Poipu Shark Attack?

Yep. It hit the canoe two or three times. Probably a small reef shark- no bigger than 4-6 feet. All I saw was the head as it latched on to the forward part of the portside of the hull and came around and latched onto the right side of the hull again about a foot ahead of the drainwell. I think I hit him with the paddle good at this point. Canoe was taking on water and I had to get to shore(maybe out 1/2 to 3/4 mile)- found a neat spot just north of Palama Beach where I could take the iakos and ama off and drain the canoe. Put the canoe back together once drained and hiked up thru the coffee fields with canoe to the first group of houses in Kalaheo. Excitng experience. I had water, slippers. The gang I was paddling with thought I was just telling them to go on the second leg of our run ,which they did, as my paddle waving didn't tell them i was in trouble (we are correcting that for future paddles as there is a universal language for kayaks and canoes in the ocean we need to follow. My number one suggestion after the universal paddle language review is to always carry footware of some sort and water. Insure your canoe so you can abandon it if necessary (State Farm $183/yr-$250 deductible) once yu get to land as there isn't always going to be a nice spot to pull your canoe out of the water!

#1 Thu, 09/22/2011 - 4:35pm

at my age term insurance would cost probably the same as a new canoe!

#5 Fri, 09/23/2011 - 9:17pm