Live DOH advisories, bacteria test results, and brown water status for all Maui beaches — updated every 15 minutes
It depends which coast and exact beach. Start with the live DOH advisory box and current Maui beach closures. If no active Maui advisory is posted, treat that as one input, not a beach-specific all-clear; still separate dry South Maui (Wailea, Makena, Keawakapu), wetter West Maui (Kaʻanapali, Napili), North Shore runoff, recent rain, water color, posted signs, and the actual beach behind your hotel name. Live DOH status for every tracked Maui beach is in the module directly below.
If you are checking whether Maui has a brown water advisory today, start with the live box above. Then check recent rain, stream-mouth exposure, and visible water clarity. Brown or murky water is a stay-out signal even before a new advisory appears.
Use the live DOH box first, then choose the route that matches your Maui plan. A clear live box is not a coast-wide all-clear: pair it with current Maui advisories, dry South Maui, wetter West Maui, after-rain timing, or the actual beach behind your hotel name.
Maui's water quality varies dramatically between the south and west coasts. South Maui (Wailea, Makena) is the driest part of the island, with minimal stream outlets and less development near the shoreline. These beaches usually have lower runoff exposure than wetter coasts and often recover faster after rain events.
West Maui (Kaʻanapali, Lahaina) receives significantly more rainfall. Multiple streams discharge into the nearshore waters after storms, carrying sediment, sewage from cesspools, and agricultural runoff into the ocean. The August 2023 Lahaina wildfire added another layer of concern — fire debris, ash, and contaminated soil remain in the west Maui watershed and can wash into the ocean during rain events.
In February 2026, Hanakaoo Beach Park recorded enterococci bacteria levels exceeding 10 times the DOH bacteria threshold — linked to Wahikuli discharge and cesspool contamination in the area. This is not an isolated event; west Maui beaches near stream mouths regularly show elevated bacteria after rain.
Exploring Maui? These top-rated tours and activities pair perfectly with a beach day. 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.
Beach water quality reports for popular Maui hotels — check conditions at your resort.
DOH only tests roughly 47 stations across the four main islands. Surfrider Foundation’s volunteer Blue Water Task Force adds 100+ community-tested sites on Oʻahu, Maui, and Kauaʻi. Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi still have no routine bacteria-testing program, so we separate that gap clearly.
Free island updates for DOH advisories, bacteria warnings, and grouped clear notices near the Maui beaches you check.
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Page last updated June 20, 2026. Live advisory data refreshes from the Hawaii DOH feed every 15 minutes.
⚠️ 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. 🤙