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State officials plan to reopen Hapuna Beach State Park on Friday, two days after a man was bitten by a shark in the bay off the Hawaii island beach.
The 58-year-old victim was identified by a source as Ken Grasing, a doctor from Overland Park, Kan.
Grasing was snorkeling with relatives in about four feet of water when the shark bit him on his left arm about 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, officials said.
He was treated at a Hawaii island hospital for severe lacerations to his forearm and injuries to his left thigh and then flown to the Queen’s Medical Center in stable condition.
Deborah Ward, spokeswoman for the Department of Land and Natural Resources, said the victim scared away the 10- to 12-foot tiger shark by punching it.
State officials closed the beach Wednesday and posted shark warning signs.
Although two helicopter flyovers on Thursday morning did not reveal any signs of the shark, officials kept the beach closed as a precaution because the shark was seen in the bay again on Wednesday afternoon, DLNR said.
Park caretakers are scheduled to open the gates to the beach at 7 a.m. Friday.
