Beachgoers got a break yesterday as relatively few box jellyfish were reported at O'ahu's busiest shores on the expected day of the creatures' monthly influx.

At Waikiki Beach, 122 jellyfish were counted and 35 people reported being stung, said Bryan Cheplic, city Department of Emergency Services spokesman. There were no sightings or stings at Ala Moana Beach, Cheplic said.

"This is a very mild influx," he said. The influx will continue today, although the first day is usually the peak, he said.

Box jellyfish wash ashore at night during their spawning cycle, eight to 12 days after each full moon.

An influx in May brought more than 750 box jellyfish onto Waikiki beaches and led to 46 stings. A typical influx brings in about 250 jellyfish.

Canadian visitor Leila Sinclair-Wise said she still planned to swim in the ocean yesterday despite warning flags and signs, but her main concern was for her 2-year-old son's safety.

"If the conditions got any worse than today, then I'd probably think about taking him to the pool," Sinclair-Wise said.

Visitor Sae Yu of Seattle did not let her children enter the ocean yesterday.

"It's a bit of an inconvenience," Yu said. "We spend all this money to come to Hawai'i, and now they say it's not safe."

Anyone who is stung and experiences difficulty breathing, muscle cramps or spasms or persistent pain should seek immediate medical attention.

For details about ocean conditions, advisories and warnings, call the city's recorded report at 922-3888 or visit http://oceansafety.soest.hawaii.edu.