Image: Wikimedia Commons
Tamayo Perry’s tragic death this weekend marked the ninth fatal shark attack in Hawaii in exactly 20 years. Dating back to a shark attack on June 24, 2004 (Perry was attacked on June 23, 2024), Hawaii News Now recounted many of the various encounters, and victims who have perished in the years since.
On Sunday, Perry was at a surf spot known as Goat Island when an emergency call was made reporting that someone had been injured in the water. Rescuers used a Jet Ski to recover Perry, who was pronounced dead at the scene. News of the city lifeguard and longtime Pipe surfer’s death made international headlines. The local news station reports this fatal attack is the only one in Hawaii since 2004 that didn’t happen off of Maui.
Below are the fatal incidents listed by Hawaii News Now. There was another fatal snorkeling incident in 2013 not highlighted in the broadcast. You can read about shark encounters in Hawaii dating back to 1995, here.
December, 2023 — A 39-year-old man from Haiku, Maui, was surfing when he was attacked and killed by a tiger shark.
December, 2022 — A woman was snorkeling off of Kīhei with her husband when a shark attacked. They fought off the shark but the woman was unable to swim back to shore for help. Her body was not recovered.
December, 2020 – A 56-year-old surfer was bitten while paddling out at Honolua Bay. He died from his injuries in the following days.
The WSL was set to start its 2021 women’s Championship Tour with the Maui Pro taking place at Honolua Bay at the time but the incident forced them to move to Oahu where the women competed at Pipeline instead.
May, 2019 — A tourist from California was bitten. He lost his leg and died while swimming near Kaanapali Beach, a popular resort location.
April, 2015 — A 65-year-old woman was attacked and killed while swimming off the Āhihi-Kīnaʻu Natural Area Reserve, where she served as a volunteer.
December, 2013 — A 57-year-old man was fishing off Molokini, the tiny islet that sits between Maui and Kahoʻolawe. With his leg dangling over the edge of his kayak, a shark attacked him. He reportedly died before making it back to shore.
June, 2004 — A Maui surfer was out for a morning session at Kahana Bay when he was attacked and killed by a shark.
