Kauai surfer escapes shark by punching it

LIHUE » A 25-year-old Kauai surfer is celebrating his escape from a shark.

Jeff Horton told The Garden Island that he had surfed for three hours Sunday morning near Kilauea when he had his wildlife encounter. He was waiting to catch a wave when he saw a dark shape approaching.

The shark clamped down on his surfboard. Horton was knocked off and onto the shark.

The former boxer held a fin with one hand and began punching with the other.

He says he punched the shark about eight times and finally jammed a knuckle into its eye.

The shark spit out the board and flung Horton into the air. Horton climbed back on his board and paddled in.

He was not injured, but his board has a semicircular bite mark.

2 of 3 bids for Naniloa are qualified

HILO » Three bids have been submitted for the bankrupt Nani­loa Volcanoes Resort.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Tuesday that two meet qualifications.

Bankruptcy trustee David Farmer says a federal bankruptcy judge will consider a motion to sell the hotel Nov. 6.

The top qualifying bid will be up for consideration at the hearing, but Farmer said other bids will also be accepted. This will give other potential buyers a chance to make a better offer.

Hawaii Outdoor Tours Inc. defaulted on a $10 million loan it used to buy the hotel. The resort went into foreclosure last year.

Hawaii County has cited the hotel for about two dozen building code violations. One wing remains closed after being gutted during previous renovations.