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Best Snorkeling

Anini Beach vs Tunnels (Makua): Water Quality & Beach Comparison

Data-driven comparison of water quality, facilities, crowd levels, and conditions at Anini Beach and Tunnels (Makua).

Head-to-Head Comparison
Anini Beach
1/5
Bacteria risk rating
Tunnels (Makua)
1/5
Bacteria risk rating
Water Quality Risk
1/5 vs 1/5
Advisory Frequency
Very rare vs Rare
Lifeguards
No vs No
Parking
Free lot vs Very limited (Haʻena shuttle)
Crowd Level
Low vs Moderate
Family-Friendly
Excellent vs Experienced swimmers
Best Season
Year-round vs May-Sep
Distance from Airport
~30 mi from LIH vs ~40 mi from LIH
Snorkeling
Excellent vs World-class
Swimming Conditions
Calm, reef protected vs Summer calm; winter very dangerous
Data from Hawaii DOH Clean Water Branch monitoring, site characteristics assessment, and public advisory records. Risk ratings are estimates based on available data and may not reflect real-time conditions.
Which Beach Should You Choose?

Choose Anini Beach If:

• You want lower bacteria risk (rated 1/5)

• You have young kids or want calm, family-friendly conditions

• You want world-class snorkeling

• You prefer fewer crowds and a quieter atmosphere

Choose Tunnels (Makua) If:

• You want lower bacteria risk (rated 1/5)

• You want calm, easy swimming conditions

• The water quality data suits your comfort level (1/5 risk)

The Water Quality Verdict

Which Has Cleaner Water?

Both Anini Beach and Tunnels (Makua) show similar bacteria risk levels (1/5). Neither has a clear water quality advantage based on available data. At both locations, avoid swimming for 72 hours after heavy rain, and always check for active DOH advisories before entering the water.

Key tip: Avoid swimming for 72 hours after heavy rain at any Hawaiʻi beach. See our rain safety guide →

Check Before You Swim
✅ Live Advisory Status
Check DOH Clean Water Branch for current conditions at both beaches
Check active advisories →
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Data Sources

Hawaii DOH Clean Water Branch — Beach monitoring, water quality advisories. eha-cloud.doh.hawaii.gov

Safe to Swim Hawaii — Risk ratings based on DOH data, site characteristics, stream proximity, and advisory history. safetoswimhawaii.com

⚠️ Important Disclaimer

Safe to Swim Hawaii is an independent passion project — not affiliated with any government agency or monitoring organization. Assessments are based on publicly available data. They are not real-time measurements. “No DOH Alerts” means no advisory is currently posted — it does not mean the water was tested and found clean. DOH only monitors a fraction of Hawaiʻi’s beaches, and some areas have no regular testing at all.

Always verify current conditions with the Hawaii DOH Clean Water Branch before entering the water.

When in doubt, don’t go out.

© 2026 Safe to Swim Hawaii · safetoswimhawaii@gmail.com
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