header information, most recent shark incidents

For more background information about close encounters between people and sharks click here.

2009

Date and time: Oct 19; 6:00 AM
Location: Maui, Kihei, Kalama; approx 300 yds from shore
Activity: Surfing
Conditions: Turbid water
Water depth: est 6 ft
Victim: S. Henrich
Lacerations to right leg from thigh to ankle. Tooth impressions on surfboard consistent with tiger shark, length uncertain.

Date and time: Aug 6; 8:45 AM
Location: Hawai‘i, Ka‘u, Kawa; approx 50 yds from shore
Activity: Surfing
Conditions: Turbid water
Water depth: 6-8 ft
Victim: D. Crawford
No injury. Shark bit off section of surfboard, left side of nose. Description and tooth impressions consistent with tiger shark, length uncertain.

Date and time: Mar 16; 8:03 PM
Location: Hawai‘i, approx 10 miles northwest of ‘Upolu Pt
Activity: Swimming
Conditions: Clear water
Water depth: over 2,000 ft
Victim: M. Spalding
Bitten on lower chest and left calf. First documented and confirmed bite by a cookiecutter shark on a live human.

2008

Date and time: Sep 9; 4:30 PM
Location: O‘ahu, Ka‘a‘awa, Makaua; approx 500 yds from shore
Activity: Surfing
Conditions: Turbid water
Water depth: est 10 ft
Victim: T. Murashige
Bitten on right thigh and ankle. Description consistent with tiger shark, length uncertain.

Date and time: Jul 26; 3:30 PM
Location: Maui, Ka‘anapali, Honokowai; approx 10 yds from shore
Activity: Swimming - wading
Conditions: Turbid water
Water depth: est 3 ft
Victim: U. Mataafa
Lacerations to left calf. Small blacktip reef shark seen by spearfishers in immediate area just prior to incident.

Note: An incident at Lahilahi, Makaha, O‘ahu, on July 25, 2008 was initially reported as a shark bite. However, the wound characteristics were determined to be inconsistent with a shark bite, based on analysis by the International Shark Attack File.

2007

Date and time: Dec 10; 11:00 AM
Location: O‘ahu, Haleiwa, Kaiaka "Walls"; approx 200 yds from shore
Activity: Surfing
Conditions: Turbid water
Water depth: est 8-10 ft
Victim: T. Ramirez
No injury. Shark bit tail of surfboard after apparently becoming caught in leash. Tooth impressions consistent with tiger shark, length estimated at 6-8 feet.

Date and time: Oct 29; 3:30 PM
Location: Maui, Kihei, Keawakapu; approx 30 yds from shore
Activity: Swimming
Conditions: Turbid water
Water depth: est 25 ft
Victim: A. Finley
Laceration to left calf. Shark not seen well enough to identify species or estimate length.

Date and time: Aug 28; 4:30 PM
Location: O‘ahu, Ka‘a‘awa, Makaua; approx 400 yds from shore
Activity: Body boarding
Conditions: Turbid water
Water depth: est 10-15 ft
Victim: J. Sumait
Laceration to heel of right foot. Identified as tiger shark, length estimated at 10-12 feet.

Date and time: Jul 19; 3:00 PM
Location: O‘ahu, Waimanalo, Bellows; approx 150 yds from shore
Activity: Snorkeling
Conditions: Clear water
Water depth: est 8-10 ft
Victim: H. Miller
Severely bitten on left knee and calf. Description consistent with tiger shark, length estimated at 8 feet.

Date and time: Jun 24; 7:05 AM
Location: O‘ahu, Mokuleia, Silva's Channel; approx 50 yds from shore
Activity: Surfing
Conditions: Clear water
Water depth: est 5-10 ft at channel's edge
Victim: E. Yamada
No injury. Shark bit right side of surfboard as victim was paddling. Tooth impressions consistent with tiger shark, length uncertain.

Date and time: May 7; 8:00 AM
Location: Maui, Wailea, Keawakapu Beach; approx 25 yds from shore
Activity: Snorkeling
Conditions: Clear water
Water depth: 10-14 ft
Victim: P. Marion
Bitten on right foot and calf. Shark not seen well enough to identify species.

Date and time: Jan 5; 11:00 AM
Location: Kaua‘i, Mana, Waiokapua Bay; approx 50 yds from shore
Activity: Surfing
Conditions: Clear water
Water depth: 5-6 ft
Victim: R. Read
No injury. Shark bit right side of surfboard as victim was sitting on board. Description and tooth impressions consistent with tiger shark, length estimated at 8-10 feet.

2006

Date and time: Nov 11; 1:00 PM
 Location: Maui, Kihei, Kama‘ole; approx 10 yds from shore
Activity: Swimming
Conditions: Clear water
Water depth: 20 ft
Victim: K. Gruen
Bitten on left thigh and hand. Shark's length estimated at 8-10 feet.

Date and time: May 31; 1:30 PM
 Location: O‘ahu, Kapaeloa, "Marijuanas"; approx 150 yds from shore
Activity: Spearfishing
Conditions: Clear water
Water depth: 25-30 ft
Victim: R. Deguilmo
Bitten on left forearm. Description consistent with tiger shark, length estimated at 8-10 feet.

Date and time: May 24; 4:30 PM
 Location: Lana'i, Club Lana'i
Activity: Spearfishing
Conditions: Clear water
Water depth: 10-15 ft
Victim: A. Balmaceda
Bitten on left knee after poking shark with spear. Description consistent with gray reef shark, length 3 feet.

Date and time: March 23 ; 11:30 AM
 Location: O‘ahu, Kapaeloa, "Leftovers"; approx 130 yds from shore
Activity: Surfing
Conditions: Turbid water
Water depth: est 6 ft
Victim: E. Dunn
Puncture wounds to left calf. Description consistent with tiger shark, length estimated at 10 feet.

Date and time: February 27; 4:30 PM
 Location: Maui, Makena, Oneloa Beach; approx 10 yds from shore
Activity: Wading
Conditions: Turbid water
Water depth: 2-3 ft
Victim: N. Raleigh
Multiple wounds to right leg. Shark described as uniform gray coloration, length estimated at about 8 feet; bite marks not consistent with tiger shark.

2005

Date and time: December 21; 11:30 AM
 Location: Maui, Keawakapu; 200-400 yds from shore
Activity: Swimming
Conditions: Clear water
Water depth: est 30 ft
Victim: J. Genant
Loss of top part of ring finger and all of small finger of left hand. Description consistent with tiger shark, length estimated at more than 8 feet.

Date and time: October 13; 6:00 PM
 Location: Maui, Honokowai; 100 yds from shore
Activity: Surfing
Conditions: Fairly turbid water
Water depth: est 10-20 ft
Victim: C. Sado
No injury. Shark bit surfboard. Description and tooth impressions consistent with tiger shark, length estimated at less than 10 feet.

Date and time: May 14; 11:00 am
Location:Maui, North Kihei; half mile from shore
Activity: Kayaking
Conditions: Turbid water
Water depth: est 30 ft
Victim: J. Bailey
No injury. Shark bit kayak. Description consistent with tiger shark, length estimated at 8-9 feet.
(Note: This incident is not counted in the statistics used in accompanying graphs because it involved a bite on a vessel, not a person.)

Date and time: May 2; 10:30 am
Location: Maui, Pa‘ia, Ku‘au; 70 yds from shore
Activity: Surfing
Conditions: Clear water
Water depth: est 6 ft
Victim: S. Hoyt
No injury. Shark bit surfboard rail. Tooth impressions consistent with tiger shark.

Date and time: February 16; 2:30 pm
Location: O‘ahu, Sunset Beach, Rocky Point; 40 yds from shore
Activity: Surfing
Conditions: Relatively clear water
Water depth: est 10 ft
Victim: G. Long
No injury. Shark bit board from below with considerable force. Shark's length estimated at 8 feet.

2004

Date and time: October 9; 12:30 pm
Location: Moloka‘i, Puko‘o, Kupeke; 400 yds from shore
Activity: Spearfishing
Conditions: Fairly murky water
Water depth: est 4-5 ft
Victim: D. Sanada
Lacerations to left side of face and tissue loss from left shoulder when bit by what victim described as tiger shark, length 8 feet or longer.

Date and time: April 7; 7:13 am
Location: Maui, Kahana, Pohaku; 100 yds from shore
Activity: Surfing
Conditions: Murky water
Water depth: est 10 ft
Victim: W. McInnis
Fatal. Severe wound to right leg involving thigh and calf. Injuries consistent with tiger shark bite.

Date and time: March 24; 10:00 am
Location: Hawai‘i, Punalu‘u; 10 ft from shore
Activity: Snorkeling
Conditions: Murky water
Water depth: est 6 ft
Victim: C. Mooney
Lacerations to left foot when bit by shark estimated at 6 feet. Shark described as having dark brown spots on dorsal surface.

Date and time: March 16; 7:45 am
Location: Kaua‘i, Kalihiwai; 75 ft from shore
Activity: Surfing
Conditions: Clear water
Water depth: est 10 ft
Victim: B. Orth
No injury; bite marks in surfboard.  Shark described as dark gray, length estimated at 6-8 feet.

2003

Date and time: October 31; 7:30 am
Location: Kaua‘i, Ha‘ena, Tunnels; 350-500 yds from shore
Activity: Surfing
Conditions: Clear water
Water depth: est 4-5 ft dropping to 20 ft at reef edge
Victim: B. Hamilton
Loss of left arm below shoulder. Evidence from surfboard consistent with tiger shark, length estimated at 14 feet or more.

Date and time: October 5; 12:55 pm
Location: Maui, Kihei, Kalama; 10 yds from shore
Activity: Wading near unattended gill net
Conditions: Turbid water
Water depth: 4-5 ft
Victim: C. Alo
Bitten on left thigh, right knee, and right index finger. Gray-colored shark, estimated at 4-5 feet.

Date and time: June 24; 8:00 am
Location: O‘ahu, Makua; 75 yds from shore
Activity: Snorkeling with dolphins
Conditions: Clear water
Water depth: More than 50 ft
Victim: J. Marrack
Bitten on right foot. Shark estimated at 12-14 feet by witness.

Date and time: May 10; 12:45 pm
Location: Hawai‘i, Kahalu‘u; 5 ft from shore
Activity: Swimming
Conditions: Calm water
Water depth: 8 ft
Victim: K. Paulo
Bitten on right lower calf, ankle, and foot. Gray-colored shark with rounded snout, estimated at 6 feet .

2002

Date and time: November 17; 10:45 AM
Location: Maui, Honokowai; 100 yds from shore
Activity: Swimming
Conditions: Slightly turbid water
Water depth: 6 ft
Victim: J. Glance
Bitten on right shoulder and forearm. Gray-colored shark, estimated at 8-10 feet.

Date and time: October 30; 11:00 am
Location: Maui, Kihei, Kama‘ole I; 20 yds from shore
Activity: Swimming
Conditions: Semi-turbid water outside surf break
Water depth: 7-10 ft
Victim: K. Miller
Bitten on left foot by what appeared to be a small shark, based on wounds.

Date and time: September 27; 3:35 pm
Location: O‘ahu, Kahala, 100 ft beyond reef crest
Activity: Fishing from surfboard
Conditions: Clear water
Water depth: 25 ft
Victim: A. Lum
No injury; shark came from side and bit rail of surfboard as fisher pushed board into underside of approaching shark's snout. Description and tooth impressions consistent with tiger shark, length estimated at 8-10 feet.

Date and time: September 16; 7:50 am
Location: Kaua‘i, Princeville, Hideaways Beach
Activity: Body boarding
Conditions: Clear water
Victim: Anonymous
No injury. Shark fin seen just before body board ripped away and dragged out to sea.

Date and time: August 28; 3:45 pm
Location: O‘ahu, Kewalo; harbor channel 4-5 ft from reef edge
Activity: Surfing
Conditions: Turbid water
Water depth: 20 ft
Victim: S. Farden
Bitten on left foot while duck-diving under wave; shark grabbed tail of board and shook laterally. Shark believed to be 8-10 foot tiger shark.

Date and time: June 11; 1:45 pm
Location: Kaua‘i, Anini Beach; 100 yds from shore
Activity: Surfing
Victim: C. Levin
No injury. Shark came from behind and bit side of surfboard as victim was sitting on board. Markings seen on shark’s body consistent with tiger shark, length estimated 8-9 feet.

Date and time: March 25; 12:00 noon
Location: Kaua‘i, Brennecke's Beach; 30-50 yds from shore
Activity: Body boarding
Conditions: Turbid water
Water depth: 6-8 ft
Victim: H. Aki
Severely bitten on lower left leg; left foot lost above ankle.

Date and time: January 1; 1:00 pm
Location: Maui, Olowalu; 100 yds from shore
Activity: Snorkeling
Conditions: Clear water
Water depth: 20-40 ft
Victim: T. Holmes
Bitten on buttocks. Tiger shark observed prior to and following contact with victim.

2001

Date and time: November 14; 5:00 pm
Location: Maui, Kapalua
Activity: Surfing
Conditions: Clear water
Water depth: 5-6 ft
Victim: M. Schweitzer
No injury. Portion of board's lower surface removed.

Date and time: April 11; 7:00 am
Location: O‘ahu, Ewa Beach
Activity: Surfing
Conditions: Murky water
Water depth: 10 ft
Victim: G. Dano
Bitten on left hand. Description consistent with whitetip reef shark, length estimated at 2.5-3 feet. Large number of small fish seen in area.

Date and time: March 23; 2:40 pm
Location: O‘ahu, Sandy Beach; 30-40 yds offschore
Activity: Body boarding
Conditions: Breaking waves
Water depth: 6-8 ft
Victim: M. Mendez
Bitten on left hand. Portion of body board's left front corner removed. Tooth impressions consistent with small (5-foot range) reef shark, not tiger shark.