I’ve been swimming with sharks since I was 10 years old. Growing up in Hawaii, I’d spend my days with my grandfather who was a crab fisherman out of Haleiwa Harbor. I would go out on his boat and help him pick up his traps. After he’d empty a trap, he’d throw the leftover bait into the water which would attract sharks. And sure enough, the sharks started to know our boat and I began having relationships with them. I would name them, I would grab their tails, and I would feed them by hand. It was only a matter of time before I jumped in the water with them.
After my grandfather passed away, I started a charter boat to take people out to see the sharks like I did when I was a kid. Other companies started doing the same thing but my grandfather was the pioneer. When I started my business, I knew that I wanted to do it the way he taught me – no cages.
For some people, it’s about facing their fears. Some people are shark enthusiasts. Other people just want a selfie. Some people are in Hawaii for business and they’ll do this before a big presentation. After they come out of the water, they’ll walk into work like, “I got this shit. I just swam with fucking sharks.” Whatever the reasoning, we’re just there to make the whole thing safe.
But it’s more than just the sharks. It’s a human thing. It’s eye opening. It’s a way to see your place in the natural world and the beauty of Hawaii from an angle that most people never get to. And that’s something that we’re trying to preserve – the land, the Hawaiian culture, and the ocean. What we do up here, will affect what goes on out there.
No matter how many times I jump in the water with sharks, the experience is always different. You have to understand that they’re wild animals; you have to give them respect. If they really wanted us, we wouldn’t stand a chance. But if you have a deep understanding of them, you’ll be alright. That’s why you go with people like us, who’ve spent half their lives doing this.
To jump in the water with Kaiwi and the sharks, head over to Island View Hawaii and book a tour.
