A sperm whale carcass has washed onto a rocky shore in Kahuku, creating a messy removal problem and attracting sharks.

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration has been tracking the dead whale since June 29 and it landed on shore midweek last week, said David Schofield, NOAA Fisheries' Marine Mammal Stranding coordinator.

The 8- to 10-ton carcass is about one mile east of Kahuku Point in Kalaeuila, on a lava ledge in a remote area surrounded by shrimp farms and private property, Schofield said.

The animal is decomposing and sharks have been feeding from it but the head and most of the body remain. Its tail shaft and fluke are missing, Schofield said.

"If it was a fresher whale, we could tow it off into the deep," he said. "If it was on a gently sloping sandy beach we could go up there with heavy equipment and scoop it up and take it away. But it chose probably one of the most difficult places on O'ahu ... a rocky shelf up against a rocky cliff."

Because of the state of decomposition, towing would attract more sharks and create a public safety problem, Schofield said. He said the plan is to remove the creature from the rocks, bring it on shore and bury it.

Schofield said he hopes to work with local landowners to get access to the whale and remove it in bits and pieces.

However before that can happen, he is looking for a cultural practitioner who can prepare the animal, release its spirit. To some Hawaiians the whale is a family god that watches over them. Schofield said he wasn't completely sure about what is done but he has had it done before.

He said people should stay away because of the sharks in the water.