Archive for the 'Hawaii' Category
Saturday, March 21st, 2009
Despite the loss of a piece of his left calf from a shark bite Monday, Kula resident Mike Spalding still wants to become the third person known to swim the nearly 30-mile Alenuihaha Channel from the Big Island to Maui.
But shark expert John Naughton said that Spalding may have already achieved a different kind of notoriety as the first live person to be bitten by a cookie-cutter shark.
Judging by the circular plug of flesh taken from Spalding’s calf, Naughton says he can’t imagine what else it would be.
Naughton said the only other incident he’s aware of where there was evidence that a person was bitten by a cookie-cutter shark was in July 1992, when he was called in to examine the wounds on the back of a fisherman who had drowned and was found floating about 15 miles off the coast of Waianae. The man had the distinctive, circular wounds left by cookie-cutter sharks, but the medical examiner said the wounds were inflicted after death.
[source]
Wednesday, March 18th, 2009
61-year-old Mike Spalding received a little bite to his left calf Monday night as he was attempting to swim the nearly 30-mile Alenuihaha Channel from the Big Island to Maui.
Spalding was about 4.5 hours and 11 miles into crossing the channel at about 8 p.m. when he felt a sharp pain on his chest. He immediately began moving over to a kayak accompanying him. About 15 seconds later, he felt a bite to the calf and started bleeding profusely.
The 3″ diameter, 1″ deep wound on the back of his left leg, was most likely inflicted by a cookie cutter shark (famous for taking melon-ball-sized chunks of flesh from its prey.)
Spalding was more upset about having his swim cut short than he was about his injury.
[source]
Thursday, March 12th, 2009
Kaua’i police closed the beach fronting the Lawa’i Beach Resort through thursday morning after a shark was sighted.
A swimmer reported seeing a 6 to 7 foot shark about 100 feet offshore, police said. “No swimming allowed” signs were posted in the area.
[source]
Saturday, January 10th, 2009
A shark moseyed into a lagoon in Ko Olina, Hawaii yesterday. Apparently, somebody starting yelling “shark, shark, shark” and everybody rushed out of the lagoon. Uh, wouldn’t you? Somebody caught all the action on her cell phone camera. Judging by the size, it appeared to be a hammerhead. Damn, that thing was close to shore!
No word on whether the lagoon has reopened yet.
[source + video]
Monday, December 22nd, 2008
As of 1:00 pm Sunday, at least 1,700 box jellyfish were found at Waikiki beaches, with up to 170 stings!
Box jellyfish show up around about once a month, 7-10 days after the full moon, but this month it’s looking like the numbers could be record-breaking. We’ll keep you posted.
Keep your tootsies outta the water!
[source]
Wednesday, December 17th, 2008
A shark sighting at Makaha Beach on Tuesday closed the popular Oahu beach.
A beachgoer spotted the 8 to 10 foot shark, and then lifeguards confirmed the sighting just TWO YARDS from shore!
After another shark sighting in the afternoon, lifeguards decided to keep the warning signs up. They will decide whether it is safe to take them down this morning.
[source + video]
Monday, November 17th, 2008
A group of people diving off the Hawaii last week spotted a tiger shark chowing down on a goat.
Joyce Blutt snapped some pics of the shark on goat action which was going down about half a mile off Kawaiahae last Monday. She says the shark had eaten half of the goat by the time they got there. If you look close you can see a hoof on the right hand side. Ew.
[source + video]
Friday, November 14th, 2008
The turtle didn’t stand a chance. Some pictures of a shark making a meal out of a turtle were snapped on Monday less than a mile off shore in Maunalua Bay just outside the surf spot called Turtles.
The shark was obviously concentrating on the turtle, but the people in the boat were warned to keep all appendages out of the water.
[source + video]
Saturday, November 8th, 2008
According to KGMB9 News, warning signs are still posted after a shark was spotted at a North Shore beach for the second day in a row.
A helicopter patrolled the water yesterday afternoon after Ocean Safety officials say an 8-foot shark came close to shore Friday.
Sharks have been hanging around that beach for a few weeks now since the river mouth opened and school of fish have been feeding in the bay.
Hey, you can always work on your tan.
[source + video]
Friday, November 7th, 2008
Ocean Safety officials posted warning signs at Waimea Bay and Waikiki yesterday following confirmed shark sightings in the areas.
Lifeguards saw a 6 to 8 ft shark at Waimea Bay at about 10:15 a.m. and another smaller shark was spotted in Waikiki at Duke’s Beach.
[source]
