29 resorts mapped to their actual beaches with water quality ratings. The beach name on your hotel’s website isn’t always the same as what locals or the DOH call it.
Why This Matters
Tourists often don’t know the actual name of the beach in front of their hotel. The Hyatt Regency Maui is on Ka’anapali Beach, but the beach the DOH just flagged for 10x bacteria levels is Hanakaoo Beach Park — also called “Canoe Beach” — just a short walk south along the same coastline. These distinctions matter for water quality.
Hotels on different beaches have very different bacteria risk profiles. On Kaua’i, the Grand Hyatt sits on Poipu Beach (tests clean), while the Marriott sits on Kalapaki Beach (100% bacteria failure since 2016). Same island, completely different water quality.
🌴 O’ahu
🏨 Hilton Hawaiian Village Moderate
Beach: Duke Kahanamoku Beach (western end of Waikiki)
Man-made lagoon + protected beach. Calmer water than the main Waikiki strip. Same general Waikiki water quality profile.
Sits at the south end of Ka’anapali Beach. Hanakaoo Beach Park (“Canoe Beach”) is immediately south — that beach hit 10x bacteria limits in Feb 2026. Ka’anapali proper has different water dynamics but is close enough to warrant awareness.
South Maui is the driest coast on Maui. The Wailea-to-Makena corridor is consistently the cleanest coastline on the island per Hui O Ka Wai Ola monitoring data.
⚠️ Kahalu’u hit 15x bacteria limits in Jan 2026. UH Hilo confirmed cesspool wastewater reaches the shoreline. Popular snorkeling but elevated bacteria risk.
⚠️ Hanalei Bay has been DOH-impaired for enterococcus since 2004. Over 360 cesspools in the watershed. The hotel’s beachfront location is beautiful but the water quality at the bay — especially near the river mouth — is consistently problematic. The western end of the bay (near the hotel) tends to be cleaner than the river mouth area.
⚠️ 100% bacteria failure rate since 2016. Every sample collected at Kalapaki has exceeded safe limits. Persistent brown water advisory since Dec 2025. This is the worst water quality of any resort beach in Hawaii. Consider Poipu Beach (25 min south) as an alternative.
🌴 Lāna’i
🏨 Four Seasons Lanai Low
Beach: Hulopo’e Beach (South Shore)
Marine preserve. No development, no streams, pristine water quality. Spinner dolphins frequent the bay.
Understanding the Risk Ratings
Low — Open ocean, no streams, no cesspools nearby. Consistently tests clean.
Moderate — Generally clean but some risk factors present. Avoid after heavy rain.
Elevated — Near stream mouths or drainage. Check advisories before swimming.
High — Chronic contamination issues. Swim with caution, especially after rain.
Very High — Persistent test failures. Consider alternative beaches.
Ratings are based on DOH monitoring data, Surfrider Foundation testing, and geographic risk factors. They are not real-time measurements. Learn how rain affects water quality →
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 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.
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.