Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

NEIL ABERCROMBIE GOVERNOR

WILLIAM J. AILA JR, CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release December 11, 2013

MALE, 29, BIT BY SHARK WHILE AT PUNALUU BEACH PARK, HAWAII

PUNALUU, HAWAII — The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) officers and DLNR Aquatic Resources staff are responding to a report of a shark incident that took place today between 8 to 8:30 a.m. in ocean waters between the County’s Punaluu Beach Park and Ninole, in Ka’u District of the island of Hawaii.

It was reported by Hawaii County Police that a male, 29 years old and two friends were in the water body boarding about 7 a.m. About an hour later, while the male was paddling back out, he was about 20 yards from shore when he was hit and knocked of his board by a shark. Type of shark is thought to have been a 10 to 12 foot tiger shark according to the victim’s friends.

According to DOCARE, water depth was about 8-12 feet , conditions windy with surf. The male was transported by friends via private vehicle to a hospital in Pahala with non life-threatening injuries.

Hawaii County Police have confirmed to DOCARE that Punaluu Beach Park has been closed by Hawaii County Lifeguards. Lifeguards have posted shark warning signs at Punaluu beach park, which will remain closed the rest of today. The fire department helicopter flew over the area at 10 a.m. today and will do so again tomorrow morning, If there is no further sighting of sharks the park will reopen at noon tomorrow.

Ka’u Kako’o, a local community outreach group at Punaluu will help to inform beachgoers that the beach is closed.

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Media contact
Deborah Ward
DLNR Public information office
(808) 587-0320