaii, most of them smaller reef sharks that rarely come into contact with people, sticking close to the protection of the reef or venturing out just far enough for a meal. Others grow quite large and can be intimidating, but sharks are typically not interested in people, and most species of sharks do not attack. However, there are the outliers, and the large sharks that are quite aggressive and know to attack. Sightings of these sharks are far less common, though when they are spotted, take all warnings very seriously, and stay out of the water.

Species of sharks in Hawaii:

• White Tipped Reef Shark
• Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
• Galapagos Shark
• Tiger Shark
• Gray Reef Shark
• Sandbar Shark

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