Swim with sharks in Hawaii? Are you crazy? Whenever my husband and I tell people we went swimming with sharks in Hawaii, they immediately give us a look that says, “What got into you?” I grew up in Hawaii, and sharks were one of those things that you knew swam in the ocean, but, if you didn’t bother them or do anything stupid, like splashing/flopping around, or swimming at dawn or dusk, then you were good.
I never thought I’d pay to swim with sharks though, and cage-less at that! But I started following Ocean Ramsey, a marine biologist and conservation activist, about a year ago. If you don’t follow her, I highly recommend it! She swims with sharks everyday, and the pictures and videos that she and her husband, Juan, take are absolutely beautiful.
You will see sharks in a whole new light.
Because I was also in the process of writing an epic fantasy that included sharks in it, I thought it would be wise to actually see sharks in the wild. For too long sharks have been demonized in the media. My mom never let me and siblings watch Jaws or other scary shark movies, and probably for good reason! Even just seeing images or clips from Jaws, I’m glad we didn’t watch it. There is so much more to sharks than meets the eye or what is portrayed in the media, and seeing them in the wild gave me that connection I really needed. I think it will for you too. Read on to find out where you can swim with sharks in Hawaii, why you should go cage-less, and why you should swim with sharks, as opposed to other wildlife animals!
Where can you swim with sharks in Oahu?
We went with One Ocean Diving, as it’s owned by Ocean and employees that she and her husband personally trained. The company offers a two hour shark snorkel three miles outside of Haleiwa harbor. There’s plenty of parking in the harbor, so it’s really not stressful. Just give yourself plenty of time to drive, especially if you’re coming from Waikiki.
There was such a stark difference of the look and vibe of One Ocean Diving versus the caged tour kiosks nearby. The caged tours showed “Jaws” -like pictures, quite an intimidating image. But One Ocean had such a different vibe: chill, not stressful, and respectful of sharks.
What can I expect on the tour?
The One Ocean Diving boat pulls up to this white framed-looking thing. Wait there and the workers will come talk to you. They’ll give you a waiver to sign, then you’re basically ready to go!
It didn’t take too long to get to the spot outside of the harbor, but it was a little choppy so if you get sea-sick easily, you might want to have taken something to help with that beforehand. As you ride out to sea, the guide will go over everything you need to know: what you’re allowed and not allowed to do, a little more information about sharks and their behavior, and some safety stuff.
Once at the spot, you’ll be told when you can go in. Enjoy seeing the sharks swim around the boat! The nerves and excitement are real! 😀
Don’t flop or splash as you go into the water. Enter calmly and enjoy watching the sharks swim below! If you feel confident enough, and want to get some cool footage with the sharks, you can ask the guide if you can dive down. Have someone else hold your GoPro so you dive down a little get some footage of you and the sharks. 🙂
The guides will tell you when it’s time to exit the water. Do so calmly. Once you’re back on the boat, take some deep breaths because that was AMAZING.
So why swim with sharks in Hawaii cageless?
There’s something about being in the ocean, not surrounded by a cage and watching the sharks beneath your fins. For lack of better words, it’s magical. I know there are people reading this and thinking, “There’s absolutely no way I’m getting in the water without the cage.” But with One Ocean Diving, there’s a guide with you. These guides have experience with sharks and they keep an eye out for every member on the tour. And let’s not forget to mention that these tours are small, maybe ten people max.
As the boat pulls up to the spot and you see the sharks swimming around, it’s nerve-wracking.
“I’m going in there?!” you ask, but then it’s absolutely exciting.
When you get into the water and actually see the sharks, you can connect with them on such a deep level. For me, I realized that the sharks really don’t want to bother you. They’re curious, and they have personalities, just like any other species, but it they minded their own business. It was incredible.
One Ocean Diving also has a 100% safe track record to date. Nobody has been hurt by sharks while on the shark snorkel tours with them!
Why swim with sharks in Hawaii? I would rather see dolphins, turtles, or whales.
There’s a Hawaiian value, mālama, which means to “care for and protect.” Sharks are a huge player in the ocean’s eco-system. Unfortunately, sharks are being slaughtered at an outrageous and unsustainable rate of 100 million a year—yes, 100 million. Sharks are apex predators and at the top of the marine eco-system. Not only do they keep things balanced as the species goes down the food chain, but they also feed on dead fish and trash, curbing sickness in marine wildlife.
When we seek understanding and actually go out and experience nature and wildlife, we’re more likely to mālama them. We understand their role, our role, and how we can help.
So yes, it’s totally cool if you want to find the dolphins, turtles, or whales, because I also believe that seeing and being around these creatures fosters the spirit of mālama. But if you have an irrational fear of sharks, or are haunted by images of Jaws, or simply want to understand sharks a little better, I think it’s totally worth it to take this tour. It’s safe, fun, and just an overall incredible and unforgettable experience.
How much does it cost?
When my husband and I went (December 2021), we got a discount code from the One Ocean Diving website, so it cost $120 per person. Follow One Ocean Diving or Ocean Ramsey on social media, or check the One Ocean Diving website to see if there are any promo codes!
What do I need to bring to swim with sharks in Hawaii?
We brought a little bag with water, a towel, our own snorkel gear, and a GoPro. If your snorkel and mask are white or yellow, you’ll have you use the black snorkel and mask they provide. They also provide black fins, as well as rash guards if you’d like to borrow. I did. 🙂
How do I get to Haleiwa harbor?
We stayed in Waikiki so we actually didn’t have a rental car for the week. However, we rented a Hui car for the day. This is such an easy and affordable way to get around the island, and I highly recommend!
By now I hope you’re convinced that swimming with sharks in Hawaii, on a little tour with One Ocean Diving, is totally worth the experience. Personally, I’ve grown up knowing that there are sharks throughout Hawaii, but it’s good to respect them, give them their space, and not provoke them. Hawaiians also have a cultural tradition of ‘aumakua, an ancestor who took the form of an animal. The ‘aumakua would serve their descendants by warning or protecting them. They might even offer comfort. On my mom’s side, the ‘aumakua is a manō, a shark, so I guess I never really worried about bumping into sharks. I later learned that ‘aumakua doesn’t mean that all sharks are your ancestors, but only one specific shark. And that’s ok too haha. 😛
As I stated earlier, I wrote a book that has the manō as a heavily featured character. My new book, Rise of the Manō, comes out in January 2022. Sign up for my newsletter and/or follow me on instagram to keep updated on the book!
Want to support conservation efforts?
Going on tours like this one, with One Ocean Diving, supports not only the One Ocean conservation effort, but a small and local business!
And if you love sharks, or become a shark lover, there’s another company, Fahlo, where you can buy bracelets and track your very own shark! I am an ambassador for their company and absolutely love their bracelets. They’re cute to wear or make great gifts for loved ones. I did a little more research into how “Save the Blue” (the conservation effort that Fahlo donates to) tracks the sharks, and the tags they use are small. The tags are inserted into the dorsal fin of the shark and, as far as they can tell, do not cause any harm to the sharks.
Use this link here or code LEIALOHA20 to get 20% off your order at check out! Get your Fahlo bracelet and track your very own shark today! 🙂
Watch our experience here!
Do you want to see mine and my husband’s shark experience? Check out this instagram post! Would you swim with sharks in Hawaii? Let me know in the comments below. Or if you got to experience this in Hawaii, let us know your thoughts! 🙂
Looking for some inspirational quotes for when you’re down? Whether you face winter blues, a creative lag, an episode of depression, or simply need something to give you a little boost, here are 5 inspirational quotes for you!
A wonderful aloha value that goes with this is ha’aha’a, humility. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the things we’re doing. We sometimes place our value in what we create, complete, or succeed at… but we lose ourselves when we do that. Let’s not take ourselves too seriously, laugh at mistakes, enjoy life, and be grateful!
Sometimes sadness comes on because we have high expectations. When expectations aren’t met we face disappointment. This is a principle I’ve had to teach myself, because when I place expectations on others, myself, or certain situations, I get upset when things don’t go as planned. Instead of trying to force our agenda and will on things out of our control, let’s just appreciate the moment. Appreciate being present, being here.
We would never wish hardships or trials on others, and often times we wish we didn’t have to go through the challenges we’ve been given. But with an eternal perspective, we can see that challenges don’t define us, but they can refine us.
Values like ho’ohana, ho’omau, and ‘ike loa, teach us to be happy where we are. We don’t have to wait for the perfect circumstances or even start in the same place as others. We can create paradise where we are, as my debut novel, “Aloha State of Mind,” talks about!
Sometimes we get into bad moods because we aren’t actively seeking something. Are we looking to have more peace, more hope, or joy? What will we do to get there? With the value of ‘ike loa, we can “see much.” And with the value of imi ‘ola, we can seek the highest and best in life, helping us find answers to our questions and needs.
Prayer is also a beautiful way to “seek” and find, as this quote comes from a popular scripture. When we connect with God, we can feel loved and worthy. ❤︎
Your turn
What are your favorite inspirational quotes for when you’re down?
Looking for Hawaii inspired holiday gifts? While I’m a huge about not consuming and doing what we can to help the environment, I also love giving gifts—meaningful gifts. So I want to start by saying the best gifts don’t cost money. As you may have learned with laulima, ho’okipa, or ‘ohana, the best gifts aren’t “things.” They best things are relationships, people, love, kindness, hope, faith, and so much more. This holiday season I hope we can give the gift or our attention, presence, aloha, and so much more.
And, if we want to give a physical gift, here is a list of the Hawaii inspired holiday gifts I came up with for 2021. I felt like these were meaningful gifts: things that support a cause, bring joy, or inspire positive change. I hope you enjoy browsing through this list, and be sure to watch for discount codes along the way!
Fahlo Bracelets
Do you love wildlife, specifically sharks and turtles? Want to support conservation efforts in a way that’s easy and fun? Fahlo is a company that sells affordable, cute bracelets and donates the proceeds to non-profit organizations like the Turtle Conservancy and Saving the Blue. Each bracelet comes with a shark or turtle that you can track. I love that I can wear a bracelet reminding me to mālama the earth and its animals. If the honu or mano isn’t your thing, Fahlo also sells bracelets to support polar bears and elephants!
If you want to get your own bracelet, or, even better, gift a bracelet to a wildlife loving friend, check out Fahlo.
Use my code LEIALOHA20 to get 20% off your order!
Aloha State of Mind
My debut novel, Aloha State of Mind, is a wonderful Hawaii inspired gift. This self help book covers 24 Hawaiian values to help you create paradise where you are. It’s an easy read, using examples from Hawaiian culture, lifestyle, language, and stories from my own life to help you bring Hawaii home.
You can’t really go wrong when you gift a Hawaii themed journal to a loved one. My “Live Aloha” Journals feature lines from Aloha State of Mind and come in both lined and unlined versions. These journals have a matte, anti-scuff finish and work as wonderful stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, friend gifts, classmate gifts, and so much more.
Start the new year right with a gratitude journal. This “Mahalo ke Akua” Gratitude journal includes scriptures, quotes, and plenty of space to record what you are grateful for on a daily basis.
This Etsy shop features a lot of awesome aloha-inspired products from shirts and hats to stickers and tote bags. Elle Chi is owned by two locals from Hawaii and everything is made with aloha, from the quality of the items to the way things are packaged and shipped. You won’t be disappointed by your purchase here, and you can feel good knowing that you’re shopping local!
Though ranging on the higher price end *due in large part to the cost of shipping!), Big Island Candies has the best chocolate dipped short bread cookies. There are other delicious chocolatiers in Hawaii, like Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut, but Big Island Candies is a whole new level. I’m also biased because I grew up in Hilo and frequenting the store was one of our favorite things to do! I highly recommend their original chocolate macadamia nut shortbread cookies (like the one pictured). I’m not an affiliate, I just love their stuff. 🙂
I have to add this because I personally think this is so pretty! My husband gave one to me on my birthday and I wear it nearly everyday. It’s classy, elegant, and has lasted a long time too. This would make a perfect gift for the Hawaii lover!
I met Karen on Pinterest and she is a wonderful artist. Her art is bright, uplifting, and tropical. Some of the scenes she paints are just so dreamy, including old, colorful plantation homes with stunning backdrops of waterfalls, mountains, and palm trees.
Hollywood has given sharks a bad rep over the years, and it’s too bad because sharks play a huge role in the ocean system. Sharks are apex predators, meaning that they’re at the top of the food chain. Their role ensures that the species below them don’t overpopulate and ultimately keep the life of the ocean balanced. Unfortunately, sharks are being harvested and hunted at unsustainable rates—we’re talking millions of sharks killed a year. I hope that this article, with some punny lines and cultural insights from a Hawaiian perspective, can help all of us appreciate sharks a little more and do our part to protect them. 🦈
The Shark in Hawaiian Culture
In Hawaii, the manō, shark, was hunted and used for jewelry, weapons, and other tools. Shark skin was used to make drums for hula dancing. Hawaiians exercised caution, especially when a specific area was known to have sharks. An old folktale said that if one placed a ti leaf in the water and it floated, it was safe to swim. If the ti leaf sank, it wasn’t safe.
The most commonly known representation of the manō in the Hawaiian culture includes the concept of the ‘aumakua. An ‘aumakua is deceased ancestor who takes the shape of a specific animal. It could be a pueo (owl), ‘io (hawk), mo’o (gecko), nai’i (dolphin), manō, or any other kind of animal. The ‘aumakua wasn’t meant to be worshipped but rather honored and revered. Families would leave food for their ‘aumakua if the animal frequented their area. Sometimes ‘aumakua came to warn, protect, or guide their descendants to take the correct path. The manō is an ‘aumakua animal, which is why the Hawaiians were careful of which animals they hunted. It would be completely disrespectful to kill an ‘aumakua.
My Experience with Sharks
With that said, we can learn so much from the behavior and biology of sharks. They’re quite beautiful and magnificent creatures. One of the most common questions I get asked about Hawaii is, “Are there sharks in Hawaii?” The answer is, yes, of course! There are sharks all throughout the ocean. But when we respect boundaries and take precautions, we can coexist. I’ve only seen sharks twice in my life, and I lived in Hawaii for a long time. And those times I saw the sharks were times I shouldn’t have been in the water anyways. However, I can say they’re quite amazing creatures. Since leaving Hawaii, I’ve felt a desire to do my part in protecting sharks. Read to the end to know how you can help too! Without further adieu, here are 5 life lessons from a shark!
Five Life Lessons from a Shark
Know Your Place
Sharks know their place as apex predators, and they’re not afraid to own that. Do we know our place? In our family, community, Country, and even the world? One value that can help us know our place, our purpose, and mission in life is kuleana, responsibility. Each of us a responsibility and a unique contribution to make in this world. Every life is precious and worthy, including yours!
Keep Swimming
Sharks continue to swim, no matter what. When life throws curveballs and challenges our way, how can we respond with grace and aloha? Instead of getting upset and angry about the scars, can we keep swimming? How much energy would we save if we chose to forgive, let go, and move forward?
Have a Sense of Curiosity
Sharks have a natural curiosity. They like to see what others are up to, and get a closer look. Are there things that we can be a little more curious about in life? When I think of curiosity, I think of the value of pa’a ka waha, which means to “close the mouth.” We spend too much time talking about ourselves. Why don’t we hand others the mic and see what they have to say? Be curious about their lives, and you’ll be surprised by the insights and lessons you learn.
Stay Sharp
Shark teeth are so fascinating… and sharp! Are we keeping our skills sharp, or are we choosing to let life slip through our fingers? A graphologist told me that I’m not a naturally organized person, but I’ve developed skills to become organized. This reminded me that too often we give up on certain skills because “it just doesn’t come naturally” or “it’s too hard.” But the truth is: anyone can develop a skill if they practice and create a system that works to develop that skill.
So whether you want to be more organized, patient, motivated, or whatever else, remember that it’s totally possible. Sharpen that skill, and it will eventually become a part of who you are and what you naturally do.
Do Fin-tastic Things
Life’s too short to say, “I just can’t do that” or “I’m not ___ enough” or “I can’t afford it.” With the value of ‘ike loa (seeing much), we can see endless possibilities ahead. We can ho’omau by creating solutions to our problems and do all the fin-tastic things we ever dreamed of.
Bonus: Be Jaw-some! 🦈
How to Support Conservation Efforts for Sharks
Do you love sharks as much as I do? Want to support conservation efforts in a way that’s easy and fun? Fahlo is a wildlife conservation company that sells affordable, cute bracelets. Each bracelet comes with a shark that you can track. Fahlo sends the proceeds to conservation efforts that support and protect sharks, turtles, polar bears, and elephants. I love that I can wear a bracelet reminding me to mālama the earth and its animals.
If you want to get your own bracelet, or, even better, gift a bracelet to a shark loving friend, check out Fahlo. Use my code LEIALOHA20 to get 20% off your order!
Any thoughts?
Did I forget any life lessons from a shark? Write your shark puns, lessons, and ideas in the comments! Mahalo!
Learn 5 easy Hawaiian nature words before your next trip! Hawaii is known for its beautiful, unique, tropical plants and gorgeous landscapes. There are especially quite a few nature words that one comes across when living or visiting Hawaii. I think it’s important to know these basic words, and appreciate that they represent so much more than the object itself. When we learn more about the Hawaiian language and culture, we can appreciate and respect the Hawaiian islands so much more.
So here are 5 easy Hawaiian nature words that you should know before you go to Hawaii. Keep an eye out for these, and I guarantee that knowing the Hawaiian words will help you appreciate the nature of Hawaii so much more!
Flower
In Hawaiian, flower is pua, pronounced poo – ah. This is a generic term and doesn’t specify what type. Some flowers start with pua, and then specify the type, such as puakenikeni, while others have their own names, like aloalo (hibiscus) or melia (hibiscus).
Rainbow
Hawaii rains a lot, so it’s no surprise that rainbows appear on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis! Rainbow is anuenue, pronounced ah-noo-eh-noo-eh.
Fern
Hawaii has tons of ferns, and they’re incredibly beautiful. I hope people appreciate the beauty of ferns more, because they make the nature landscapes of Hawaii so tropical, vibrant, and green! Fern is kupukupu in Hawaiian and is pronounced koo-poo-koo-poo. Easy, right? 😉
Hawaiians and locals use ferns for mostly decorative purposes, like making a lei or floral arrangement. Ferns come in many varieties, and like the term pua, kupukupu is a generic word for fern. Some Hawaiian ferns have a word added to the end of kupukupu to identify a specific species, while others have their own, unique names.
Tree
La’au, pronounced, lah-au, is tree. Like the other terms in this article, la’au is quite general. Locals generally refer to a tree as kumu, but technically the kumu is the trunk. There are a variety of unique trees in Hawaii including the koa, rainbow eucalyptus, palm, and more!
Coconut
Lastly, you have to appreciate the coconut palm trees in Hawaii. Coconut is niu in Hawaiian, pronounced nee-oo. They aren’t so easy to crack open but are quite refreshing if you can get to the inside! Coconuts have been so useful for the Hawaiians for decades. While I’m not going to list off all of its uses, I remember being fascinated, as young girl, watching a performer at the Polynesian Culture Center use hibiscus twigs to start a fire and light the coconut fibers. Every part of the coconut can be useful!
I hope you enjoyed this article! Are there Hawaiian nature words you want to learn more about, or one that you think should’ve been included in this article? Let me know in the comments below!
This article is a part of my Hawaiian Nature series, so be sure to check out the others like it!
E komo mai! 🌺 I am the author of Aloha State of Mind, a self help book that teaches you how to create paradise wherever you are. My blog, Naturally Aloha, focuses on all things Hawaii: culture, values, food, lifestyle, and more. I hope my writing inspires you to carry aloha with you everywhere! Learn more…
Get my debut novel, “Aloha State of Mind”
Create paradise wherever you are with my debut novel, available for purchase on Amazon and more!
Check out my Hawaiian Epic Fantasy, “Rise of the Manō”
