A beloved Hawaiian vacation spot has temporarily shut its doors to visitors following a shark bite incident involving a surfer earlier this week.
The unfortunate event took place just after 3 p.m. on November 5th. A local surfer encountered a shark while navigating the waters of Hanalei Bay on Kaua’i island, according to a news release from the Ocean Safety Bureau (OSB).
As a result of the attack, the surfer sustained injuries to his legs. Emergency responders swiftly provided medical attention at the scene before he was transferred to Wilcox Medical Center for further treatment, officials reported.
At this time, authorities have not been able to identify the species or size of the shark involved in the incident, as stated in the release.
The condition of the injured surfer and the status of the beach’s reopening remain unclear at this moment.
Details regarding the condition of the surfer and if the beach has been reopened were not immediately available.
As a precaution, signs reading “Shark Sighted” and “No Swimming” have been posted throughout the beach, and lifeguards are patrolling the coastline to warn tourists not to enter the water.
The bite came on the same day another nearby beach was closed to swimmers following a reported shark sighting.
Officials have been unable to determine the size and type of shark that bit a surfer while in the waters of Hanalei Bay, Hawaii, on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (iStock)
Po‘ipū Beach – located just 45 miles from Hanalei Bay – also saw closures this week after a shark was spotted approximately two hours after Wednesday’s attack.
OSB officials reported that a 3-to-4-foot reef shark was seen in the waters near the beach, resulting in authorities closing the area to swimmers, according to the Kaua’i Fire Department.
As of Oct. 12, there had been 16 reported shark bites throughout the United States in 2025, including one attack in Hawaii, according to data from trackingsharks.com.
Officials closed the beach in Hanalei Bay, Hawaii, after the surfer was bitten by a shark on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, as authorities warned visitors to refrain from swimming in the area. (iStock)
Last year, there were 71 reported bites — including 47 unprovoked attacks — worldwide, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File.
The Kaua’i Fire Department and OSB did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
