Department of Land and Natural Resources

HILO — The Department of Land and Natural Resources closed ocean waters along the Pohoiki coastline in Puna this afternoon, following a shark incident in which a 16 year old male surfer was bit across both legs at the Pohoiki surfing area near the Pohoiki boat launch ramp. The male was transported by County Fire Department first responders to the Pahoa Fire Station, and he was then air lifted to Hilo Medical Center.

A DLNR aquatic resources specialist posted shark warning signs at publicly-accessible areas of Pohoiki Bay and north of Pohoiki at the area known as “Shacks”. DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers responded to warn beachgoers and ocean users. County Fire Department planned to send a helicopter up today to scan ocean waters in the area for presence of shark(s).

Shark warning signs will remain up until the Monday morning assessment by state and county officials and helicopter flyover. If no sharks are sighted, the warning signs will come down and waters will be reopened by noon.

No information was immediately available on size and type of the shark.