Maui couple fends off tiger shark in frightening Olowalu encounter

OLOWALU, MAUI (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Maui couple came face to face with one of nature’s strongest predators in the waters off Maui on Saturday.

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Cheslei Akima and Alika Dickerson were paddling in waters off Olowalu when the calm and serene afternoon turned into a frightening experience.

They were more than a mile offshore when it happened.

“All of a sudden, like 10 feet in front of the kayak, a fin sticks up, and I’m thinking to myself, ‘What is that?’ And then it starts coming at us,” Akima said.

It was a tiger shark they say was larger than their 12-foot kayak. Akima says she could see the stripes of it clear as day.

“The shark then like latches on to the side of the kayak, and he’s just shaking us, and he wouldn’t let go,” she said.

Dickerson sprung into action and threw punches at the shark. The first two strikes did nothing.

“On the third time it finally just let go. It sank down a little bit and just splashed us with its tail swimming away and then I was just, I was in shock,” Dickerson said.

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They immediately headed back to shore, unsure if their Kayak was taking on water. The bite marks left on the kayak were proof of their terrifying encounter.

“It was just so crazy,” Akima said.

They have encountered sharks in that same area before, but nowhere near this aggressive.

And there might be some science behind it, worth warning others.

University of Hawaii Marine Biologists tracked shark behavior around Hawaii for years, and have found that Olowalu is actually a mating hub for tiger sharks. Timing of their mating activities also overlaps with humpback season – indicating sharks are also feeding there.

Akima and Dickerson encourage others who venture into Olowalu waters to be prepared with life-saving equipment. They also say this experience isn’t stopping them from jumping back in the water.

“Gotta get back. Yeah, we’re actually determined to go back this weekend,” they said.

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