Hawaii, renowned for its mesmerizing beaches and thriving marine life, attracts countless tourists every year. Amidst the allure, however, lies a cautionary note: shark attacks. These incidents, though relatively rare, have consequences on the island’s tourism and provide vital insights into human-sea life interactions. Our goal is to provide you with up-to-date, weekly details on these shark attacks in Hawaii to ensure your safety and to keep you informed.
Recent Shark Attacks in Hawaii
| Date | Country / Area | Activity | Name | Sex / Age | Injury | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-09 | USA ,Ka'alu"alu Beach | Freeing trapped shark | Josiah Kaimani Ventura | M /24 | Bite wounds to thigh | Black Tip Reef Shark |
| 2025-11-05 | USA ,Pine Trees Hanalei Bay Kaui | Swimming | Chance Swanson | M | Injuries to legs | Unknown |
| 2025-01-11 | USA ,Off Haleiwa Boat Harbour Oahu | Diving | Male not stated was a dive tour worker | M /23 | Bitten on the arm | Not stated |
| 2024-06-23 | USA ,Goat Island (Moku'auia) La'ie Bay | Surfing | Tamayo Perry | M /49 | Not specific shark bite injuries to the body | Not stated |
| 2024-06-07 | USA ,Haleiwa, Oahu | Unconfirmed Possibly swimming near the boat harbour | Not Released | F /25 | Multiple serious lacerations to the body | Not stated area has Tiger and Galapogas sharks |
| 2023-05-11 | USA ,Kualoa, Oahu | Kayak fishing | Scott Haraguchi | M | Shark bit kayak, no inury to occupant | Tiger shark |
| 2023-04-09 | USA ,Kewalos, Oahu | Surfing | Mike Morita | M /58 | Injuries to right foot | Tiger shark, 8'-10' |
| 2023-03-19 | USA ,Anaehoomalu Bay | Swimming | L. Livingston | M /60 | Left hand and left leg. | Blacktip reef shark 5' |
| 2022-12-13 | USA ,Anaeho'imalu Bay | Swimming | male | M /68 | Lower left torso, defensive wounds to hands | Tiger shark? |
| 2022-12-08 | USA ,Keawakapu Point, Kehei, Maui | Snorkeling | Kristiine Allen | F /60 | Fatal attack | Tiger shark |
| 2022-09-03 | USA ,Lower Paia Beach Park, Maui | Swimming or Snorkeling | female | F /51 | Injuries to left arm and right hand | |
| 2021-12-04 | USA ,Banyans, Kailua-Kona | Surfing | male | M | Arm bitten | Blacktip reef shark |
| 2021-11-07 | USA ,Lahaina, Maui | Spearfishing | female | F /27 | Leg bitten | |
| 2021-05-15 | USA ,Kanaha Beach Park, Maui | Kite Foiling | male | M /35 | 2- to 3-inch cuts to posterior thigh | 5 to 8-ff tiger shark |
| 2021-05-03 | USA ,Marine Corps Base, Oahu | Surfing | Parker Blanchette | M /14 | Lacerations to shin and calf | 5.5 ft shark |
| 2021-04-20 | USA ,Kukio Bay | Swimming | female | F /57 | Puncture wound to knee | Tiger shark |
| 2021-02-06 | USA ,Waiokapua Bay, Kaui | Surfing | Gavin Klein | M | No injury, surfboard bitten | |
| 2021-01-22 | USA ,Maui | Snorkeling | Jerry Weisbecker | M /73 | Puncture wounds to left calf | 8" shark |
| 2021-01-02 | USA ,Anaehoomalu Bay | |||||
| 2020-12-08 | USA ,Honolua Bay | Surfing | Robin Warren | M /56 | FATAL | Tiger shark. 14'3" |
| 2020-11-26 | USA ,Maui | Snorkeling | female | F /35 | Severe injury to torso | |
| 2020-09-21 | USA ,Charley Young Beach, Maui | Swimming | female | F /61 | Lacerations and puncture wounds to shoulder | Injuries not caused by a shark |
| 2020-09-06 | USA ,Puako | Snorkeling | Female | F /70 | Ankle bitten | 8' shark |
| 2020-06-01 | USA ,Davidsons Beach, Kauai | Surfing | Douglas Moore | M | Cut to index finger of hand | Tiger shark? |
| 2019-12-03 | USA ,Cove Park, Kihei, Maui | Stand-Up Paddleboarding | Larry Oberto | M /57 | No injury, inflatable paddle board was bitten by the shark | 10'-12' tiger shark |
| 2019-09-26 | USA ,Kihei, South Maui | Surfing | female | F | No injury, back of board bitten | 6' to 7' shark |
| 2019-09-18 | USA ,Haleiwa, Oahu | Snorkeling | Lauren Russell, Regan Russell & unidentied male | /22 | Minor injuries | Galapagos shark, 5'-9' |
| 2019-08-20 | USA ,Napoopoo Park in Kealakekua Bay, The Big Island | Swimming/ Treading water | female | F /26 | Injury to lower back and right hip | |
| 2019-08-11 | USA ,Makaha Beach, Oahu | Surfing | Max Keliikipi | M /16 | No injury, board damaged | 10' to 12' shark |
| 2019-07-29 | USA ,Molokai Channel/ | Swimming | Adherbal Treidler de Oliveira | M /49 | Bite to abdomen & left leg medial thigh | Cookiecutter shark |
| 2019-05-25 | USA ,Honokowai Point, Maui | Swimming | Thomas Smiley | M /65 | FATAL | |
| 2019-05-14 | USA ,Browns, Oahu | Surfing | male | M | No injury, knocked of board by shark | 8' shark |
| 2019-05-08 | USA ,O'ahu | Swimming with sharks | female | F /34 | Injuries to left arm and hand | |
| 2019-04-23 | USA ,Anaehoomalu Bay, Hawaii | Kayaking | Kimberly Bishop | F /65 | Injury to right inner thigh | Tiger shark |
| 2019-04-06 | USA ,North Koahala, Big Island | Picking opihi | male | M /58 | Probable death by drowning, body scavenged by shark | Tiger shark |
| 2019-04-06 | USA ,Kaiwi Channel | Swimming | Isaiah Mojica | M /23 | Bitten on left shoulder | Cookiecutter shark |
| 2019-03-26 | USA ,Waikoloa area | Paddling an outrigger canoe | Mike Bernstone | M /74 | Shark bit canoe, but injury to occupant may not have been caused by the shark | 12' shark |
| 2019-03-16 | USA ,Kaiwi Channel | Swimming | Eric Schall | M /58 | Bite to abdomen | Cookiecutter shark |
| 2019-02-04 | USA ,Hanalei Bay, Kauai | Surfing | male | M | Multiple lacerations to leg | Tiger shark |
| 2018-09-08 | USA ,Pounders Beach, Oahu | Stand-Up Paddleboarding | Juliun Perkins | M /23 | Right arm bitten | Tiger shark, 10' to 12' |
| 2018-06-09 | USA ,Habush, Oahu | Surfing | John Denges | M /48 | Injury to left lower leg from surfboard skeg | |
| 2018-04-19 | USA ,Shipwreck’s Beach, Keoneloa Bay, Kauai | Body boarding | Dylan McWilliams | M /29 | Lacerations to right lower leg | 6' shark |
| 2018-03-31 | USA ,Kukio Beach | Stand-Up Paddleboarding | male | M /25 | Lacerations to right hand and arm, loss of right leg below the knee | Tiger shark, 12' |
| 2017-12-31 | USA ,Hultin's Beach, Oahu | Surfing | Marjorie Mariano | F /54 | Severe lacerations to left thigh & knee | Tiger shark |
| 2017-11-02 | USA ,Makaha | Surfing | male | M /20 | Minor cuts to lower left leg | |
| 2017-10-26 | USA ,White Plains Beach, Oahu | Stand-Up Paddleboarding | T. Rodman | M | No injury but shark bit SUP | |
| 2017-10-09 | USA ,Davidsons Beach, Kekaha, Kauai | Surfing | Mitch Milan | M /54 | Lacerations to left hand | Tiger shark, 8 to 10 feet |
| 2017-10-05 | USA ,Kama‘ole Beach Park, Maui | Snorkeling | female | F /40 | Abrasions | 8' shark |
| 2017-04-14 | USA ,Kekaha Beach, Kauai | Surfing | Baboo | M /28 | Lower right leg severely injured | Tiger shark, 12' |
| 2016-11-14 | USA ,Kamaole Beach Park I, Maui | Floating | Barbara Zawacki | F /58 | Injuries to right calf and thigh | Tiger shark |
| 2016-10-21 | USA ,Hooipa Beach Park, Maui | Surfing | Federico Jaime | M /36 | Left arm and leg injured | 6' to 8' shark |
| 2016-10-14 | USA ,Charlie Young Beach, Kihei, Maui | Snorkeling | female | F /66 | Injuries to left calf | |
| 2016-09-07 | USA ,Makaha, Oahu | Swimming | Lulu Bagnol | F /51 | Severe lacerations to shoulder & forearm | Tiger shark, 10' |
| 2016-08-06 | USA ,Maui | SUP Foil boarding | Connor Baxter | M /21 | No inury, shark & board collided | Tiger shark, 10' |
| 2016-06-15 | USA ,Kalapaki Beach, Kauai | Surfing | male | M | Single puncture wound to arm | 3' to 4' shark |
| 2016-05-03 | USA ,Wailea Beach, Maui | Floating | male | M /59 | Minor lacerations to right shoulder | |
| 2016-03-31 | USA ,Olowalu, Maui | Snorkeling | J. Orr | F /46 | Minor injury to left foot | |
| 2016-01-28 | USA ,Hanalei Bay, Kauai | Surfing | male | M | Lacerations to both hands | Reef shark, 5' |
| 2016-01-25 | USA ,Hanalei Bay, Kauai, | Surfing | Kaya Waldman | F /15 | No injury | |
| 2016-01-23 | USA ,Wailea Beach, Maui | Paddle boarding | Matt Mason | M /48 | No injury | Tiger shark, 14' |
| 2015-12-22 | USA ,La'aloa Beach Park | Paddle boarding | Robert Ford | M /71 | No injury, shark bit board | 9' shark |
| 2015-11-03 | USA ,Kehena Beach, Hawaii | Swimming | Paul O'Leary | M /54 | Laceration to right ankle | |
| 2015-10-28 | USA ,Malaka, Oahu | Body boarding | Raymond Senensi | M /10 | Lacerations & puncture wounds to right thigh, calf & ankle | |
| 2015-10-17 | USA ,Waikiki, | Surfing | male | M /32 | Left foot bitten by eel | No shark involvement |
| 2015-10-17 | USA ,Lanikai Beach, Kailua, Oahu | Swimming | Tony Lee | M /44 | Severe injuries to lower legs. Foot later surgically amputated. | Tiger shark, 7' |
| 2015-10-09 | USA ,Leftovers, Oahu | Surfing | Colin Cook | M /25 | Left leg severed below the knee, defense injuries to left hand | Tiger shark, 13' |
| 2015-09-20 | USA ,Upolu Point, North Kohala, Big Island | Spearfishing | Braxton Rocha | M /27 | Severe laceration to left leg | Tiger shark, 13' |
| 2015-04-29 | USA ,Kanahena Cove | Snorkeling | Margaret Cruse | F /65 | FATAL | |
| 2015-03-18 | USA ,Hapuna Beach | Standing / Snorkeling | Ken Grasing | M /58 | Lacerations to left forearm. Lacerations to left hand and thigh | Tiger shark, 8 to 12 feet |
| 2015-01-27 | USA ,Lahaina | Shark fishing | Michael Pollard | M /20 | Lacerations to calf by hooked shark PROVOKED INCIDENT | 4' shark |
How can swimmers in Hawaii detect the presence of sharks?
Swimmers in Hawaii can detect the presence of sharks through several signs. Notable indicators include the presence of bait fish, diving birds, marine mammals, or seeing the sharks themselves. It’s crucial to maintain vigilance and adhere to safety measures while swimming in Hawaii’s waters.
Can shark attacks occur near the shore in Hawaii?
Yes, shark attacks can occur near the shore in Hawaii, especially in areas highly frequented by their prey. Despite being rare, these incidents emphasize the need for vigilance and adherence to safety precautions while in Hawaii’s waters.
What steps should a person take if they are attacked by a shark in Hawaii?
If a person is attacked by a shark in Hawaii, their immediate response should involve trying to fend off the shark by targeting its sensitive areas – the eyes and gills. Once safe, they must seek immediate professional medical attention to address any injuries sustained during the encounter.
