Water quality at Polo Beach
The Fairmont Kea Lani is on Polo Beach, one step south of Wailea Beach on the resort walk.
Polo Beach is a smaller, more intimate cove that rarely flags on any bacteria monitoring.
Like the rest of the Wailea-Makena corridor, this beach benefits from South Maui's dry climate,
no stream inputs, and modern wastewater systems. It's about as clean as it gets in Hawaii.
The Fairmont has direct beach access with a short walk down to the sand.
You can also walk north along the Wailea Beach Path to Wailea Beach (Grand Wailea) or south toward Makena.
Based on: South Maui dry climate, no stream inputs, Hui O Ka Wai Ola monitoring data
The Hawaii Department of Health recommends staying out of the ocean for at least 72 hours after heavy rain, even if the water looks clear. Bacteria and pollutants from runoff can linger in the water longer than the brown color does.
100+ beaches and 25+ hotels across all 6 islands
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
Safe to Swim Hawaii is an independent passion project — it is not affiliated with the Hawaii Department of Health, Fairmont Kea Lani, or any government agency or hotel brand. Water quality ratings on this site are estimates based on publicly available testing data and geographic analysis. They are not real-time measurements and may not reflect current conditions. “No DOH Alerts” means no advisory is currently posted — it does not mean the water was tested and found safe. DOH only monitors a fraction of Hawaii’s beaches, and some areas have no regular testing at all.
Always verify current water quality conditions with the Hawaii Department of Health Clean Water Branch before entering the water. This site is for informational purposes only and should not be the sole basis for any swimming decisions.
This site is a work in progress and we want to make it better. If you notice something that isn’t working right, have a suggestion, or want to share local knowledge about a beach, please reach out.
When in doubt, don’t go out. 🤙