Laʻaloa Beach County Park · Water quality status and bacteria risk rating
📍 On Aliʻi Drive in Kailua-Kona, near the Royal Kona Resort
Magic Sands — officially Laʻaloa Beach County Park — is a small, popular beach on Aliʻi Drive in Kailua-Kona. It sits on the relatively dry leeward coast with good open ocean exposure that helps flush the water. It’s nicknamed “Magic Sands” or “Disappearing Sands” because winter swells can wash the entire beach offshore, exposing rocky bottom.
The beach has some nearby storm drain outflows, which can introduce bacteria after rain. DOH recorded an exceedance of 166 enterococci/100mL in August 2020 (EPA threshold: 130), and an earlier advisory in 2017 at approximately twice the limit. Both cleared quickly. Between events, the beach generally passes routine testing.
The primary safety concern at Magic Sands is the powerful shore break, not bacteria. Waves can be hazardous, especially during winter. Lifeguards are on duty.
Based on: DOH Tier 1 weekly monitoring, advisory history (2017, Aug 2020), urban storm drains, open ocean flushing
Magic Sands sits in the middle of the Kona tourist corridor, with very different water quality to the north and south:
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. Magic Sands is on the drier Kona coast, but it’s in an urban area with storm drains that can carry road runoff and other contaminants into the ocean after rain. Learn more about swimming after rain →
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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 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.
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When in doubt, don’t go out. 🤙