A tiger shark sighting forced a temporary closure at Makena State Park for two hours on Wednesday, Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto said.

County lifeguards at Makena State Park kept people out of the ocean beginning at 10:45 a.m. after a 12-foot tiger shark was seen swimming about 50 feet from shore near the park’s south entrance. The shark did not behave aggressively, Taomoto said.

County lifeguards patrolled on watercraft and state conservation officers from the Department of Land and Natural Resources monitored the nearshore waters. After not seeing the tiger shark re-enter the closure area, officials reopened all areas to beachgoers by 12:45 p.m.

The beach had been closed from Oneuli Beach, also known as Black Sand Beach, and continued south of Makena State Park, ending at the start of Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve.

Ocean users should be aware that ocean predators move about freely and may be offshore at any time, Taomoto said. Beachgoers who see sharks should leave the water immediately and notify the closest on-duty lifeguard, or dial 911 if lifeguards have left for the day.