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East Side Adventures

Donkey Beach vs Kealia Beach: Water Quality & Beach Comparison

This compares historical water-quality estimates and beach features. Current DOH notices below take priority at each named beach.

Checking current DOH advisories… Historical ratings below do not describe today's water quality.

Historical grades below cannot clear an active DOH advisory. Check the current notice above and posted beach signs before entering the water.

Head-to-Head Comparison
Donkey Beach
1.5/5
Historical bacteria risk rating
Kealia Beach
1.5/5
Historical bacteria risk rating
Historical Water Quality Risk
1.5/5 vs 1.5/5
Historical Advisory Frequency
Rare vs Rare
Lifeguards
No vs Yes
Parking
Roadside + short hike vs Free lot
Crowd Level
Low vs Moderate
Family-Friendly
No (shore break, hike) vs No (shore break)
Best Season
Summer (calmer) vs Year-round (watching)
Distance from Airport
~14 mi from LIH vs ~10 mi from LIH
Snorkeling
Limited vs Limited
Swimming Conditions
Shore break, experienced vs Shore break, bodyboarding
Data from Hawaii DOH Clean Water Branch monitoring, site characteristics assessment, and public advisory records. These historical estimates do not describe current water quality; check the DOH status above.
Planning Differences

These features and historical grades can help compare a trip, but they cannot establish which beach has cleaner water today. Check the current DOH status above first.

Donkey Beach:

• Historical bacteria risk estimate: 1.5/5

• You prefer fewer crowds and a quieter atmosphere

• You are prepared for the shore break and short hike

Kealia Beach:

• Historical bacteria risk estimate: 1.5/5

• You want lifeguards on duty

• You want free parking

Historical Water Quality Comparison

What Do Past Records Suggest?

Both beaches have the same historical bacteria risk estimate (1.5/5). That does not establish equal water quality today or clear the current DOH advisory above. Check the named notice, posted signs, and local conditions 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
Official DOH Notice Source
The current status check appears above. Verify the latest posting for each named beach with DOH.
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.

This site does not recommend or advise anyone to swim at any beach. We share government data and geographic analysis so you can make your own informed decisions. By using this site you accept full responsibility for your own safety. See our Terms of Use for full details.

When in doubt, don’t go out.

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