Water quality status and bacteria risk rating
📍 Kahului, Maui — windsurfing & kiteboarding hub
Kanaha Beach Park is Maui's premier windsurfing and kiteboarding destination with generally acceptable water quality. The beach has a long sandy shoreline with a reef-protected inner area. Strong trade winds help with water circulation and flushing.
Located near Kahului town and the airport, the beach can be affected by urban runoff after heavy rain. The adjacent Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary (a wetland area) can also contribute to elevated nutrient levels. Avoid swimming after storms when runoff from the Kahului area may impact water quality.
Based on: DOH beach monitoring, proximity to Kahului urban area, trade wind flushing, adjacent wetland
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. Kanaha Beach is near the Kahului urban area, so runoff after storms can carry pollutants into the ocean. Always check the water visually before entering.
Top-rated experiences near this beach. Check water quality above, then plan your trip.
Tours listed via Viator and GetYourGuide. Safe to Swim Hawaii may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Free grouped email updates when Hawaii DOH issues or cancels advisories for your chosen island.
Island advisory changes only. Unsubscribe anytime.
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. 🤙