North Kohala Shark Attack

The Hawai’i Police Department says that a 34-year-old woman was attacked by a shark while surfing at Halaula Lighthouse in North Kohala.

Police received an 11:12 a.m. report Friday that the victim was on her way to North Hawai’i Community Hospital with injuries to two of her fingers.

It was determined that the woman has been surfing at Halaula Lighthouse with a male friend when he saw the board being lifted out of the water with the victim still on it. The friend described the attacker as a 12 to 15 foot tiger shark.

With the board in its mouth, the shark began to tow the board and victim, who was attached by a surfing leash, out to sea. The friend paddled toward the scene, the shark let go of the surfboard, the friend proceeded to hit the shark causing it to swim away.

The victim and friend paddled to shore and traveled by private vehicle to North Hawai’i Community Hospital, where the woman is being treated for her injuries.

Shark warning signs have been posted and the Department of Land and Natural Resources has closed the beach.