There has been a surge of shark attacks in Maui throughout the past year, two which were fatal. But that hasn’t stopped people from surfing and swimming in the oceanic waters surrounding Maui. Devices claiming to keep sharks away by emitting an electrical pulse have sky rocketed in sales and are selling out as soon as they hit shelves. Users simply strap the device to an ankle, wet suit, or surfboard. They are typically the size of a wallet or over-sized watch. The device’s price ranges from $399-$649. Shark experts say the devices may help in some cases, but are questionable on whether they’ll repel larger sharks such as tiger, white, or bull sharks, which are normally involved in fatal attacks on humans. Statewide, there were 14 shark attacks in Hawaii during 2013. There were 11 attacks in 2012 and only three the previous year. The last deadly shark attack in Hawaii was in 2004.
