The city's Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve in East O'ahu will be closed today, as it is every Tuesday, for maintenance work.

The popular attraction for tourists and local residents alike was closed at 10:30 a.m. yesterday after more than 15 people were stung by box jellyfish within an hour's time, according to the city Emergency Services Department.

Only three of the marine jellies had been found as of 2:30 p.m., but a decision had been made earlier in the day to close the park due to the relatively high number of stings, said Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the Emergency Services Department.

In addition, warning signs were posted along city beaches from Waikiki to Ala Moana after 586 jellyfish were spotted and 111 people stung.

Cheplic said a sweep of the Waikiki beaches this morning turned up about 40 box jellyfish..

The influx of the tiny marine creatures that pack a powerful — and sometimes lethal — punch occurs each month about 10 days after a full moon.

For more information, visit www.808jellyfish.com.