A stark warning was sent recently about an “aggressive” six-foot shark lurking just less than 100-feet from the Makaha Beach Park shoreline. I don’t know about you, but I much prefer it when shark sightings involve melancholy, reflective, or even whimsical sharks rather than “aggressive” ones. The darn thing is, we often can’t tell what kind of mood they’re in, now can we? I’ve yet to see a report of a lighthearted shark, but I cherish that day, though I certainly won’t be the one checking.
Sharks occupy an honored place in Hawaiian culture. They are sometimes considered to be ‘aumākua, or ancestral spirits. It’s a sublime concept, based on reverence, respect, comfort, and the belief in a continuation of spirits after one’s ancestors are gone. Sharks deserve our respect, for they are the masters of the ocean, regardless of your spiritual or political beliefs. I found my ‘aumākua in the Pana`ewa Zoo on the Big Island 11-years ago in the form of that zoo’s beautiful, beloved, white tiger, Namaste, but that’s a story for another day.
My favorite pseudo-shark was the “Saturday Night Live” land shark (coyly played by Chevy Chase) who used to go door to door looking for a meal. My least favorite shark was the carnivorous carouser in “Jaws” (a/k/a Bruce), who we all first met onscreen in the summer of ’75. Master movie-maker, Steven Spielberg, knew how to weave a scary tale (or tail), as that (mechanical) beast kept my friends and I wary while wading in the water the rest of that summer… and that water for us was Lake Michigan!
Back to our original storyline…while a shark sunning close to shore is surely a sign for swimmers to be cautious, the assertion that it was “aggressive” is both presumptive and stereotyping. If it was 200-feet offshore, would it still have been considered aggressive, or just assertive? If I come across a pueo, is it automatically wise? Does every elephant really never forget? Anthropomorphism is when human characteristics are given to animals, but why generalize? We already do it so poorly and often with humans, which leads to all kinds of social issues. Maybe we should give the animal kingdom a break, as they can’t (or won’t) respond. I kid, somewhat, but maybe there is some truth in this nugget. Or perhaps this nugget is mere animal poop, or shark bait.
Think about it…