10/06/03

Woman tells of encounter with a shark at Cove Park, Kihei, Maui.

A 41-year-old Waihee woman reported being attacked by a shark Sunday midday at Cove Park, the second such incident in less than a week in the vicinity. The information prompted state officials to close several area beaches. 

Clara Alo said she was checking a fishnet when she was bitten by what she suspects was a small shark. The creature scraped her left inner thigh she said leaving a puncture wound on her right knee and injuring her hand. Alo was treated and released at Maui Memorial Medical Center on Sunday afternoon. The incident is the second possible shark-related case in the area in less than a week. On Wednesday, a green sea turtle suffered fatal injuries from what some believe was a tiger shark attack. The turtle struggled to shore at Kalama Park with a 13 inch wide, half-moon-shaped chunk ripped from its shell. 

On Sunday evening, state Department of Land and Natural Resources personnel continued to investigate whether the incident was a shark attack Nevertheless, DLNR officials asked Maui County ocean safety officials to close beaches at Cove Park, Kalama Park, and Kamaole Beach Parks I, II and III.

Police said Alo was about 30 yards offshore during the incident at 12:55 p.m. She was bitten on a hand when she pushed the alleged shark away, police said. 

Paramedics treated the victim at the scene, and then her family took her to the hospital emergency room. There she recalled that initially she had second thoughts about entering the water because it was choppy and murky, conditions her elders had warned her against. 

Alo declined to get stitches for her wounds, preferring to use a healing method taught by her elders. 

While DLNR officials could not confirm if the injuries were shark bites, acting Field Supervisor Stan Okamoto with DLNR Conservation and Resources Enforcement reported seeing a 5- to 6-foot reef shark about an hour after the incident. Other beachgoers said they saw a dorsal fin popping up and down after the incident. 

Rusty Au reported seeing a 4- to 5-foot shark while surfing in the bay Sunday morning. He said he still was surfing in the area when people started yelling for him to get out of the water; he became scared and paddled to shore.