Maui’s Kama‘ole Parks Reopened After Shark Incident

Shark sighting Kamaole. Maui Now graphic.

UPDATE: Officials with the Maui Fire Department announced the beaches and ocean waters at Kama‘ole Beach Parks I, II, and III have been reopened as of 2:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5. Fire officials say no additional shark sightings were observed. The beaches were closed for more than two hours after a shark was observed earlier in the afternoon.

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Maui ocean safety lifeguards closed the beaches and ocean waters between Kama‘ole Beach Park I and Kama‘ole Beach Park III due to a shark incident that occurred at around 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017.

A 40-year-old female visitor from Canada was snorkeling about 10 yards off of the point between Kama‘ole II and Kama‘ole III when she was bumped by what is described as an 8-foot grey shark.

The shark then swam away and the woman was able to swim to shore without incident.

The woman suffered minor abrasions to her left thigh and left arm and declined medical treatment.

Ocean safety personnel are patrolling the waters off of the Kama‘ole Beach Parks by rescue watercraft and are warning beachgoers to stay out of the ocean.

Conservation officers from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement, are also on scene warning beachgoers on shore.

If no further shark activity is observed after the standard two-hour closure period has
pasded, the ocean activity areas will be reopened at 2:45 p.m.

This is the second shark incident in October this year.

On Wednesday, Oct. 4, Mākena State Park was closed for two hours after an 8-foot Galapagos shark
snatched the fish catch from two divers and followed them to shore.

Last month on Sept. 21, Mākena State Park was closed briefly after a shark
snatched the catch from two men spearfishing 100 yards offshore.