Hawaiian culture considers sharks as one of the most important creatures of the sea. The Hawaiian dictionary, in fact, lists nine revered gods of Hawaii that were associated with sharks. Some people also believe that under certain circumstances, a dead loved one could be reincarnated in the form of a shark, known only by a special name. A shark can be an ?aumakua?, a guardian spirit that protects families. Sharks were also considered an important source of food and handy materials. The most commonly eaten sharks were the whitetip reef shark and the hammerhead, which are usually cut into strips, slated, dried and then cooked. Shark teeth and skin were used for a variety of purposes such as musical instruments, bowls, woodwork, weapons, knives, and ceremonial objects. One proof of a man's bravery and skill was his ability to catch the ?niuhi,? which is the name given to tiger sharks and great white sharks in Hawaii.



Small sharks are caught by netting or by having its head petted until it becomes used to being handled. Once they are accustomed to the angler's touch, a noose is slipped around its gills. A large shark is caught by using hooks up to 12 inches long. These hooks are usually made of hardwood and are fashioned with sharp bone points.

Tiger sharks are the most dangerous sharks in Hawaiian waters. They are responsible for most of the attacks on humans in the island. They come into inshore waters during the fall, stay throughout spring and move offshore when summer comes. Other sharks, like the sandbar sharks are seldom seen because of Hawaii's conservation efforts. In Hanauma Bay, for example, it is illegal to fish for sharks.

One of the best places to go shark fishing in Hawaii is in Kona. Kona is situated between two large mountains that reach up to 14,000 feet high. These mountains shield Kona from the trade winds, making it possible for anglers to fish for large sea creatures in calm ocean waters.

Sharks in Kona island, while not as popular as the marlin, still thrive in the waters and can be captured on special charter trips. Some sharks measuring 16-feet long have been caught on these charter trips. Marlin lures have also attracted thresher sharks and many other kinds of sharks can be raised. Some other char trips offer fun fishing adventures such as midnight shark hunts in places such as Oahu's South shore. Different species of sharks such as the tiger, hammerhead shark, sandbar shark and gray reef shark can be caught. Captured sharks are released. Most charter trips are designed to allow thrill seekers the excitement of catching this fearsome predator of the sea without harming the sharks or themselves.

Sharks are rather predictable creatures, which makes them easy targets. Some types of sharks migrate to the same areas year after year, so commercial fishers know exactly where and when to haunt them. Some sharks are captured accidentally, as when anglers were trying to catch marlin or tuna or some other species of fish. Although not currently fished in large numbers, 100 million sharks are caught by commercial fishermen worldwide.