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COURTESY DLNR
A tiger shark bit an inflatable stand-up paddle board.
COURTESY DLNR
Paddlers stand with an inflatable stand-up paddle board that a shark bit today.
State conservation enforcement officers are urging beachgoers to stay out of the water in an area off Kihei after an aggressive 10- to 12-foot-long tiger shark bit an inflatable stand-up paddle board while a man was on it.
The man was with a group of other paddlers about 200 yards from 1681 Halama St. sometime before 10:15 a.m. Tuesday when the shark bit the back of his inflatable paddle board, according to the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.
DLNR said Larry Oberto, a 57-year-old of Maui and Seattle, said the shark bit the back of his inflatable, which immediately deflated. Another paddler, identified by Oberto as Al Gaston, was nearby on a board and swam over to him to help him head toward land.
They reported the shark was acting very aggressively and pursued them to shore. No injuries were reported.
Conservation enforcement officers posted signs warning beachgoers to stay out of the water from Cove Park to Waipuilani Park.
The signs will remain posted until an all-clear is issued.
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