Hanauma Bay and Pearl Harbor are in completely opposite directions from Waikiki. Do them on different days as Hanauma Bay is east and Pearl Harbor is west, past the airport.

There was one shark attack off Lanikai Beach on the windward (east) side of the island, out near the Mokulua Islands. The surfer bitten off Waikiki was not bitten by a shark as first reported. It was actually an eel. You have nothing to worry about; there has never been a confirmed shark bite at Waikiki. It is like worrying about your plane crashing.

"The State Department of Land and Natural Resources said there has never been a confirmed shark bite in Waikiki waters. On Oct. 17, a surfer was bitten by what at first was believed to be a shark, but it was later determined that he was bitten by an eel."

That's all that's included. The narrated tour on the headsets is $6.50 per person. It's a self guided tour at the Arizona, and honestly, it's not that big and there are tablets with explanations of what you're looking at. If you take a bus tour I don't think the driver actually comes with you, but I may be wrong about that. It's been a very long time since I did the bus tour. I've gone twice on my own since.

That's probably the best place. I can't really help you with it, because I don't snorkel all that often.

Mornings for both. Hanuma Bay closes very quickly when it reaches capacity. If you want to do them both on the same day, do snorkeling first and get a reservation for a later time in the day for the memorial. Give yourself a couple of hours for the Arizona if you want to see the museums as well.

I wouldn't be concerned. If you're staying in the Waikiki area there haven't been any sharks reported there that I can recall.

The "string" you speak of may have been on other islands.

Wrong:

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/b...l?id=336915081

2 non-agressive sharks 2 days ago? Color me wrong then, since I hadn't heard of those.

I give loads of credit to the life guards (or whoever puts up the signs.). They give excellent warnings of jelly fish, and I guess of sharks - though in all my trips to Waikiki I've never seen the later though plenty of the former.

It's not something you could really worry about, re: shark attacks (coming from someone who is paranoid of sharks because I watched one too many movies)...:D

That said, I would pay attention to lifeguards warnings/signs. I was in Waikiki back in May and swam in the Waikiki Beach (it was a really lovely beach/area, by the way). A few days after when I was in another island, I heard of a report of shark sightings at Waikiki Beach.

So yeah, no shark attacks that I am aware of in recent times, but there are certainly shark sightings there (and not surprisingly I guess what lurks underneath...it is their territory, after all.)

If REALLY worried about sharks, the beach area across from the Waikiki McDonald's is protected by a stone wall. (Which hotel are you staying at?)

Not sure why some folks keep on talking in a cavalier fashion about "non-aggressive sharks" in our waters??? Someone just got bit again. While not in Waikiki, it was on the southwestern shores of Oahu (Makaha), just a couple of caudal fin strokes away from Waikiki:

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/b...in_Makaha.html

Meh. Obey the beach/lifeguard warnings and avoid swimming in the murk after a major rainfall flushes out the landscape and you're likely to be as fine as you can...short of not going in.

Unrelated, snorkeling is often great at Shark's Cove on the North Shore, and fortunately there are no sharks there.

I'm not sure why people take such pleasure in pointing out errors and making assumptions. I recognize that some people wandered into Omni and didn't like what they saw, but it's really not cool to take grudges to the other forums.

Agree. The really nasty attacks have been on the other islands. In most of the tourist areas, there really aren't very many incidents reported. As I said, the warnings are very visible and appreciated.

I'd be more worried about Jellyfish than sharks.

Gee, I thought the value of FT is to share relevant information. Which I did by sharing the article. Got a problem with that? Please don't be angry. Stick to the topic.

Thanks for all the replies.

So should I be worried about eels now?! :o

Moving on, does Haunuma Bay, and both Waikiki and Lanakai beach have places to store your valuables and personal belongings like lockers and such? Also, do these beaches offer towels or you bring your own?

I'm certain Waikiki does not have a place to store valuables. I would imagine Lanikai is the same. Haunuma Bay might.

For valuables, such as our phones, a cc, and some cash, we purchased one of those plastic water tight pouches that can hang around our necks. Tested it with my company phone (;)) and they work beautifully. However, most often, we don't bring very much with us to the beach.

Whatever you do, don't leave valuables in your rental car.

I wouldn't worry about any ocean creature unless you're going to beach with no lifeguard. If you stick to those, you'll be well warned of any hazards that may exist. IMHO, you're biggest worry is to be there when the jellyfish are in. I think they show up 2 weeks after the full moon. I would have to look it up. But even if they're around, you'll be warned.

RE: towels. Most hotels provide guests with beach towels. Check when you arrive to see if they do. I've never seen towels offered at any beach.

Hanauma Bay does not have lockers. I went and we took turn watching our belongings. Not sure about Lanikai, I doubt they have lockers.

Jellyfishes show up on south facing shores (Hanauma Bay, Sandy Beach, Waikiki, Ala Moana) about 7 to 9 days after a full moon. If you go to a lifeguard staffed beach, there will be warning signs.

Lanikai is a very private, pretty much locals beach. Private in the sense that you have to know how to find it and it is not as well known as Kailua, but it still has public access and is open to all. No lockers, no lifeguards, no bathrooms, no nothing. That's why I love it. Just mostly locals with their kids and dogs. If you want a bathroom or lifeguards, go to Kailua Beach. No one at Lanikai to warn you about jellyfish or anything else.