A 38-year-old Honolulu man was seriously injured Saturday morning in a non-fatal shark attack at Cromwell’s Beach in Kahala, turning a low-key dawn outing into a full emergency response on the sand.
Lifeguards and paramedics treated the man on the beach, cleared the immediate swim area and searched the surf while Ocean Safety crews posted warnings and urged people to stay out of the water in the affected zone.
Honolulu Emergency Medical Services said crews responded around 6:30 a.m., found the man with serious injuries to his lower extremities and administered life-saving treatment before taking him to a hospital in serious condition. Ocean Safety later confirmed an aggressive shark near Cromwell’s swim area and issued a separate advisory at Ala Moana Bowls after lifeguards reported two aggressive sharks in the surf break around 7:20 a.m., according to Hawaii News Now.
Where It Happened
Cromwell’s Beach is a compact cove in Kahala on the far side of Diamond Head, tucked near Doris Duke’s Shangri La estate. It is known as a quieter local spot that sees fewer tourists than Waikiki, with a small strip of sand and reef that make it more of a neighborhood hangout than a major visitor destination, according to HAWAIʻI Magazine.
Sharks In Context
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources maintains a public incidents list that logs shark bites and other encounters after investigators review each case, offering a running record for Hawaiʻi waters, per the DLNR.
On a broader scale, the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History tracks global trends and reports that unprovoked shark bites have returned to near-average levels in recent years; tiger sharks are often implicated in Hawaiian incidents, according to the International Shark Attack File.
What Officials Advise
State officials continue to push familiar safety guidance for anyone heading into the ocean: “Do not enter the water if sharks are known to be present, and leave the water quickly and calmly if one is sighted,” according to the DLNR.
The department also urges people to avoid being in the water at dawn and dusk, stay out of murky water or channels, not enter the ocean if bleeding, and promptly remove speared or hooked fish from the water to avoid attracting sharks.
Honolulu Ocean Safety remained on patrol in the area, and beaches near Cromwell’s and Ala Moana Bowls were under advisory Saturday. Officials asked the public to heed posted warnings and follow lifeguards' instructions. We will update this post if authorities release further details about the victim’s condition or the response.
