Hawaiʻi Wai Ola

02/01/2025

A Brown Water Advisory has been issued for the Island of Hawai‘i.

The Hawaii Department of Health advises beach users to stay out of waters when the water appears brown or murky, especially following storms or heavy rain. After storms or heavy rain, the water may contain higher than normal pollutant levels. The Department recommends staying out of the water for 48-72 hours after the rain has stopped and after the beach has received full sunshine.

The Department of Health advises the public to avoid swimming, wading in, or drinking water from any freshwater streams or pond to prevent leptospirosis, a bacterial infection caused by the Leptospira bacteria. For more information, please see: https://health.hawaii.gov/docd/disease_listing/leptospirosis/

If the water is brown, turn around.

For more information, please see: https://eha-cloud.doh.hawaii.gov/cwb #!/event/1880/details/view

01/31/2025

A Brown Water Advisory has been issued for the Island of Hawai‘i.

The Hawaii Department of Health advises beach users to stay out of waters when the water appears brown or murky, especially following storms or heavy rain. After storms or heavy rain, the water may contain higher than normal pollutant levels. The Department recommends staying out of the water for 48-72 hours after the rain has stopped and after the beach has received full sunshine.

The Department of Health advises the public to avoid swimming, wading in, or drinking water from any freshwater streams or pond to prevent leptospirosis, a bacterial infection caused by the Leptospira bacteria. For more information, please see: https://health.hawaii.gov/docd/disease_listing/leptospirosis/

If the water is brown, turn around.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by the bacteria of the genus Leptospira. The disease occurs all over the world, but is most common in warm climates. Leptospirosis can infect cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, and wild animals such as rodents (rats, mice),....

01/24/2025

We managed to squeeze in our January sampling at Kahalu'u, in between the huge surf! These are photos of all five of our sampling locations along the shoreline and two of our amazing water quality monitoring volunteers, Ann and Paul!

01/15/2025

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) is retesting Richardson Ocean Center, Hawai‘i. Levels of 254 per 100 mL were detected during routine beach monitoring. DOH is uncertain about the representativeness of the first sample. This beach has historically met the acceptable beach threshold level, and there is no known source of f***l contamination. Therefore, DOH has collected another sample and is retesting the site. DOH will update the notification based on the results of this retesting.

For more information, see:

01/15/2025

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) is retesting Honolii Cove (Ocean), Hawai‘i. Levels of 238 per 100 mL were detected during routine beach monitoring. DOH is uncertain about the representativeness of the first sample. This beach has historically met the acceptable beach threshold level, and there is no known source of f***l contamination. Therefore, DOH has collected another sample and is retesting the site. DOH will update the notification based on the results of this retesting.

For more information, see:

09/17/2024

A Brown Water Advisory has been issued for the east side of Hawaii Island from Kohala to South point.

The Hawaii Department of Health advises beach users to stay out of waters when the water appears brown or murky, especially following storms or heavy rain. After storms or heavy rain, the water may contain higher than normal pollutant levels. The Department recommends staying out of the water for 48-72 hours after the rain has stopped and after the beach has received full sunshine.

The Department of Health advises the public to avoid swimming, wading in, or drinking water from any freshwater streams or pond to prevent leptospirosis, a bacterial infection caused by the Leptospira bacteria. For more information, please see:

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by the bacteria of the genus Leptospira. The disease occurs all over the world, but is most common in warm climates. Leptospirosis can infect cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, and wild animals such as rodents (rats, mice),....

08/27/2024

A Brown Water Advisory has been issued for the east side of Hawaii Island from Kohala to south point.

The Hawaii Department of Health advises beach users to stay out of waters when the water appears brown or murky, especially following storms or heavy rain. After storms or heavy rain, the water may contain higher-than-normal pollutant levels. The Department recommends staying out of the water for 48-72 hours after the rain has stopped and after the beach has received full sunshine.

The Department of Health advises the public to avoid swimming, wading in, or drinking water from any freshwater streams or ponds to prevent leptospirosis, a bacterial infection caused by the Leptospira bacteria. For more information on leptospirosis, please see:

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by the bacteria of the genus Leptospira. The disease occurs all over the world, but is most common in warm climates. Leptospirosis can infect cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, and wild animals such as rodents (rats, mice),....

08/01/2024

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) is retesting Kolekole Gulch (Ocean), Hawai‘i. Levels of 1652 per 100 mL were detected during routine beach monitoring. DOH is uncertain about the representativeness of the first sample. This beach has historically met the acceptable beach threshold level, and there is no known source of f***l contamination. Therefore, DOH has collected another sample and is retesting the site. DOH will update the notification based on the results of this retesting.

For more information, see:

08/01/2024

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) is retesting Kolekole Gulch (Ocean), Hawai‘i. Levels of 1652 per 100 mL were detected during routine beach monitoring. DOH is uncertain about the representativeness of the first sample. This beach has historically met the acceptable beach threshold level, and there is no known source of f***l contamination. Therefore, DOH has collected another sample and is retesting the site. DOH will update the notification based on the results of this retesting.

For more information, see: http://eha-cloud.doh.hawaii.gov/cwb/ #!/viewer?eventId=1828

05/13/2024

A Brown Water Advisory has been issued at Hilo Bay and along the Hamakua coast on Hawai‘i.

recent heavy rains has resulted in stormwater runoff entering into coastal waters. The public is advised to stay out of flood waters and storm water runoff due to possible overflowing cesspools, sewer, manholes, pesticides, animal f***l matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals, and associated flood debris. Not all coastal areas may be impacted by runoff, however, if the water is brown stay out. Continue to practice good personal hygiene and follow-up with your primary care physician if you have any health concerns.

For more information, please see:

02/28/2024

Help support our local sanitation needs. Are you interested in a wastewater career with Hawaii County. They are hiring!

02/28/2024

A Brown Water Advisory has been issued for Hilo Bay and along the Hamakua coast on Hawai‘i.

Recent rains and high surf has resulted in stormwater runoff entering into coastal waters. The public is advised to stay out of flood waters and storm water runoff due to possible overflowing cesspools, sewer, manholes, pesticides, animal f***l matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals, and associated flood debris. Not all coastal areas may be impacted by runoff, however, if the water is brown stay out. Continue to practice good personal hygiene and follow-up with your primary care physician if you have any health concerns.

02/15/2024

Kick-off Meeting Details:
Meeting 1:
Date: 2/16/2024
Time: 5:30 pm
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88303305539?pwd=FheWMVwu1TVGH7i5iVThbQgCyNBhsZ.1
Meeting ID: 883 0330 5539
Passcode: 914632

Meeting 2:
Date: 2/17/2024
Time: 1:00 pm
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82035295797?pwd=vwyzYByZOIv61drVHd6gtSYrJBnIBV.1
Meeting ID: 820 3529 5797
Passcode: 721886

02/15/2024

The public is advised of a water quality exceedance of enterococci at Keaukaha Beach - 4 Miles, Hawai‘i. Levels of 1652 per 100 mL have been detected during routine beach monitoring. The Department of Health Clean Water Branch provides beach monitoring and notification through its beach program. The advisory for this beach is posted because testing for enterococci indicate that potentially harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, or parasites may be present in the water. Swimming at beaches with pollution in the water may make you ill.

Children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are the most likely populations to develop illnesses or infections after coming into contact with polluted water, usually while swimming. Fortunately, while swimming-related illnesses can be unpleasant, they are usually not very serious - they require little or no treatment or get better quickly upon treatment, and they have no long-term health effects.

The most common illness associated with swimming in water polluted by f***l pathogens is gastroenteritis. It occurs in a variety of forms that can have one or more of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, stomachache, diarrhea, headache or fever. Other minor illnesses associated with swimming include ear, eye, nose and throat infections. In highly polluted water, swimmers may occasionally be exposed to more serious diseases.

Not all illnesses from a day at the beach are from swimming. Food poisoning from improperly refrigerated picnic lunches may also have some of the same symptoms as swimming-related illnesses, including stomachache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. At any given time and place, we are constantly exposed to a variety of microorganisms that have the potential of making us ill.

The beach has been posted and this advisory will remain in effect until water sample results no longer exceed the threshold level of 130 enterococci per 100 mL.

For more information, see:

02/14/2024

Please join to offer your critical input to the future of our water.

02/08/2024

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) is retesting Kailua Pier Sta. A-1, Hawai‘i. Levels of 500 per 100 mL were detected during routine beach monitoring. DOH is uncertain about the representativeness of the first sample. This beach has historically met the acceptable beach threshold level, and there is no known source of f***l contamination. Therefore, DOH has collected another sample and is retesting the site. DOH will update the notification based on the results of this retesting.

For more information, see:

01/30/2024

Join us for our volunteer training kick-off. Learn how to conduct regular water quality monitoring on our ocean health. Details below 👇

12/14/2023

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) is retesting Kailua Pier Sta. D, Hawai‘i. Levels of 150 per 100 mL were detected during routine beach monitoring. DOH is uncertain about the representativeness of the first sample. This beach has historically met the acceptable beach threshold level, and there is no known source of f***l contamination. Therefore, DOH has collected another sample and is retesting the site. DOH will update the notification based on the results of this retesting.

For more information: