← All beaches & hotels

MAUI · NORTH SHORE

Hoʻokipa Beach Park

Water quality status and bacteria risk rating

📍 North Shore Maui, about 20 min east of Kahului Airport

Checking live advisories…

30-Day Water Quality History

7/30 days under DOH advisory · 23 days advisory-free

Sep 25 through Oct 24

1 Beach Advisory

Trend: ▼ improving

advisory-free Brown Water Advisory Beach Advisory (bacteria)

Historical Pattern · 3-year monthly

Historically most advisory-free in June (100% advisory-free) and most advisoried in February (68% advisory-free). Current 30-day window is tracking above typical October advisory frequency.

Community Testing · Surfrider BWTF

Hōʻokipa Beach Park E

Last sample 2026-10-14 · view full report →

<10 (unit not supplied by feed)

dated sample

About: Volunteer water-quality monitoring by the Surfrider Foundation's Blue Water Task Force. Source method and units are preserved when supplied. Missing feed units remain unknown. Dates vary by sample point; these observations do not establish current conditions or cancel an official advisory.

Source: Hawaii DOH Clean Water Branch · Updated 2026-10-25

⚠

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. Avoid swimming during or immediately after heavy rain and stay out of brown or murky water. Elapsed time and clear-looking water do not establish water quality. Follow any DOH advisory affecting this beach until DOH lifts it.

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.

Moderate-Low Risk 2 / 5

Hoʻokipa Beach has historically baseline water quality. This world-famous windsurfing and surfing beach on Maui's North Shore has open ocean exposure with excellent water circulation. Powerful surf and currents naturally flush contaminants.

Some agricultural runoff from nearby former sugar cane lands can affect water quality after heavy rain. Under normal dry conditions, bacteria levels are typically low. Important: Hoʻokipa is NOT a swimming beach. It is for expert surfers and windsurfers only. Visitors come to watch the action and see the sea turtles that rest on the beach (stay 15+ feet away).

Based on: DOH beach monitoring, open ocean exposure, some agricultural runoff potential

⚠️ After-Rain Precautions

Elapsed time and clear-looking water do not establish water quality. Follow any DOH advisory affecting this beach until DOH lifts it. The DOH beach monitoring guidance recommends avoiding swimming during or immediately after heavy rain. Hoʻokipa Beach has good ocean flushing, but agricultural runoff from nearby land can temporarily affect water quality after storms. This is primarily relevant for the expert surfers and windsurfers who use this beach — casual swimmers should not enter the water here regardless of conditions.

Hoʻokipa Beach Area — Nearby Accommodations

🏨 Paia & Haiku Area

Vacation rentals and B&Bs — no major resorts at beach

Info

Book Tours & Activities

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

Road to Hana Tour

Scenic drive through waterfalls and rainforest

Viator

Maui Tours & Activities

Browse same-island ocean and beach activities before you book.

Viator

Maui Whale Watching

Spot humpback whales off Maui's 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.

Related Guides

Kaʻanapali Beach Water Quality & Safety

Maui →

Wailea Beach Water Quality & Safety

Maui →

Swimming After Rain in Hawaii

Guide →

Hawaii Jellyfish Calendar & Sting Guide

Guide →

Maui Beach Guide

Island →

Best Snorkeling Beaches on Maui

Guide →

Maui Brown Water Advisory

Guide →

Worst Beaches for Bacteria in Hawaii

Guide → Hazards at Hoʻokipa Beach Park — What to Know→ Hookipa Vs Baldwin — Water Quality Compared→ Hookipa Vs Kanaha Wind — Water Quality Compared→ Sunset Beach Vs Hookipa — Water Quality Compared→

Hoʻokipa 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.

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. 🤙