ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ

A kite boarder was bitten by a shark off of Kaa Point on Maui on Thursday at about 3:20 p.m. 

The victim was 300 yards offshore and had fallen into the water when he was bitten by the shark while holding on to his board, according to a press release from Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources. 

He was able to make it back to shore on his own. Maui County rescue officials transported him to Maui Memorial Hospital. 

County officials patrolling the water after the shark attack spotted a 12-feet to 15-feet long tiger shark. 

The beach has been closed from Papa Ula Point off of Stable Road to Pier 1 at Kahului Harbor and shark warning signs are posted.

The beach, popular with kite boarders because of its strong winds, will reopen tomorrow if there are no shark sightings. 

There has been a record number of shark attacks in Hawaii this year and DLNR officials have commissioned a study to try to find out why. 

Photo: Kite Beach/ Kaa Point, Maui (Credit: )

— Sophie Cocke