Is it safe to swim at the Grand Wailea?

Yes. The Grand Wailea is on Wailea Beach, which has a Low bacteria risk rating (1 out of 5). South Maui is the driest coast on Maui with no stream inputs and modern wastewater infrastructure. Community monitoring data from Hui O Ka Wai Ola consistently shows the Wailea corridor has the lowest bacteria levels on the island.

How does Grand Wailea water quality compare to Ka'anapali resorts?

Wailea Beach (Grand Wailea) is significantly cleaner than the Ka'anapali resort corridor. Hanakaoo Beach Park near Ka'anapali recorded 1,298 enterococci per 100mL in February 2026 —Â ten times the safe limit. Wailea Beach rarely if ever flags on bacteria tests. The difference is geography: South Maui is drier with no streams, while West Maui has more rainfall and runoff exposure.

Which beach is the Grand Wailea on?

The Grand Wailea is directly on Wailea Beach in South Maui. This is a public beach with soft sand and generally calm conditions. The neighboring beaches along the Wailea resort walk are Polo Beach (Fairmont Kea Lani) and Mokapu Beach (Andaz Maui), all with equally clean water quality.

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Maui · South Maui

Grand Wailea

Water quality at Wailea Beach

Checking live advisories…

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If It Looks Brown, Don't Swim

Never enter the ocean when the water appears brown or murky, even if no advisory is posted. Hawaii is often slow to test beaches and update advisories — not every beach is monitored. After heavy rain, wait at least 72 hours and until the water clears before swimming.

Learn more about brown water advisories →

Historical Bacteria Risk

⚠ Historical rating — this is based on long-term testing data, not current conditions. The state of Hawaii is often slow to test beaches and update advisories. Always check the water yourself and avoid brown or murky water.

Low Risk 1 / 5

The Grand Wailea sits on Wailea Beach, part of the cleanest resort stretch on Maui. South Maui is the driest coast on the island —Â minimal rainfall means minimal runoff. There are no streams emptying onto these beaches, and the resort infrastructure uses modern wastewater systems (no cesspools).

Hui O Ka Wai Ola, a community water monitoring group, consistently finds the Wailea-to-Makena corridor has the lowest bacteria counts on Maui. This is the opposite of what's happening in West Maui, where Hanakaoo Beach (on the Ka'anapali strip) just hit 1,298 enterococci/100mL in February 2026 —Â 10x the safe limit.

If you're paying Grand Wailea prices, you're getting some of the cleanest resort water in the state.

Based on: Hui O Ka Wai Ola monitoring, DOH data, dry climate, no stream inputs, modern wastewater infrastructure

⚠️ The 72-Hour Rain Rule

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.

Nearby Beach Guides

🏖 Wailea Beach

Your beach · Full water quality data

1 / 5

🏖 Makena Beach (Big Beach)

10 min south · Bigger waves, same clean water

1 / 5

🏖 Kapalua Bay

45 min north · West Maui, also very clean

1 / 5

Area Comparison

Wailea vs Ka'anapali Water Quality →

Check all Hawaii beaches & hotels →

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, Grand Wailea, 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. 🤙