Beaches in Kihei reopen after possible shark attack

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

KIHEI, Maui — Beaches along a mile and a half of Kihei coastline were reopened yesterday, one day after a 41-year-old Waihe'e woman suffered cuts and scrapes from what she described as a bite from a 4- to 5-foot shark.

Clara Alo told authorities that she was checking a fish net 30 yards offshore at Cove Park Sunday when the shark scraped her left inner thigh, left a puncture wound on her right knee and injured her hand.

Paramedics treated Alo at the scene and family members took her to Maui Memorial Medical Center in Wailuku, where she was treated and released.

There was some question whether the woman had actually encountered an eel or other aquatic species, but a state Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officer saw a similarly sized reef shark at Cove Park later in the day, said Randy Awo, Maui branch chief of the state agency.

On Wednesday, officials found a green sea turtle at neighboring Kalama Beach Park that apparently died from injuries caused by a bite from a shark.

Cove Park, Kalama, Kama'ole I and Kama'ole II beach parks were reopened at noon yesterday after patrols of the water by state and county officials. Awo said no sharks were observed in the area.

Awo said it's possible that dead and decomposing fish in the gill net attracted the shark.

Reach Timothy Hurley at (808) 244-4880 or thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com.