Aggressive tiger shark bites paddle board, closes Maui beach

KIHEI — No one was injured Tuesday morning when a 10- to 12-foot-long tiger shark deflated an inflatable stand-up paddle board about 200 yards off shore from 1681 Halama St. on Maui.

Officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) were notified at around 10:15 this morning and have instituted standard shark protocols, which means the area, one mile in each direction, will be posted with warning signs to let ocean-goers know of the possibility of a shark in the vicinity.

Larry Oberto, 57, of Maui and Seattle, said the shark bit the back of his inflatable board, which immediately deflated.

Another paddler, identified by Oberto as Al Gaston, was nearby on a board so Oberto swam over to him and got on his board. The pair began heading toward land. They reported the shark was acting very aggressively and pursued them to shore.

Officers and the signs are advising people to stay out of the water from Cove Park to Waipuilani Park in Kihei until an all-clear is issued. Authorities will continue warnings until at least noon, the day following an incident, after they’ve had an opportunity to survey the water for continued shark presence.