Every month box jellyfish invade Oahu’s south shore. Like clockwork, the box jellyfish arrive7-10 days after a full moon and take over the beaches from Ala Moana to Waikiki. While it’s not clear why they come to shore many scientists believe it’s to make babies. (The south shore is pretty romantic after all). A few days later, they disappear just as mysteriously as they had come. Where did they come from? Where did they go? How long do they live? So far, there are no answers.

If you do see a jellyfish on the beach or in the water, don’t touch it as its tentacles can cause a painful sting even if it’s dead. But if you do get stung don’t panic there are a number of remedies to make you feel better. The only proven remedy is to douse the wound with white vinegar, remove any remaining tentacles, and apply a heat pack. So if you find yourself on the south shore a week after a full moon, look for jellyfish warning signs and don’t step on anything squishy.