Moray eels are common in Hawaii and they are usually very docile and will not bother people. The eels breath with their mouth, so when you see them their mouth is usually open showing their sharp teeth! They are not trying to bite. Just breathing. Only once have I had a big eel (puhi) bother me while diving and it was a big yellow margined moray at 60 feet deep way outside of Hanalei Bay on a reef called Futures. I was spearing an invasive fish for my ciguatera research project and had put the fish in my green mesh bag. I put the bag down on the reef to reset my spear gun and this monster eel came out of a hole and decided to steal my bag and fish! It took me a long time to get it back from him. I see this eel often and I now stay way clear of his home!