A surfer was knocked off her board by a tiger shark off Ala Moana Beach Park, Oʻahu, Hawaii on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. According to Hawaii News Now, the encounter occurred at about 1:30 p.m. near the Concessions surf spot. The woman was not injured.
The surfer was lying on her board when the shark struck it from below, sending her into the water. She paddled back to shore and reported the incident to lifeguards at Tower 1B. The surfboard bore marks that authorities said may have been made by the animal’s teeth.
Shark-warning signs posted around Ala Moana Beach
Lifeguards posted shark-warning signs in the area. Honolulu Ocean Safety urged swimmers and other ocean users to remain cautious and alert. Anyone who sees a shark should leave the water calmly and notify a lifeguard; in an emergency, call 911.
The embedded KHON2 report describes the animal as roughly 10 feet, or about three metres, long. It shows the warning measures and the apparent tooth marks on the board. The footage of the damaged board was provided by the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department.
“Aggressive” is the authorities’ assessment
Honolulu Ocean Safety and the television reports described the tiger shark as “aggressive.” Here, the term reflects the authorities’ risk assessment after the direct contact with the board; it is not a scientific diagnosis of the animal’s motivation. What is confirmed is that the shark struck the board hard enough to knock the surfer into the water. No bite to a person was reported.
Separate from the incident in late May
In late May, a 38-year-old surfer was seriously injured in a shark attack off Cromwell’s Beach. Warnings were also issued at Ala Moana Bowls at that time. The current incident at Concessions is separate, and there is no evidence that the same animal was involved.
What ocean users should do now
The State of Hawaii shark-safety guidance is consistent with Ocean Safety’s current instructions:
- Do not enter the water when sharks have been reported, and follow posted warnings.
- If a shark is seen, leave the water promptly but calmly; do not provoke or pursue it.
- Whenever possible, swim, surf or dive at a lifeguarded beach and do not go alone.
- Avoid murky water, harbour entrances, stream mouths and areas where fishing is taking place.
Encounters remain rare
According to the Hawaii Shark Fact Sheet, about 40 shark species inhabit the waters around the archipelago, with tiger sharks among those occasionally seen close to shore. Shark-bite incidents remain rare despite the large number of people in the water. Even so, local warning signs and lifeguard instructions take priority after a specific sighting.
