Aggressive shark prompts lifeguards to clear swimmers from Maui beach
An aggressive 7-foot shark forced Maui lifeguards to clear swimmers out of waters off of Makena State Park Thursday.
Sometime before 12:10 p.m., two men were spearfishing in waters between Big Beach and Little Beach when a shark, believed to be Galapagos shark, approached them and snagged their catch that was attached to their dive float.
Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto, spokesman of the Maui Fire Department, said the men swam to shore where they informed lifeguards of the shark encounter.
Lifeguards cleared the water of swimmers for two hours. Taomoto said beachgoers were able to return to the water at about 2:10 p.m. after lifeguards assessed the water and reported no shark sightings.