Hawaiʻi Police Department
Kaʻū District
Captain Burt Shimabukuro
Phone: 939-2520
Report No. C13033113
Media Release (corrects date beach will open in last paragraph)
Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating a shark bite that occurred Wednesday (December 11) at Punaluʻu in the area of Punaluʻu Beach and Nīnole Bay.
At approximately 8 a.m., a 29-year-old Captain Cook man reported being bitten by a shark while body boarding in the area of Nīnole Bay, which is just south of Punaluʻu Beach Park.
Officers contacted the victim at Kaʻū Hospital, where he was being treated for his non-life-threatening injuries. The victim reported being approximately 20 yards off shore in 8 feet of water when the shark attack occurred. He was body boarding with two friends, who identified the shark as being a Tiger shark 10 -12 feet long.
The victim is expected to be released from the hospital after treatment.
The beach was closed and is expected to remain closed until noon Thursday (December 12) [corrected date].