Terrifying Moment: Tiger Shark Attacks Surfer off the Coast of Hawaii

A 58-year-old man is in serious condition after a shark attack in Hawaii early on Easter Sunday. Mike Morita was surfing near Kewalo Basin off the southern shore of Oahu around 7:00 a.m. when he was bitten by an eight-foot-long tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier).

The surfer was lying on his surfboard, waiting for a wave, when the shark latched onto his right leg. Morita immediately began to fight the shark, though his punches had little effect at first. The shark took him completely under the water twice. But when the shark repositioned itself, Morita had a clear shot at its gills. The gills are one of the most sensitive parts of a shark’s body. When Morita started landing punches on the shark’s gills, it finally released him.

Three fellow surfers immediately made a tourniquet out of surfboard leashes and pulled him to shore on another surfboard. Their quick action likely saved Morita’s life. First responders transported him to a Honolulu hospital, where he remains in serious but stable condition. Morita lost his right foot in the attack.

The area where Morita was bitten had received heavy rain. Waikiki Aquarium Director, Andrew Rossiter, told local news station KHON that the rainfall could have contributed to the attack. He said the area where Morita was bitten is “right at the mouth of the Ala Wai Canal, so all the water that runs down the mountains and feeds into the Ala Wai was being flushed down there…[it] carries all these interesting scents and smells and garbage and things that will just attract the sharks in from outside [the area].”

Tiger Sharks

Tiger sharks are warm-water sharks that can be found all over the world. While they are frequently seen in the waters off Oahu’s southern coast, tiger shark attacks in the area are rare. Sunday’s attack is the first documented shark bite in the Kewalo Basin since 2002.

Tiger sharks are so-named because of the dark vertical tiger-like stripes on their bodies. Adult tiger sharks typically measure 10-14 feet long and weigh 850-1,400 pounds. The eight-foot tiger shark that bit Morita was probably an adolescent. Younger sharks can be less selective in what they bite compared to older, more experienced sharks. That isn’t to say that adult tiger sharks are especially picky eaters. These sharks have been nicknamed “the garbage cans of the sea” because of their propensity to eat nearly anything. Items such as plastic, cans, rubber tires, and license plates have been found in tiger shark stomachs. 

Still, it is unlikely the tiger shark that bit Morita was purposefully attacking a human. Rather, it was probably a case of mistaken identity where the shark mistook Morita and his surfboard for a prey animal. Tiger sharks predate a large number of animals, including squid, sea turtles, dolphins, fish (including smaller sharks), clams, rays, and more.

Hawaii Shark Attacks

Hawaii ranks second among U.S. states for the most shark attacks each year, but it still trails the top state by a wide margin. Florida averages more shark attacks than any other state. In fact, Florida is the shark bite capital of the world.

According to the incident list on Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources website, this is the fourth shark incident in the state’s waters in 2023. It is also the most serious incident so far this year.

While shark attacks in Hawaii don’t happen often, clearly, they can and do happen. While there is no way to completely eliminate the danger of a shark encounter when a human steps into the ocean, there are ways to limit the danger.

Some important tips to keep in mind:

• Never swim alone. Sharks are less likely to come near a group of swimmers.
• Never wear jewelry or flashy swimsuits or clothes. Sunlight can reflect off these items into the water. A shark may misinterpret that flash as light reflecting off the scales of a prey fish.
• Stay away from anyone who is fishing, whether recreationally or commercially. Their lures or bait may bring sharks into the area.
• Never, ever provoke a shark. Morita certainly did nothing to provoke this attack. It was a tragic accident. But provoked shark attacks are completely preventable.

Thankful to Be Alive

Morita knows how fortunate he is to be alive. In his interview with the local news station, he put it very succinctly: “Thank God for my friends, who saved my life.”

Morita’s children set up a Go Fund Me page to help defray his medical expenses. On that page, they noted that Morita has been “a frequent surfer of this spot for about 40 years and is well known in the community.” They go on to thank “the brave surfers, first responders, and staff at Queens Hospital” for helping their father survive the harrowing ordeal.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Matt9122/Shutterstock.com