Shark attacks visitor; Makena beaches close
The beaches surrounding Makena Landing Beach Park were closed off Saturday afternoon following a shark attack on a 51-year-old woman from California.
The victim was approximately 20 yards offshore when she was attacked by a shark estimated to be between 10 and 12 feet long, said Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.
The woman suffered nonlife-threatening injuries, including puncture wounds to her right inner thigh and lacerations to the front and back of her right hand from pushing the shark away, Mainaga said.
She was transported to Maui Memorial Medical Center in stable condition.
Ocean Safety crews had closed the beaches one mile to the north and south of the attack site, from Maluaka Beach to Changs Beach. The beaches were expected to remain closed until first light today, when the situation would be re-evaluated, according to Maui County spokesman Rod Antone.
The species of the shark was unknown as of Saturday night.
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Roadwork expected to impact traffic on Maui
The state Department of Transportation is notifying the public about upcoming and ongoing road closures in areas across Maui this week.
* East Maui: There will be a single-lane closure on Hana Highway in the westbound direction between Milepost 10.4., in the vicinity of Garden of Eden, and Milepost 16, in the vicinity of Keanae Peninsula Road, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for road maintenance.
* West Maui: Ongoing ocean erosion repairs will continue on Honoapiilani Highway in the area of Launiupoko State Park, shifting lanes of travel mauka.
* Central Maui: Maalaea Boat Harbor Road will remain closed from the south Honoapiilani Highway entrance to Hauoli Road through the end of November for construction of waterlines, sewer lines and a water treatment facility.
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Diver, 35, pulled out of water, pronounced dead
The body of a 35-year-old male diver was pulled from waters near Maalaea early Saturday morning and pronounced dead at the scene.
Fire rescue crews responded to a call at about 4 a.m. for the missing diver who was last seen around 3 a.m. near Haycraft Park, according to Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.
Crews searched the shoreline while a rescue personal watercraft conducted a search from the last point the missing diver was seen.
At about 5:15 a.m., a commercial ocean craft spotted the diver floating facedown about a half-mile from shore fronting the beach park. The victim was taken to the Maalaea boat ramp, where medics performed an initial observation and pronounced him dead.
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Hawaiian Airlines will waive fees on changes
Hawaiian Airlines has announced that it will waive reservation change fees and differences in fares for customers who need to change their travel plans because of Hurricane Sandy.
Customers who are ticketed on Hawaiian Airlines through Wednesday for travel between the U.S. East Coast (including travel connecting in the U.S. East Coast) and Hawaii will be permitted to change their reservations, without charge, to flights through Nov. 4, provided that the changes are made no later than Thursday.
All change fees and applicable differences in fares will be waived, provided that changes are made in the same class of service, based on seat availability.
Changes must be made by Hawaiian Airlines personnel in the reservations department or at the airport. Normal refund rules will apply.
Customers needing assistance should call Hawaiian's reservations department toll free at (800) 367-5320.
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Crews rescue visitors in raft off Maalaea waters
A visiting couple was rescued in waters off Haycraft Beach Park in Maalaea after their inflatable raft drifted out to sea Saturday afternoon.
Fire rescue crews and the Maui Fire Department's Air One helicopter responded to the scene after beachgoers reported the incident around 1:30 p.m.
A county Ocean Safety Rescue craft with a firefighter on board located the couple approximately two miles offshore, according to Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.
No medical attention was required.
