Hundreds attend Kaua'i fund-raiser for surfer
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau
NAWILIWILI, Kaua'i — Hundreds of Kaua'i residents came out yesterday for a fund-raiser to benefit Bethany Hamilton, the 13-year-old surfing sensation who lost her left arm to a tiger shark.
Hamilton family photo
The event was put on by Hamilton's primary sponsor, Rip Curl, and a cluster of family friends. There was no admission fee, but attendees could leave cash donations or bid on hundreds of items at a silent auction. There were surfboards and canoe paddles, skateboard gear, art work, weekends at resort locations, cases of fine coffee and lots more.
Bethany Hamilton lost her arm when she was attacked by a shark Oct. 31.
A large screen in the Kaua'i Marriott Resort's main ballroom showed continuous videos of Bethany surfing, and a series of live bands and individual musicians entertained. Kaua'i North Shore resident Graham Nash was to close the event.
Bethany, who lives in Hanalei, is the top female surfer in her age group in Hawai'i and among the top women surfers nationally.
She was surfing with friends at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 31 at the Tunnels reef surf break off Ha'ena when a shark attacked from the left side. It jerked the girl and her board, and when it left, Bethany was missing most of her left arm and a 17-inch diameter semicircle from her board. Friends got her to shore, using a surfboard leash as a tourniquet.
Fishermen concerned about the possibility of more attacks set hooks off Hanalei Bay, about four miles from Tunnels, where a tiger shark repeatedly swam among surfers there. On Thursday, the gear caught a 13 1/2-foot tiger shark.
While anglers could not confirm it was the same shark that attacked Bethany Hamilton, a ragged pattern on its dorsal fin appeared to match the description of a large shark that was seen at Tunnels at the time of the attack. The shark fishing effort was halted after the catch.
Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.
