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Maui officials closed the beach at Makena State Park Tuesday after a lifeguard spotted a 10- to 12-foot-long shark near shore.
The lifeguard was entering the water when he saw the shark about 10 to 15 yards from shore about 11 a.m., said Deborah Ward, state Department of Land and Natural Resources spokeswoman.
Shark warning signs were posted and state environmental enforcement officers warned beachgoers a mile in each direction, from Maluaka beach to the northern end of Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve. Two lifeguards on personal watercraft monitored the nearshore waters.
Lifeguards reopened the beach at 2:30 p.m. after the shark was no longer seen.
