UPDATE: Kama‘ole Parks Open After 8-foot Tiger Shark Sighting

Shark Sighting sign. Maui Now file image.

UPDATE: Oct. 11, 8:45 p.m.:

Maui Fire officials said the ocean waters off Kam‘aole Beach Parks I, II, and III were closed for two hours on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017, after an 8-foot tiger shark came within 25 feet of shore.

Two beachgoers spotted the tiger shark swimming along the coast 25-feet from shore on the north end of Kam‘aole II just before noon on Wednesday.

Maui Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto said there was a dead bird floating on the surface and that the shark approached the carcass, swallowed it whole, then swam away.

He said witness descriptions confirmed the species as being a tiger shark.

After ocean safety personnel were alerted, lifeguards began informing beachgoers at noon of the shark siting and the closure of ocean waters off of Kam‘aole Parks I, II, and III.

Lifeguards launched a rescue watercraft to clear swimmers from the ocean and patrolled waters off the Kam‘aole beaches in the event the shark was still around.

Conservation officers from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement were also on scene warning beachgoers to stay out of the ocean.

The waters were reopened to ocean users at 2 p.m. after no further sightings of the shark had been observed.

Today’s sighting marks the third such shark encounter for October of this year.

Previous Post:

Maui Police Department announced that Kama‘ole Beach Parks I, II and III are closed due to a shark sighting.

MPD says Ocean Safety officers are monitoring.

Check back for more information.