November 6, 2025
Shark Attack and Multiple Sightings Prompt Beach Closures on Kauai This Week
- Kauai officials have closed portions of the island’s shoreline after a shark attack and additional sightings on Wednesday, prompting a heightened safety response on the North and South Shores.
Surfer Seriously Injured at Hanalei Bay
At approximately 3:10 p.m. on November 5, a male surfer was bitten while surfing at the popular Pine Trees break on Hanalei Bay. Ocean Safety Bureau officials immediately closed the bay to swimming until further notice.
Pine Trees Beach at Hanalei Bay (Kauai Magazine file photo)
Pine Trees Beach, widely regarded as the epicenter of Kauai’s surf culture, is deeply tied to legends like Andy and Bruce Irons, Bethany Hamilton, Alana Blanchard and generations of local wave riders who grew up carving its breaks.
The victim, now identified as 35-year-old Chance Swanson, is a longtime North Shore resident, lifeguard, and well-known member of the surfing community. Preliminary reports indicate he was attacked by a tiger shark, a species commonly found in Hawaiian waters year-round. Swanson suffered multiple injuries to his leg.
Lifeguards and firefighters responded within minutes, treated him on the beach, and coordinated emergency medical transport. Due to the severity of his injuries, Swanson was medevacked to Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu, where he remains hospitalized.
According to a GoFundMe page launched by his mother Rose Keaweamahi-Hoovler, doctors anticipate a long recovery ahead. Nearly $50,000 has been raised toward a $100,000 goal to help cover medical costs not covered by insurance.
“Chance is a well-respected lifeguard and surfer, and one of the humblest people you will ever meet. He embodies the true spirit of Aloha, and is a shining star, always happy and smiling,” she wrote.
As a precaution, lifeguards posted “Shark Sighted” and “No Swimming” signs along Hanalei Bay. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has been notified, and crews will continue shoreline patrols. Officials will reassess conditions Thursday afternoon.
Shark Sighted at Poipu Beach
Roughly an hour after the Hanalei attack, another sighting prompted action on the South Shore. At approximately 4:50 p.m., lifeguards at Poipu Beach reported a 3- to 4-foot reef shark cruising close to shore. No injuries were reported, but the beach was closed to ocean activities as a precaution. If no additional sightings occur, Poipu Beach is expected to reopen today, November 6.
Recent Shark Activity in Hawaii
While encounters remain statistically rare, November begins one of Hawaii’s seasonal peaks in shark behavior. Warmer water, changing currents, and increased near-shore fish activity can draw sharks closer to beaches. Kauai has reported several non-fatal incidents in recent years, and tiger sharks are the species most commonly involved in bites statewide.
Marine biologists caution that Hawaiian waters are home to thousands of sharks, and the vast majority avoid interaction with humans. Most bites occur when sharks mistake a swimmer or surfer for prey or investigate movement in low-visibility water.
Tips for Tourists: How to Stay Safe in Hawaii’s Oceans
Shark bites are extremely uncommon, but ocean safety officials recommend the following precautions:
- Obey posted signs and lifeguard warnings—never swim at a closed beach.
- Avoid murky or brown water, especially after heavy rain.
- Do not swim at dawn, dusk, or nighttime, when sharks are most active.
- Stay in groups—sharks are more likely to approach solitary swimmers.
- Avoid wearing shiny jewelry that can resemble fish scales in the water.
- Do not swim near spear-fishing or areas with large schools of fish or turtles.
- Report sightings to lifeguards so they can monitor the shoreline.
TOP PHOTO: Chance Swanson at GoFundMe.com.
