Sharing the Blue: Ocean Safety, Sharks, and Respect for the Big Island’s Living Waters

There is something about the ocean in Hawaii that changes you.

Maybe it is the first time you float in clear blue water and see sunshine on the reef. Maybe it is the sound of waves on lava rock at sunset. Maybe it is that quiet feeling of being small, grateful, and fully alive at once.

For many of us who live here, the ocean is part of daily life. It is where families gather, where children learn courage, where visitors make memories, and where locals return again and again for peace, healing, and what I like to call a little “Vitamin Sea.”

But the ocean is also wild. It is alive. And when we step into it, we are guests.

That includes sharing the water with sharks.

Sharks are often misunderstood, especially when stories about shark encounters make the news. The truth is, sharks are part of a healthy ocean. They have been here long before us, moving through the water with purpose, instinct, and balance. In Hawaiian waters, they are not villains. They are not monsters. They are part of the natural system that keeps the ocean strong.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources reminds people that shark bites in Hawaiʻi are very rare. In fact, the chance of being bitten by a shark in Hawaiʻi is less than one in a million, and the chance of serious injury is even lower.

That does not mean we ignore safety. It means we respect reality instead of fear.

I have never wanted fear to take away my love for the ocean. I am not afraid of the ocean or sharks. I still love being in the water. At the same time, I believe deeply in awareness, preparation, and respect. Those things make ocean time safer, calmer, and more meaningful.

Here on the Big Island, we are lucky to have so many places where the ocean feels close and accessible. Puakō, Mauna Lani, Waikoloa, Hapuna, Spencer, and the Kona Coast all offer their own kind of beauty. Some days are calm and glassy. Other days, the same shoreline can be rough, cloudy, windy, or unpredictable.

That is why ocean safety starts before your feet touch the water.

Look at the conditions. Watch the waves. Notice the wind. Ask local lifeguards, ocean safety officers, or experienced water people. If the water looks rough, murky, or just doesn't feel right, listen to that inner voice. There is always another beach day.

It is also wise to avoid swimming around dawn, dusk, or in dirty water after heavy rain, since visibility is lower and marine activity can be different during these times. Never swim alone. Stay close to the shore if you are unsure of the area. Be particularly careful near river mouths, fishing areas, or places where fish are being cleaned. And remember always that confidence in the ocean should be paired with humility.

Some people also take extra precautions, such as wearing shark-deterrent bands. You may have heard of Sharkbanz, which are designed as wearable magnetic shark deterrents. Others feel more comfortable wearing high-visibility gear. There are many opinions about colors in the ocean, including black and yellow wetsuits, bright yellow equipment, and even yellow rescue helicopters. I do not think one product, color, or habit replaces common sense, but I do believe people should make thoughtful choices that help them feel prepared.

More important than any gadget is education.

That is why I want to highlight the Alex & Duke De Rego Foundation and the meaningful work they are doing here on Hawaiʻi Island. The foundation focuses on providing water safety and ocean awareness education to youth across Hawaiʻi Island. Their mission includes empowering Hawaiʻi’s young people with lifesaving knowledge in water safety, CPR, and ocean awareness, often working with schools and programs such as Junior Lifeguards.

This work matters.

When children grow up understanding the ocean, they do not just become safer swimmers. They become better stewards. They learn when to enter the water and when to stay on shore. They learn how to help a friend in trouble. They learn respect for currents, reefs, marine life, and their own limits.

The foundation also honors a deeply personal story. The Alex & Duke De Rego Foundation was created in memory of De Rego’s two sons, who died in separate accidents when they were young. The foundation’s work now helps carry their memory forward through ocean safety and emergency lifesaving education.

That is the kind of community work that makes Hawaiʻi stronger.

Ocean safety is not just about avoiding danger. It is about giving people the confidence and knowledge to enjoy this place to the fullest. Hawaiʻi is here to be experienced, not feared. Visitors come here to swim, snorkel, surf, paddle, fish, and feel the power of the Pacific. Residents build entire lives around the rhythm of the water.

But enjoying Hawaiʻi means understanding that we are not separate from nature. We are part of it.

That is also one of the reasons I love seeing stories that help reshape the way we think about sharks. Sara Ackerman’s novel The Shark House explores the relationship between humans and sharks against the backdrop of Hawaiʻi’s ocean landscape. The book centers on a biologist investigating shark attacks in Hawaiʻi while also confronting her own past. It speaks to fear, resilience, respect, and the complicated connection between people and the natural world.

Stories like this matter because sharks have been turned into symbols of fear for so long. But in real life, the ocean is much more complex. Sharks are not waiting for us. They are living their lives in their home.

On the Big Island, blacktip reef sharks and other shark species are part of the ocean environment. Seeing a shark does not automatically mean something is wrong. In fact, a healthy reef system includes predators. Their presence reminds us that the ocean is still alive, still functioning, and still deserving of our care.

Of course, that does not mean that we act carelessly. Respect is active. It means allowing marine life space. It means not harassing, chasing, feeding, or trying to touch something wild. It means calmly leaving the water if something seems wrong. It means teaching children that the ocean is not a pool. It is strong, beautiful, generous, and unpredictable.

That balance is one of the great lessons of island living.

The more time you spend here, the more you understand that Hawaiʻi is not just a destination. It is a relationship. The land asks for care. The ocean asks for respect. The community asks for responsibility. And in return, this place gives more than words can describe.

So go enjoy the water. Take the swim. Listen to Mishka’s “Vitamin Sea” on the way to the beach. Watch the waves. Breathe in the salt air. Float under the blue sky. Let Hawaiʻi remind you how good it feels to be alive.

Just bring your awareness with you.

Support organizations like the Alex & Duke De Rego Foundation. Teach your children about ocean safety. Learn about sharks rather than just fear them. Ask questions. Respect local knowledge. And remember that every time we enter the ocean, we are stepping into a living world.

The ocean does not belong to us.

We belong to it, for a little while, with gratitude.