Maui Beach Closes… And Reopens… After Shark Sighting
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009
Lifeguards closed Baldwin Beach on Maui’s north shore after a 10-foot tiger shark was spotted in the area at 10:30 a.m. yesterday. The shark was spotted 400 yards offshore.
The beach was reopened at 12:30 p.m.
[source]
Shark-sightings at busy beaches like that are always scary!
Maui is the most visited of the Hawaii Islands. But what they don’t tell tourist is that Maui is a tiger shark territory. Seriously! I am a local surfer, born and raised; I can tell you that Maui is not only a sharky island, but also a tiger shark island. Talk to a local, a real local, and they will TELL you. Maui is a tiger shark island. You WON’T hear that and even read about it in any magazine or tourist guide. They DON’T tell you, they DON’T want you to know because if you tourist really know the statistics, things would be different in the island. Maui depends on tourism. There are a lot sightings and un-provoked attacks that are NOT report and make public. To put it in perspective, Maui is a tiger shark island.
I recently moved to Maui and would by no means call my self a local, but I had my first tiger experience. I was paddle boarding in Kihei off of cam one this morning with my dad when I heard him say shark. He jetted for shore and I was still facing the ocean. We were about 100-150 yards out. When I turned my board around what I would estimate was a 7-8ft tiger swam no more than 2ft from my left and circled back around. Needless to say I paddled back in, heart pumping out of my chest. So I will definitely support that Maui is a tiger island. Now I’m not so stoked to see turtles out there because where there are turtles, tigers are sure to follow.
Just returned from a three week snorkeling vaction on Maui….wanted to tell you that I came face to face with a six foot tiger about five years ago near ahihi….swam away very slowly!! but this year I had a little fright when a 5-6 foot barracuda near the shore around the cinder cone by little beach looked aggressive to me…..anyway ALOHA!