Highly venomous yellow-bellied sea snake slithers onhore at East Hawai‘i beach

An unexpected venomous Valentine was discovered sliterhing around earlier this month at a popular surf spot and beach park in East Hawai‘i.

Inspectors from the Hilo office of the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture Plant Quarantine Branch responded Feb. 4 to Honoli‘i Beach, about 2 miles northwest of Hilo, after getting a call from Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources that a Hilo resident reported a live highly venomous yellow-bellied sea snake.

The snake was found pinned under a log after being washed ashore at Honoli‘i. Inspectors collected the 3-foot reptile, which had been contained by lifeguards in a 5-gallon bucket.

No one was injured.

Sightings of yellow-bellied sea snakes on land are rare in Hawai‘i, usually only happening when strong winds or currents wash them onto the shoreline.

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

Plant Quarantine Branch officials strongly advise beach and ocean visitors not to touch a sea snake if they come upon one onshore.

They are often mistaken as eels; however, a yellow-bellied sea snake can be easily distinguished by the bright yellow markings on its underside.

The sea snakes are naturally found in the Pacific Ocean, but Hawai‘i prohibits them from being imported or owned.

If you spot a sea snake onshore, leave it alone and call the state’s toll-free Pest Hotline at 808-643-PEST (7378).