Shark attack off Maui halts women’s pro surfing competition

A shark attack on a recreational surfer Tuesday off Maui forced the postponement of a women’s pro surfing competition.

The surfer, a 56-year-old man who was rushed to the hospital for surgery after the incident, was not involved in the competition.

The attack occurred in Honolua Bay before the scheduled 10 a.m. start of the second day of the Maui Pro, a top-tier World Surf League women’s competition.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the WSL announced that “The competition is on hold until further notice.”

The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources issued a statement that reads, in part: “The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) reports that a 56-year-old man from Lahaina was paddling out from the old ramp in the bay.

“It is unknown if others were in the water and DOCARE now reports that water clarity was good. The man was taken to the hospital and admitted for surgery.”

Honolua Bay Shark Incident, Dec. 8, 2020 from Hawaii DLNR on Vimeo.

The agency placed warning signs at Honolua Bay up to one mile on either side of where the attack occurred. The signs were to remain in place until at least noon Wednesday.

Ocean Safety officers searched the area for shark activity throughout most of Tuesday.

The unidentified man was paddling out from the old boat ramp at the bay when he encountered the shark, which bit a large chunk from his surfboard.

The shark species was not identified,  but tiger sharks are often implicated in these types of attacks in Hawaiian waters.

The crescent-shaped bite mark on the man’s surfboard measured nearly 17 inches.

–Images and video courtesy of Hawaii DNLR