Yes, there are a variety of shark species that live in Maui, Hawaii.
In the Hawaiian language, sharks are known as Mano and are even given the title of ‘aumakua, which stands for traditional family guardians in Hawaiian culture. In Hawaiian mythology, an ‘aumakua is a family god that is believed to be an ancestor taking the form of a physical being. An ‘aumakua can manifest in a variety of ways, though the most common is an owl, octopus, bird, and also as shark.
For this reason, sharks are very well respected in Hawaii, and many Hawaiians refrain from hunting or eating sharks.
It’s no surprise then that there are a great variety of sharks living in the coastal waters of Hawaii, including the waters surrounding Maui.
The most commonly seen shark types in Maui are the white reef tip, black reef tip, scalloped hammerhead and sandbar shark. It’s rare to see one of these sharks up close, especially at the beaches on Maui. These four types of sharks are generally docile—the hammerhead shark, despite its large size, does not hunt any prey larger than stingrays. Don’t worry, people are larger than stingrays!
The two types of reef shark—the white-tipped reef shark and the black-tipped reef shark—are generally not dangerous. Although they are curious about humans. The reef shark has never caused a human fatality but swimmers have been bitten by their curiosity. So, if you happen to be snorkeling or scuba diving and see one, calmly make your way to safety until they swim away.
The sandbar shark may be the most docile of all sharks commonly found around Maui. They’re characterized by their shyness, and avoid human interaction to the best of their abilities. Though they avoid humans, their large size can pose a slight risk if they’re surprised by unwanted attention. As always, when dealing with any wildlife, the best is simply to exercise caution while visiting their homes.
Besides the four most common types of sharks, there are also whale sharks, tiger sharks, and great white sharks (as discussed above). Although sightings of these sharks are far less common.