Three beaches on the Big Island's Kawaihae coast remain closed today because of shark sightings, a Big Island Civil Defense official said.

Hapuna State Park and Waialea Bay have been closed since Sunday, and Spencer Beach Park has been closed since yesterday, when 15 large sharks, believed to be tigers sharks, were sighted. The sharks ranged in length from 6 to 16 feet.

The fire department and lifeguards typically search the area both by air and sea following a shark sighting to ensure it is safe to go back in the water, but the Big Island Fire Department today said no flyover was needed because the shark sightings were easily visible.

Over the past three days, about five miles of beaches have been closed on the Big Island because of shark sightings.