Hanauma Bay will be closed today due to a high number of box jellyfish, the city said this morning.

In less than an hour, lifeguards spotted more than 40 box jellyfish on the beach and countless more in nearshore waters, the city said.

"As expected, the monthly influx of box jellyfish arrived today and there has been a modest amount of the creatures found at Hanauma Bay this morning," Bryan Cheplic, city emergency services spokesman, said in a statement.

Cheplic said only small numbers of box jellyfish have been reported in Waikiki and Ala Moana, and those beaches remain open.

The situation will be reassessed tomorrow morning and a decision will be made to keep Hanauma Bay closed or reopen it to the public.

Lifeguards assess beaches for box jellyfish during the alert period. If box jellyfish are discovered, warning signs are posted as warranted.

For public information regarding ocean conditions, advisories and warnings, the Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division provides a pre-recorded report which can be accessed 24 hours a day at 922-3888 ext. 51 or at:

www.hawaiibeachsafety.org or www.808jellyfish.com