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Box Jellyfish in Hawaii
The species of jellyfish most often encountered by swimmers in Hawaii
is "Carybdea alata", also known as "box jellyfish" because of the
square shape of its body. The body of a box jellyfish is one to three inches
long and the stinging tentacles can be up to two feet long. Hawaii's box
jellyfish are unique among the world's jellyfish because their arrival on
shore is very predictable. They come near the beach to spawn for a few
days, 8 to 12 days after each full moon.
Box Jellyfish Swarm Once a Month in Hawaii
Box jellyfish cause the most problems for swimmers in Hawaii
eight to twelve days after a full moon, but swimmers might occasionally
encounter them at other times also. They are most frequently
seen on the west and south shores of the islands.
To find out if jellyfish are a problem on a particular beach,
look for jellyfish on the beach along the waterline, read all
posted signs, and talk to local lifeguards.
Oahu Box Jellyfish Calendar
This calendar published by the City and County of Honolulu
predicts when jellyfish swarms will occur on the beaches of
Oahu:
Box Jellyfish Calendar
The Blob That Attacked Waikiki
An article by Katrina Outland
of Hawaii Pacific University about Carybdea alata (box jellyfish)
swarming the beaches of Oahu. Published in
the Journal of Young Investigators.
First Aid for Box Jellyfish Stings
According to this article at Aloha.com, rinsing a jellyfish
sting immediately with vinegar will prevent undischarged
nematocysts from stinging. This article does not recommend
common folk remedies such as meat tenderizer and human urine,
because they can actually cause additional damage.
Video of a Box Jellyfish Swimming
This free online video clip of a box jellyfish swimming
in Hawaiian waters is published on the Web site of the
Pacific Biosciences Research Center at the University of
Hawaii at Manoa.
See also:
Other Swimming Hazards in Hawaii
Water Activities in Hawaii
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Related Links
Islands of Hawaii
Hawaii for Visitors
Elsewhere on the Web
Wikipedia Box Jellyfish Article
Aloha.com Box Jellyfish Article
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