Kauai, The Garden Island, is an absolutely stunning place to visit.
As one of the largest and most lush of the Hawaiian islands, there’s so much to do and see here, from zip-lining, hiking, and kayaking, to visiting the beautiful beaches like:
- Poipu Beach
- The Maha’ulepu Beaches
- Hanalei Bay
- And more
If you’re getting ready to visit Kauai (or maybe you’re already there!), you might be wondering something before you get in the water.
Does Kauai have sharks? Is it safe to swim and surf in Kauai, HI?
Certain types of sharks are common in the waters surrounding Kauai. However, shark attacks in Kauai are quite rare and the water is considered to be extremely safe. There is, however, about 1 tiger shark attack per year, almost always on surfers.
Some of the sharks that can sometimes be found in Kauai are:
- Whitetip reef sharks
- Sandbar sharks
- Scalloped hammerhead sharks
- Tiger sharks
Let’s take a closer look at the types of sharks that live near Kauai and its beaches, photos, shark attack history and statistics, and more.
Types of Sharks in Kauai, Hawaii
Chances are that you’re unlikely to see any sharks during your visit to Kauai. However, if diving or snorkeling, you may have a better chance of spotting one.
While there are dozens of different kinds of sharks present in the deep waters surrounding Hawaii, the sharks you’re more likely to see closer to the shore in Kauai are:
Whitetip Reef Sharks
Whitetip reef sharks are small to medium in size (about 6 feet long), but not known to be aggressive toward humans whatsoever.
In fact, in Hawaii, these sharks are well-respected and protected as they are a crucial part of Hawaii’s reef ecosystem.
However, regular swimmers, surfers, and beach-goers probably won’t run into any whitetips. Whitetip reef sharks spend most daylight hours sleeping, tucked away in caves. They come out to hunt at night.
Whitetips have only been known to tangle with humans when fighting with fishermen over a catch.
Sandbar Sharks
Sandbar sharks are one of the sharks most commonly see by beach goers, as they prefer to hunt in shallow coastal waters.
They carry decent size, usually around 4-5 feet long, and often travel and feed in groups.
However, sandbar sharks are not known to be aggressive and usually will not attack humans unless provoked. They may be curious about swimmers and beach-goers and approach them with interest, but have no interest in attacking.
Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks
Scalloped hammerheads are large sharks, reaching up to 11 feet in length.
But don’t fear!
First, scalloped hammerheads can sometimes be found in shallow waters near shore in Kauai, but they usually prefer much deeper waters.
Second, scalloped hammerheads are not known to be aggressive toward humans.
Technically, they have the size to do serious damage which makes them known as potentially dangerous, but they’re typically shy creatures that have little interest in humans unless provoked.
Scalloped hammerheads are a critically endangered species.
Tiger Sharks
Tiger sharks are responsible for most of the shark attacks in Hawaii.
They’re a large breed of shark, reaching lengths upwards of 10 feet long and weighing well over 1,000 pounds.
Tiger sharks are known to be aggressive predators and are commonly found in more shallow waters, making them a potential threat to swimmers and surfers that venture too far from the shore.
Though tiger sharks camouflage well in murky waters, you’ll be able to spot them based on their trademark tiger stripes or spots.
Kauai Shark Attack History & Statistics
Shark attacks in Kauai are exceedingly rare.
In fact, if you want, you can check the official website for the state of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and investigate every single shark attack incident across the entire state over the past few decades.
You won’t see shark attacks in Kauai showing up on this list very often — only about 1 per year, with many of them being minor with no injuries at all (the most recent incident involved only a bitten surfboard).
Shark attacks are much more common in Maui, and even then you’ll only see a couple of minor encounters per year.
In Hawaii, the tiger shark is responsible for most attacks on humans. But again, it’s quite rare and should be of no concern to visitors of Kauai.
Surfers should take extra precautions, however, just in case — almost all recorded shark attacks in Kauai have been on surfers.
Wrapping Up
If you’re visiting Kauai, you likely won’t need to worry about any dangerous shark encounters.
Though tiger shark attacks can be a concern for some Hawaiian beaches, they’re rare in Kauai — only about one per year, despite the hoards of visitors that come through.
Almost all attacks involve surfing, so regular swimmers and kayakers should have no issues. Surfers should be sure to stay in groups and heed any advisories from lifeguards.
Otherwise, enjoy your trip to the stunning Garden Island and appreciate the rich marine life as best you can!
For more guides, check out:
Hope this helps!