Experts say
Hanauma reef
shark is a plus

These docile sharks that
resemble big catfish haven't been
seen near Oahu in years

By Lori Tighe
Star-Bulletin

If a white-tipped reef shark takes up residency at Hanauma Bay, experts consider it a healthy sign.

These docile sharks that resemble big catfish haven't been seen near Oahu's shores in about 10 to 15 years.

"I look at it as a plus for the park. To have one of the reef's top predators set up territory there is neat," said John Naughton, shark specialist with the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Naughton will determine the sex of the shark and find out tomorrow morning if there are a pair of them as recently reported.

A white-tipped reef shark was first spotted Tuesday sleeping on a ledge just off the beach. The park closed for the day and briefly Thursday when it was spotted again, said Alan Hong, Hanauma Bay manager. The park has remained open with warning signs posted for snorkelers. The shark hunts at night and sleeps during the day.

"If the shark establishes residency, there's the possibility it would change the type of visitor we get here," Hong said, "to those more experienced with the marine environment."

Hanauma Bay would not remove the shark even if it began cutting into tourist revenues he said. Hanauma Bay receives 1.1 million visitors a year, earning the city $2.6 million annually.

"This is a conservation area, not an amusement park," he said.

Eating a bag of cuttlefish, Los Angeles visitor Colin Littlefield, 28, asked Hong, "Did you say shark?"

Hong nodded yes.

"Tiger?" Littlefield asked.

Hong answered, "No, a white-tipped reef shark."

Littlefield responded, "Oh, they're not too aggressive."

Hong joked, "When the shark smells your breath, he'll come looking for you."