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Hawaiian Islands Shark Attacks
Summary
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Unlike other island chains, the Hawaiian Islands do experience shark attacks.
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Since 1995, more than 140 attacks were recorded by the Hawaiian Government.
Of these 140 attacks, only 6 resulted in a fatality [2].
Importantly, fatalities from shark bites are completely overshadowed by the number of drowning deaths recorded each year by the state of Hawaii [3].
1. ARRIVALS
In addition to the current inhabitants, quite a lot of people visit the island chain every year. The island of Oahu saw over 500k air arrivals for the year of 2019.
Annual Arrivals by Air 2019
2. SHARKS HAVE ATTACKED
Unlike the island of Curacao, Hawaii has experienced shark attacks. Since 1995, the Hawaiian government has recorded over 140 attacks.
Shark Attacks for Hawaiian Islands since 1995
3. HOW BAD IS IT?
140 attacks might sound bad but of those attacks only 6 resulted in loss of life. That's right, since 1995, under 10 people have been killed by sharks in the Hawaiian Islands.
Fatality
Shark Attacks for Hawaiian Islands since 1995
4. WHAT ABOUT INJURIES?
Sharks are known for being sharp animals. Of those 140 attacked, some did suffer injuries. Interestingly, the only injuries that resulted in loss of life were on the island of Maui.
Type of Injury by Island
5. SOME MONTHS ARE WORSE
October has an increased amount of shark encounters. Some experts have attributed this to the fall migration of female tiger sharks to the island chain to give birth [5]
Attack Totals by Month Since 1995
6. MOST ATTACKS ARE NEAR SHORE
Attack Distribution by Yards from Shore
7. WHO IS DOING THE BITING?
Tiger sharks are the most notorious nibblers of the island chain but there is quite a breadth of other curious sharks documented, including four attacks from the fearsome Cookiecutter shark.
8. BUSY BEING BUSY
What were people doing during most of these attacks? Surfing.
9. AM I DOOMED?
With a Hawaiian vacation looming in the future, it might seem inevitable that you and only you will become the 7th documented shark fatality. As it turns out, you should really be shifting your worries elsewhere. Drowning deaths are far more frequent. Between 2007 and 2011, absolutely no one died from a shark bite but a lot of people died from water inhalation.
Drowning Deaths by Year Compared to Total Attacks for 2007 to 2011
Total Attacks Since 1995 and Inferred Drownings
10. WHAT ARE MY CHANCES?
* Assuming
1. arrivals are equally distributed across all months
2. drowning are equally distributed across all months
3. everyone arriving that month and half of the population is equally exposed to potential shark attack risks or a potential drownings
4. fatalities are equally distributed and weighted by each months avg attacks
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