BEACH PARKS ALONG KOHALA COAST REMAIN OPEN, CAUTION URGED DUE TO CONTINUED SHARK SIGHTINGS
The Hawai‘i County Fire Department has done flyovers to confirm sightings reported by hotel personnel or beach vendors. State and county officials have notified private and public land managers and ocean recreation vendors in the area so they can advise the public to be watchful and cautious, and be prepared to post public warning signs in case of a sighting. Beaches will remain open when no sightings are confirmed. According to the Division of State Parks, park caretakers were informed by a regular beachgoer that a large shark was sighted yesterday around 2:45 p.m. south of Waialea in the Puako area. A shark was also sighted on Oct, 23 at which time Hapuna beach was closed for the afternoon. State parks officials will post warning signs when a shark is spotted in the swim zones at Waialea or Hapuna State Parks. “We just want to notify the public of what’s happening in the bay,” said John Kahiapo, DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources Hawai‘i information specialist. “This is the time of year historically when there are frequent sightings of large tiger sharks coming close to shore. Yesterday Anaehoomalu beach was closed in the afternoon when a shark was 20 yards off shore, feeding on a turtle. It remained closed until a morning flyover by Hawaii County Fire Department and was then reopened due to no shark being sighted. Previously a shark had passed through and did not appear to be feeding,” he said. “Closures are precautionary measures to ensure the safety of the public.” In 2008 there were also multiple confirmed sightings of sharks ranging in size from six to 15 feet in the areas of Waialea Bay and Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area, to Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor, the Mauna Kea Beach Resort and between Mau‘umae Beach and Kawaihae Harbor. Beach parks were closed at intermittent intervals. . |
