Water quality status, snorkeling conditions & dolphin guide
📍 Keoneʻoʻio Bay · Southernmost Maui · Spinner dolphins
La Pérouse Bay (Keoneʻoʻio Bay) is one of Maui’s most pristine marine environments. Located at the end of the road at the island’s southern tip, it is surrounded by the youngest lava fields in Maui — an eruption from Haleakala around 1790 CE. This remote, undeveloped setting means extremely low bacteria risk.
There are no streams, no development, no cesspools, and no urban runoff anywhere near this bay. The water is fed directly by open ocean currents and is typically crystal clear with excellent visibility. This is one of the rare Hawaii locations where the DOH assigns a consistently low risk rating.
The main hazard is physical: lava rock entry, potential surge, and currents around the point. There are no lifeguards and cell service can be limited. Never swim alone.
Based on: No known pollution sources, remote location, open ocean exposure, no DOH exceedances recorded
The Hawaii DOH recommends staying out of the ocean for at least 72 hours after heavy rain. La Pérouse Bay is less affected by rain than most Maui beaches due to its remote, lava-surrounded location, but always check conditions after storms.
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⚠️ Important Disclaimer
Safe to Swim Hawaii is an independent passion project not affiliated with the Hawaii Department of Health. Water quality ratings are estimates based on publicly available data and are not real-time measurements. La Pérouse Bay is not regularly monitored by the DOH.
Always verify with the Hawaii DOH Clean Water Branch before entering the water.
When in doubt, don't go out.