A Hilo resident discovered a highly venomous, yellow-bellied sea snake after it washed ashore at Honolii Beach.

What You Need To Know

  • By the time HDOA's Plant Quarantine Branch inspectors arrived at Honolii Beach, lifeguards had contained the 3-foot-long snake in a 5-gallon bucket

  • While it is rare for sea snakes to be found onshore in Hawaii, the sea snakes may wash ashore when there are strong winds or currents

  • HDOA warned people against touching the creatures if they are discovered

  • Their bites can be deadly, resulting in respiratory, heart or kidney failure

On Feb. 4, The Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s Plant Quarantine Branch office in Hilo received a call from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, who said the Hilo resident had pinned the snake under a log, according to a news release. 

By the time PQB inspectors arrived at Honolii Beach, lifeguards had contained the 3-foot-long snake in a 5-gallon bucket. No one was injured. 

While it is rare for sea snakes to be found onshore in Hawaii, the sea snakes may wash ashore when there are strong winds or currents. HDOA warned people against touching the creatures if they are discovered. Sea snakes are often mistaken for eels, but the state agency said they are distinguishable because of their bright yellow markings on their underside. 

“We want to take this opportunity to inform the public to be wary of any snake-like reptile in or near the ocean,” said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture, in a statement. “This type of sea snake can be more venomous than a cobra and potentially lethal to humans.”

Yellow-bellied sea snakes live out at sea, criss-crossing the ocean by riding currents. They spend 90% of their time underwater, where they can stay submerged for up to 90 minutes. The animal’s venom is injected via fangs and used to paralyze prey quickly so that they cannot escape. The venom is a potent toxin that blocks the transmission of messages from nerves to muscles. While sea snakes rarely bite humans, the most common victims are fishers who may come into contact with them when they attempt to remove them from fishing nets. The bites can be deadly, resulting in respiratory, heart or kidney failure. Less severe cases result in the breakdown of muscle tissue and kidney damage, but victims will recover if they receive effective antivenom. There have been no reports of bites from yellow-bellied sea snakes in Hawaii, according to the Waikiki Aquarium. 

State law prohibits importing or possessing the pelagic species in Hawaii. 

If a sea snake is spotted onshore, contact the state’s toll-free Pest Hotline at 808-643-PEST (7378).

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