This story was updated at 6:34 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025.
Update at 5:37 p.m. Nov. 11, 2025: Kaua‘i County Ocean Safety Bureau officials were telling people to stay out of the water in another area of the Garden Isle on Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 11) just 2 hours after making their first announcement to do the same elsewhere.
The reason: Shark sightings.
Ocean safety officials posted warning signs at Hanalei Bay after an 8-foot unidentified type of shark was sighted there at about 5 p.m. Tuesday. No injuries were reported.
Officials will continue to monitor the area. Absolutely no swimming or other ocean activities are advised.
Lifeguards will reassess the area later this evening and tomorrow, and the Hanalei beach will reopen at 5 p.m. Wednesday (Nov. 12) if there are no other sightings.
Updates will be provided if more information becomes available.
For up-to-date information about Kaua‘i ocean conditions and ocean safety, please speak to a county lifeguard at any lifeguard station or call the Ocean Safety Bureau at 808-241-4984.
It was the second shark sighting of the day. The first was about 2 hours earlier 21 miles southeast at Keālia when an 8-foot tiger shark was spotted.
No injuries were reported in that sighting either.
“Take the precaution and go to another beach; be vigilant with what’s going on out there,” said Kaua‘i County Ocean Safety Bureau Eastern Lt. Jaquias Kaipo following the Keālia Beach sighting.
He added that shark activity is high and officials are taking the necessary precautions, including actively patrolling, “But be aware of the signs and your surroundings,” said Kaipo.
Both of Tuesday’s sightings come on the heels of two other shark sightings and a shark bite last week at different Kaua‘i beaches.
Original post at 3:58 p.m. Nov. 11, 2025: An 8-foot tiger shark was sighted Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 11) off Keālia Beach, prompting officials to say stay out of the water.
Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau officials will continue to monitor the area. Absolutely no swimming or other ocean activities are advised.
The shark was spotted by ocean safety bureau officials at about 3 p.m. Tuesday. No injuries were reported.
Lifeguards will reassess the area later this evening and throughout Wednesday (Nov. 12), and the beach could be reopened at 3 p.m. tomorrow if there are no further sightings.
Updates will be provided if more information becomes available.
Speak to a Kaua‘i County lifeguard at any lifeguard station or call the Kaua‘i County Ocean Safety Bureau at 808-241-4984 for up-to-date information about Kaua‘i ocean conditions and ocean safety.
Tuesday’s sighting comes on the heels of two other shark sightings and a lifeguard/surfer getting bitten by a shark throughout the course of 2 consecutive days last week in waters off other Kaua‘i beaches.
News reporter Xiomara Yamileth contributed to this story.
