(File photo courtesy of University of Hawaii)

Karin Stanton | Hawaii 24/7 Editor

At least three sharks were reported cruising the waters early Sunday off Hapuna Beach, prompting officials to close the shoreline.

Several witnesses reporting seeing the sharks, which ranged between 8 and 16 feet long.

The county Fire Department did an aerial survey of the area and is expected to go up again Monday morning before the beach can be re-opened.

A father and his teenage son from Oahu told a Honolulu TV station they were in the water about 6:15 a.m. to do some spearfishing when they came face-to-face with a 10-foot tiger shark.

The watermen said they back-peddled as fast as they could as the shark took a couple of passes before losing interest.

That’s when the county chopper went up and spotted at least three sharks in the area.

The beach closure was just the latest this month as sharks have been spotted all along the Kona and Kohala coast lines.

On Friday, July 15, people were warned to stay close to the shore at Kahaluu and Laaloa (also known as Magic Sands) beach parks were after a pair of sharks were spotted hanging around.

Laaloa was again closed Tuesday, July 19, when a 10-foot tiger shark was spotted close to the shore.

Also, in the last couple of weeks, a 16-foot tiger shark was seen cruising waters close to Kailua Pier.

This follows a three-day span in late May when shark bites were reported to a standup paddle board and a surf board.

No injuries have been reported.