Warning signs were posted along a stretch of Maui coastline Wednesday after standup paddlers encountered large and aggressive tiger sharks, including one that bit a paddleboard.
There were no reports of injuries after the morning encounters between Keawakapu Beach and White Rock Beach in south Maui.
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources stated in a news release that a paddleboarder called 911 to report the sighting of a 10-foot tiger shark in front of the Andaz Wailea Resort.
The Maui Fire Department’s Ocean Safety officers responded via personal watercraft and reported the “possible sighting” of three tiger sharks measuring 10 feet or more.
The DNLR stated that at one point several paddlers attempted to fend off an aggressive tiger shark with their paddles. It was unclear whether the person whose board was bitten fell into the water.
Several agencies have been cautioning beachgoers to stay out of the water and the closure was set to remain in place until at least Thursday afternoon.
–Top image showing damage to the paddleboard is courtesy of the Maui Fire Department; generic tiger shark image is via Wikipedia
