Waikoloa man hospitalized after apparent shark attack
A 68-year-old Waikoloa man was hospitalized Tuesday following a reported shark attack in waters off Anaehoomalu Bay.
The man was swimming about 400 yards offshore in Anaehoomalu Bay around when a shark, reportedly a 12-foot tiger shark, bit him on the lower left torso, according to state and county officials. The encounter occurred about 8 a.m.
The swimmer, according to police, attempted to fend off the shark with a diving knife and the shark released the swimmer.
The swimmer was assisted to shore and transported Hawaii Fire Department medics to Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital. He was last listed in stable condition, and was to be transferred to Oahu for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
After the apparent attack, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources posted shark warning signs at the bay, as well as other areas within the Waikoloa Beach Resort area.
Tuesday’s incident was the second reported shark-human encounter in the past week in Hawaii. On Thursday, a 60-year-old Washington state woman disappeared after her husband and witnesses reported she was attacked by a shark.
An extensive search of the area around Keawakapu Point in South Maui failed to find the woman, according to the state.
Prior to the two shark encounters in the past week, there had been six confirmed “shark incidents” in 2022, according to the DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources Hawaii shark incident list, which only includes encounters that involves bites. Three of those incidents were in waters off the Big Island. Maui, Oahu and Kauai each reported one incident in their respective waters.
In 2021, the state reported eight “shark incidents,” up from six in 2020. One of the 2021 incidents occurred at Anaehoomalu Bay when a shark bit a swimmer causing lacerations to the lower leg.
The last confirmed fatal shark attack in the state occurred in waters off Maui on Dec. 8, 2020.
Hawaii Island police ask anyone who may have information on the case to contact Officer Ansel Robinson by calling (808) 887-3080 or via email to ansel.robinson@hawaiicounty.gov.
