← All beaches & hotels
MAUI · WEST MAUI

Hanakaoo Beach Park

Water quality status and bacteria risk rating

Also known as: Canoe Beach, Hanakaoʻo

📍 Between the Hyatt Regency and Sheraton Maui on the Kaʻanapali coast

Checking live advisories…
30-Day Water Quality History
9/30 days under DOH advisory · 21 days advisory-free
Aug 29 · No active advisoryAug 30 · No active advisoryAug 31 · No active advisorySep 1 · No active advisorySep 2 · No active advisorySep 3 · No active advisorySep 4 · No active advisorySep 5 · No active advisorySep 6 · No active advisorySep 7 · No active advisorySep 8 · Brown Water AdvisorySep 9 · Brown Water AdvisorySep 10 · Brown Water AdvisorySep 11 · Brown Water AdvisorySep 12 · Brown Water AdvisorySep 13 · Brown Water AdvisorySep 14 · Brown Water AdvisorySep 15 · Brown Water AdvisorySep 16 · Brown Water AdvisorySep 17 · No active advisorySep 18 · No active advisorySep 19 · No active advisorySep 20 · No active advisorySep 21 · No active advisorySep 22 · No active advisorySep 23 · No active advisorySep 24 · No active advisorySep 25 · No active advisorySep 26 · No active advisorySep 27 · No active advisory
Aug 29 through Sep 27
1 Brown Water Advisory
Trend: — stable
advisory-free Brown Water Advisory Beach Advisory (bacteria)
Historical Pattern · 3-year monthly
January — 76% advisory-free historicallyFebruary — 53% advisory-free historicallyMarch — 83% advisory-free historicallyApril — 88% advisory-free historicallyMay — 80% advisory-free historicallyJune — 100% advisory-free historicallyJuly — 95% advisory-free historicallyAugust — 81% advisory-free historicallySeptember — 84% advisory-free historicallyOctober — 100% advisory-free historicallyNovember — 98% advisory-free historicallyDecember — 92% advisory-free historically JFMAMJJASOND
Historically most advisory-free in June (100% advisory-free) and most advisoried in February (53% advisory-free). Current 30-day window is tracking above typical September advisory frequency.
Source: Hawaii DOH Clean Water Branch · Updated 2026-09-28
⚠
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.
Elevated Risk 3 / 5

Hanakaoo Beach Park, also known as Canoe Beach, has a documented pattern of recurring bacteria contamination. The February 2026 reading of 1,298 enterococci per 100mL was over 10 times the recreational swimming threshold (130 CFU/100mL EPA standard) — the worst reading on record for this location.

Previous advisories were issued in 2018 (178/100mL), 2019 (238/100mL), and 2020 (137/100mL). The pattern suggests chronic infrastructure issues — urban runoff, stormwater drainage, and nearby cesspools contribute bacteria to the water, particularly after rain. This beach is located just south of the Ka'anapali resort area.

Based on: DOH Beach Advisory history (2018, 2019, 2020, 2026), Maui Now reporting, proximity to urban runoff sources

⚠️ The 72-Hour Rain Rule

The 72-hour rule is especially important at Hanakaoo. Given this beach's history of bacteria exceedances after rain, exercise extra caution. The contamination sources — stormwater drainage, cesspool overflow, and urban runoff — are all activated by rainfall. Even if the water looks clear, bacteria can persist.

Hanakaoo Beach Park Area Hotels — Historical Beach Water Quality
🏨 Ka'anapali Beach Hotels
Sheraton, Marriott, Westin —€” 5-10 min walk north
Elevated
🏨 Lahaina Town Rentals
South of Hanakaoo, 5-15 min drive
Moderate
Related Guides
Ka'anapali Beach Water Quality
Nearby →
Ka'anapali vs Wailea — Water Quality Comparison
Comparison →
Hawaii's Worst Beaches for Bacteria
Rankings →
Hawaii Brown Water Advisory Guide
Guide →
Makena Beach (Big Beach) — South Maui Water Quality
Maui →
Wailea Beach Water Quality
Nearby →
Maui Beach Guide
Island →
Swimming After Rain in Hawaii
Guide → Ka'anapali Area Guide — Beaches, Water Quality & Tips→ Hanakaoo Vs Kaanapali — Water Quality Compared→
Hanakaoo Beach Park Water Quality by Month
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Get Beach Safety Alerts

Free grouped email updates when Hawaii DOH issues or cancels advisories for your chosen island.

Island advisory changes only. Unsubscribe anytime.

Book Tours & Activities

Top-rated experiences near this beach. Check water quality above, then plan your trip.

Ka'anapali Snorkeling Tour
Snorkel the reef at Black Rock and beyond
Viator
Whale Watching from Lahaina
Seasonal humpback tours from Lahaina Harbor
Viator
Sunset Sail
Evening cruise along the Ka'anapali coast
Viator
🦈 Compare Tours & Prices
Browse top-rated Maui tours. Multiple operators, reviews, and instant confirmation.
GetYourGuide

Tours listed via Viator and GetYourGuide. Safe to Swim Hawaii may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.

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 or any government agency. 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.

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 · Independent passion project · safetoswimhawaii@gmail.com