Lifeguard Survives Hanalei Shark Attack As Another Sighting Closes Poipu Beach

When lifeguard Chance Swanson was pulled from the water at Hanalei Bay on Wednesday afternoon with shark bite injuries on his legs, it felt like a rare and terrifying event on North Shore Kauai. But just hours later, Poipu Beach on South Shore Kauai also closed after another shark sighting, leaving Kauai reeling from a day that was anything but ordinary.

A violent turn at Hanalei.

The attack happened mid-afternoon, at Pine Trees, one of Hanalei Bay’s most popular surf breaks. Hoovler, a respected Kauai County lifeguard and lifelong waterman, is known for protecting others in the ocean he loves. On Wednesday, it was his friends and fellow lifeguards who raced to save him, pulling him to shore and administering first aid before emergency crews arrived.

He was taken to Wilcox Medical Center in Lihue for treatment. His family asked the public to refrain from spreading false information about the attack, noting that the family would provide updates directly. The post followed early online speculation about the incident, which spread quickly across local Facebook pages.

Update (November 6): The family reports that Chance was medevaced to Oahu. He went into surgery immediately to fix an artery on his left calf and will have another surgery to repair his fibula from the shark bite. He’s still sedated and on a ventilator at this time.

Officials from the Department of Land and Natural Resources confirmed the incident and temporarily closed Hanalei Bay. Warning signs lined the sand within an hour of the attack.

Two hours, two shores, two sharks.

But the day wasn’t over. By late afternoon, as the north shore was still processing the afternoon’s attack, lifeguards on Kauai’s south shore spotted a three to four-foot reef shark near Poipu Beach. No one was hurt, but the sighting prompted an immediate closure of ocean activities. Bright yellow warning signs were posted, and officials announced that they would reassess the conditions the next morning.

For visitors lounging at Poipu, the sudden closure was startling. Two coasts, forty-five miles apart, two shark encounters within about one hour, odds that even veteran watermen found unsettling.

The science of shark season.

Shark activity often rises in late fall, a natural pattern tied to migration and pupping. Heavy rainfall can cloud nearshore waters, attracting fish and increasing the chances of encounters. We can’t remember when both Poipu and Hanalei were closed on the same day due to shark activity.

According to DLNR’s shark-incident database, roughly two dozen confirmed attacks have occurred on Kauai since 1997. The publicly available records indicate that recent Kauai incidents have been nonfatal, and the DLNR notes that fatal shark attacks in Hawaii are extremely rare.

Manō: fear and reverence.

Beyond the science, Kauai’s response is also shaped by its deep cultural connection to the ocean. On Kauai, the ocean is never taken for granted. Within hours of the attack, messages of support poured in from lifeguards, surfers, and residents across the island. At the same time, the incident stirred quiet reflection on the relationship between people and the sea.

In Hawaiian tradition, sharks, or manō, are more than predators; they are ancestral guardians, feared but also revered. That duality shapes how many on Kauai respond to incidents like these. As one longtime surfer in Hanalei put it, “We know the risks every time we paddle out. The ocean gives and the ocean takes. You just hope to meet it with respect.” It is a perspective that keeps panic in check and fosters shared humility in the face of nature’s power.

Kauai waits, and the ocean heals.

Ocean Safety teams continue to patrol both beaches, and state biologists will monitor for additional shark activity. For current updates, call the Ocean Safety Bureau at 808-241-4984 or visit Safe Beach Day online.

Authorities have not confirmed the species involved in the Hanalei attack, though witnesses reported it appeared to be a large tiger shark. DLNR emphasized that shark behavior is unpredictable and that such incidents remain statistically rare.

Officials also reminded beachgoers to follow safety guidelines. Avoid entering the ocean until shark warning signs have been removed, stay close to lifeguard stations, and ask for advice if you are unsure about entering the ocean.

The beaches now sit quiet, warning signs fluttering in the trade winds. Lifeguards patrol, biologists monitor, and Kauai waits for the ocean to give its all-clear. It’s a rhythm the island knows well: caution, respect, and eventually, a return to the water.

Would news like this make you think twice about swimming or surfing on Kauai beaches?