All Beaches Are Public
Yes. Under Hawaii state law, all beaches below the high water mark are public property. No resort, hotel, or private landowner can prevent public access to any beach. This applies to every island and every beach in the state.
No. Resorts must provide public beach access, though the access paths may be narrow or poorly marked. If you encounter difficulty accessing a beach, contact the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).
Look for public access signs, which are required by law. Many resorts have designated public parking areas (often limited). You can also walk along the shoreline below the high water mark from any adjacent public beach.
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. 🤙