Dangers of Throwing the Net: Respecting the Risks of the Ocean

The Ocean’s Unpredictability

The greatest danger comes not from the net itself, but from the sea’s shifting moods. A calm tide can turn treacherous in moments.

• Rogue Waves: Sudden surges from deep water can knock a fisher off balance, drag them out, or entangle the net around their legs.
• Changing Currents: Tide shifts can pull the net seaward, tightening around coral heads or the fisher’s body.
• Strong Undertow: Hidden pull beneath breaking waves can catch the footline or anchor weights.

Ancient fishers warned never to throw the net when the ocean feels “restless” — when wind, tide, and cloud color disagree.

“E makaʻala i ka ʻino, ʻaʻole e make ka lawaiʻa.”
Be alert to the storm, and the fisher will not perish.

Entanglement and Equipment Hazards

A throw net is both lifeline and trap. Modern nets, made from thin monofilament, can tighten like wire when wet.

• Footline Snagging: If the line wraps around the ankle during a strong pull, it can drag a fisher under within seconds.
• Shoulder or Arm Catches: Nets cast improperly can flip or twist mid-air, causing sudden backward pull.
• Heavy Weights: Lead rings or sinkers can strike the body during casting or retrieval, especially in rough surf.

Experienced lawaiʻa always check their coils — clean, untangled, and free from hidden knots — before stepping to the water’s edge.

Wildlife Encounters

Throw-net fishing brings humans face-to-face with reef life, both harmless and dangerous.

• Eels (Puhi): Can bite through netting if trapped.
• Stonefish and Wana (sea urchins): Hidden hazards underfoot that can puncture or sting.
• Sharks (Manō): Drawn by thrashing fish; rare but serious risk during dawn or dusk.

The rule is simple: never wade deeper than you can see, and never cast in water you don’t understand.

Environmental Dangers

Modern throw-net fishers also face hazards created by humans:

• Marine Debris: Discarded fishing lines and nets that entangle gear or limbs.
• Polluted Runoff: Brown-water events after rain can hide debris and carry harmful bacteria.
• Slippery Rocks and Coral Cuts: Barefoot fishing invites infections from coral or barnacle scrapes.

A good fisher knows that safety begins before casting — scanning tides, checking winds, and choosing the right place for both success and survival.

Spiritual and Cultural Warnings

In Hawaiian tradition, physical danger often mirrors spiritual imbalance. Elders say a fisher who throws without respect or preparation may find their net “refusing the water.” If the net tangles repeatedly, the tide turns suddenly, or the fish vanish, these are not coincidences — they are reminders to stop, breathe, and offer thanks.

A prayer (pule lawaiʻa) before casting restores harmony and focus: gratitude to the ocean, the wind, and the ancestors who taught the craft.

“He aliʻi ke kai, he kauwā ke kanaka.”
The sea is chief, man is its servant.

Safety and Kuleana

Every cast carries responsibility — to the ocean, to oneself, and to others nearby. Follow these principles:

• Never fish alone when waves or currents are strong.
• Always secure the footline to a safe anchor or quick-release strap.
• Avoid cliffs and steep rocks when casting in swell.
• Respect warning signs, protected areas, and sacred zones.
• Keep a knife within reach to cut the line if entangled.

Safety is not fear — it is discipline born from love of the sea.

The Lesson of the Net

Throw-net fishing will always carry risk, but risk met with awareness becomes respect. The ocean’s power is not meant to frighten but to humble. A lawaiʻa who approaches with care, patience, and prayer not only survives but thrives — because they fish in partnership, not defiance.

When the sea takes, it reminds us: life is a gift borrowed from its depths. When it gives, it does so freely to those who listen.

Footnotes

1. Pukui, ʻŌlelo Noʻeau — “E makaʻala i ka ʻino, ʻaʻole e make ka lawaiʻa.”
2. Malo, Hawaiian Antiquities — “Warnings and Rituals for Fishermen.”
3. Titcomb, Native Use of Fish in Hawaiʻi (1948).
4. Poepoe et al. — “Traditional and Modern Ocean Safety in Hawaiian Fishing.”
5. Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources — coastal safety and entanglement prevention guidelines.