South Maui waters were reopened to swimmers around noon Saturday after an area off Halama Street in Kihei was kept off limits following a shark attack Friday morning, according to Maui County spokesman Rod Antone.
People were told not to go into waters from north of Waipuilani Park to the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary after Oregon visitor Tom Kennedy, 61, was bitten around 9:40 a.m. in what he called "turbid" water. He had been using a paddle board while he was snorkeling with two relatives about 200 yards off shore of 1790 Halama St. near Kalama Park.
Later, a crew aboard a Maui Fire Department helicopter reported seeing an 8- to 10-foot tiger shark near the sanctuary. Kennedy, of Lake Oswego, said he was bitten by a 10-foot tiger shark.
He suffered multiple lacerations to his lower left leg and thigh and was conscious and alert before undergoing surgery at Maui Memorial Medical Center.
Officials said they would reopen access to South Maui ocean waters after there were no more confirmed shark sightings.
