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JAMM AQUINO / OCT. 2015
The attack occurred at about 10:30 a.m., about 40 yards off of Kamaole Beach Park No. 1, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
A 58-year-old woman was taken to a hospital after being bitten by a shark as she was swimming off South Maui this morning, state officials said.
The attack, by what’s believed to be a tiger shark, occurred at about 10:30 a.m., roughly 40 yards off of Kamaole Beach Park No. 1 near Kihei, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Officials said it occurred in waters fronting the lifeguard tower. Lifeguards treated the woman before she was taken to the hospital, where her condition is unknown at this time.
Shark warning signs have been posted on the shoreline from Cove Park to Kamaole Beach Park No. 3.
Kihei resident Jordan Snow said the swimmer, named Barbara, was by herself near the buoy when the attack occurred. “Suddenly, I heard Barbara was saying, ‘everybody, out of the water. There’s a shark.’”
The victim was able to swim on her own to shore, where lifeguards used a tourniquet to control the bleeding from injuries to her upper right leg. “She was bleeding really badly when she got out of the water,” said Snow.
Snow volunteers for a group of women called “Maui Mermaids,” who regularly swim near the shoreline.
Jordan said the victim swims at Kamaole Beach every morning.
Shouldn’t the resorts be telling visitors NOT to venture too far from shore? After all, South Maui is Tiger Shark alley. They swin out saturated in oily sun block frolicking about. That’s like waving a bloody steak in front of a starving lion. Not a lot of common sense being exercised by the hotels and idiot tourists
Slow down KWAY! First of all this woman is NOT a tourist! She’s part of a group of swimmers that frequent that beach. Second, who in their right mind is going to tell the tourist or anyone else for that matter that South Maui is “shark alley”. This isn’t a movie dude!!!
The waters off South Maui are a scientifically researched and established migratory/breeding area for Tiger Sharks, and a “person in their right mind” would advise anyone tourist or not, to stay close to shore because of that. But you wouldn’t want to do that , otherwise it turns into a movie (wait, what?). dodo
Dude, Kway. She was attacked 40 yards from the beach. In what universe is that not considered close to shore.
So what your saying is that every single tourist should be notified NOT to go swimming on any beach on the south or west sides of the island???
People have been attacked in waters less than 3 feet deep. It’s the ocean and the where the sharks live. Only way to guarantee you won’t get bitten is stay out of the water and on dry land.
Sharks have been in our oceans for as long as we have inhabited these islands. When we enter the water, we are in their home, so we’re taking a calculated risk. There are things that can be done to minimize the likely hood of an attack, but as long as we are in the water, there is a possibility that an attack can occur.
Swimming at 40 yards. Nuts!