Your Beach Water Quality Guide
Check for DOH advisories on this site or the DOH Clean Water Branch. Visually assess the water: clear blue/green is good, brown or murky means stay out. Avoid swimming for 72 hours after heavy rain. Beaches on dry leeward coasts tend to be cleaner.
Reef-safe sunscreen (required by law in Hawaii), water shoes for rocky beaches, snorkel gear (or rent locally), reusable water bottle, and a rash guard for sun protection. Bring your own shade for beaches without facilities.
Oahu offers the most variety and convenience for first-timers. Maui is best for resort-style beach vacations. Big Island for adventure and Kauai for natural beauty. All islands have beaches with excellent water quality.
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.
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⚠️ Important Disclaimer
Safe to Swim Hawaii is an independent passion project — it is not affiliated with the Hawaii Department of Health, any entity mentioned on this page, 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. 🤙