California woman hospitalized after suspected shark attack off Maui

KAHULUI, Maui (HawaiiNewsNow) - A suspected shark attack in West Maui sent a California visitor to the hospital with severe injuries to her torso on Thursday, officials said.

It happened around 3 p.m., roughly 100 yards off Mahina Surf Condominiums, which is near a popular surf spot in Kahana, commonly known as “S-Turns”.

A companion reported seeing a fin in the water shortly before the incident.

The 35-year-old woman was taken to the Maui Memorial Medical Center.

A witness who was having Thanksgiving dinner at a nearby condo said she heard the calls for help and called 911.

“My husband and our friend Buddy ran to meet them on the water when the guy was bringing her in on the board,” said Anita White. “It was his insistence of calling ‘help, help, help’ that we heard, and I stayed on the phone with 911, directed the traffic of the police, ambulance and firemen, they all came within minutes.”

White says the water was murky at the time because of runoff from recent rainy weather.

However, murky water at S-Turns was also cited in 2004 when a man was killed by a shark attack.

57-year-old Willis McInnis was surfing when a shark mangled his leg.

According to Maui Memorial Medical Center, the victim is in stable condition.

“I think it was the quick response of everybody working together that saved this woman’s life,” said White.

Shark warning signs have been posted near Honokowai Beach Park.

This story will be updated.

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