Shark knocks man off board in second Maui encounter

A second shark encounter in three days in waters edging Maui toppled a Maka­wao man off his paddleboard Monday morning.

The 58-year-old man reported feeling a hard bump on the back of his board, knocking him into the water in Kahu­lui Harbor.

After he surfaced, he saw a dorsal fin about 6 feet away, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The paddleboarder was not able to identify the species, as the shark quickly disappeared, but estimated the fin was 12 inches tall. A nearby paddleboarder also saw the fin.

DLNR said it inspected the board and found bite marks.

On Saturday a surfer at a surf site known as Freight Trains off Maalaea shoved his surfboard into a shark’s mouth to fend it off.

In both encounters the waters were brown from storm runoff from passing Hurricane Ana.

Kaleo Roberson of Haiku was with a group of about seven adults and children, including his three sons — a 6-year-old and 8-year-old twins — when a tiger shark appeared.

Roberson, who was holding one of the 8-year-olds at the time, said he spotted the shark from just a few feet away when it opened its massive mouth.

"It was like something you’d dream on that cable TV program ‘Shark Week,’" Roberson said. "There was no time to think. I was in a pure reaction mode. I was basically in its mouth."

Roberson slid off his board to place it between himself and the shark, which was estimated at 12 to 14 feet long.

The shark then bit the board, and Roberson punched and kicked the predator.

"Right then I realized I was fighting for my life and my kids’ lives," he said. "I was willing to sacrifice myself if that’s what it took to save my kids." Roberson said he shouted and lifted his surfboard and swung it a couple of times at the shark, which then spun around and left.

"I was trying to scare it away," he said.

According to the Maui News, Roberson’s friend John Patao was about 5 feet away taking pictures of his own son and other surfers when he saw Roberson fighting off the shark. Patao helped Roberson’s sons catch waves on their surfboards to return to shore, about 100 yards away. Then Patao and Roberson rode on the same surfboard to shore.

No one was injured, but the shark left a 14-inch bite mark on Roberson’s surfboard.

The DLNR is advising beachgoers statewide to stay out of murky waters, which could contain dead animals and other storm runoff that can attract predators.

After Monday’s encounter, Kahu­lui Harbor, as well as waters 1 mile in either direction along the shoreline, were closed to recreational use. DLNR officials will decide Tuesday whether to reopen the area.