A shark, possibly 12 feet long, injured a 74-year-old man this morning in the Waikoloa area of north Hawaii, the Department of Land and Natural Resources said in a news release.

The man and three others were paddling outrigger canoes a half mile offshore, in an isolated area between Anaehoomalu Bay and Keawaiki, when one of them saw the victim had stopped paddling.

The 74-year-old reported that a shark bit the hull of the canoe and knocked him into the water.

He said he used his paddle to fend the shark off, but sustained leg wounds at about 10 a.m.

The man estimates the shark was about the same length as his 12-foot-long canoe.

The other paddlers assisted him back to shore and a friend drove him to North Hawaii Community Hospital.

DLNR said the fire department conducted a flyover, but no sharks were spotted.

Another flyover is scheduled for Wednesday morning to ensure any sharks moved into areas more heavily frequented.

The area is rugged and remote, so no signs were posted, DLNR said. It takes two miles to hike to that stretch of coastline.