Safe Fun on the Beaches of Hawaii...Stay safe while snorkeling, surfing, vacationing with children, sunbathing and exloring tide pools and marine life in Hawaii.
The beaches of Hawaii are among the best in the world, and its no wonder that these islands of aloha, where the climate is as welcoming as the people, are a wonderful place to vacation with the entire family. There's plenty of small surf breaks for beginners, and even small tots can catch a ride at some of the more popular beaches. Tide pools and coral reefs are there for exploring. Tropical breezes cool you while you sunbathe on beautiful beaches, turquoise and aqua blue waters lapping the white or black sand. But before you start packing your bags, remember the adage safety first and take a moment to review some important precautions.
1. Trade winds can make you forget just how hot the sun is and how close to the equator these islands rest. Wear sunscreen! If you do get burnt, take a tip from my doctor and make yourself a bath of tea. The tannic acid in the tea helps ease the burn. An added benefit, is that it will help turn your burn to a tan faster. To make a tea bath: dump a carton of tea in the tub. Steep in a pot or two of boiling water. Add cool water according to preference. Soak. Don't use any towels that you don't want tea stained. Another natural form of first aid for sunburns grows along some of Hawaii's beaches. Aloe Vera. Squeeze the juice from this succulent onto your hands and apply like lotion. But in these days of higher rates of skin cancer, mo' better place it safe and wear da sunscreen.
2. Watch out for dem ghost waves! Yes, waves do generally come in sets, but once in a while a big wave came come up and fool you. Numba one rule at the beach: Never turn your back on the sea! And, if you are not an experienced surfer or boogie boarder, don't bite off more than you can chew. Have fun learning to ride the waves at beaches that have lifeguards and small waves that are not pounding too hard. One rule of thumb, if you see lots of children (young children not teens) catching waves, it's probably a good place to start. Listen to the lifeguards and heed the signs. There's plenty spots that are perfect for learning to ride boogie boards (body boards), and Waikiki is ideal for beginner surfers.
3. Beware of wana (sea urchins). Where's there's wana in tide pools, there's likely to be some on the sandy ocean floor next to the pools. If you are snorkeling, you'll see them. If you're not wearing a mask, don't wade barefoot in the water next to the tidepools. Reef walkers (aqua shoes) are good foot protection. If you do get stung by a wana, there's a couple natural remedies. The first one is to pour vinegar on the wound. The vinegar will break down and dissolve the pieces embedded in your skin. Locals sometimes store a bottle of vinegar behind a coconut tree for this purpose. If you don't have any vinegar handy, you're going to have love the second remedy. Not! Here goes...urine is a great cure for wana stings. So, grab a paper cup and head to the lua (bathroom).
4. Beside the sea urchins, there are a few more creatures in Hawaii kai (sea) that demand respect. While shark attacks in Hawaii are rare -about two to three a year - spear fishers and surfers are at most risk. Most sharks hunt at twilight and night. Stream mouths and waters near fishing boats are higher risk areas because these are preferred hunting grounds for the great predator, and a shark may mistake a human for more appetizing food. Also watch out for lion or rock fish. These spiny fish on the sandy bottoms near tide pools and rocks. They won't bother you unless you step on them. Their sting's effects can be mild to severe, so do seek medical attention if you have this misfortunate encounter. Moray eels are another possible danger. They look scary, especially in that an eel's mouth open and closes in breathing, looking like it wants to take a bite out of you. But the puki (eel) is docile by nature...unless you intrude into it's lair. It's easy to avoid a bite from an eel. Just don't put your hands or feet into any pukas (holes) in the reef or rocks. And, if you are spear fishing, don't dangle your catch close to your body. Use a float, so if an eel decides to snatch on of your fish, it won't grab your hand by mistake. Eel's teeth are concave, so if you do get bit, don't pull away. Jelly fish are another creature to stay clear of. Sometimes they come in with the winds and after storms. Most of the popular beaches have lifeguards who post signs to warn everyone to stay out of the water. Unless you are allergic to them, the sting is about equivalent to a bee sting. If you have any signs of an allergic reaction, get medical help, fast.
5. Watch out for the pukas! When we first moved to the Big Island, we saw this warning on a city sign in a vacant lot. It took us a while to figure out that the pukas were holes in the lava grounds. In Hawaii, even the government uses a little pidgin, and "puka" is often used instead of "hole." Back to the beach. Sand play and children are a natural. Besides being great architects of sand castles, Keikis (children) are natural diggers. It's easy and fun. But I have had to rescue more than on toddler from a hole that could have easily caved in on the little one. Sand is heavy. Keep a close watch on your little ones, even when they're not near the water.
Keeping these precautions in mind and invest in a book about Hawaii's beaches and marine life. If you're planning on snorkeling, you can purchase a plastic waterproof guide that will help you to identify the marine life. Before you know it, you'll be warning other tourists to "watch out for da wana!"
Hawaii really is a gentle place compared to most. A little knowledge and common sense will ensure you a safe and happy vacation.
