Is it safe to swim at the Mauna Lani?

The Mauna Lani is on the Kohala Coast with a Moderate bacteria risk rating (2 out of 5). The Kohala Coast receives about 10 inches of rain per year —Â the driest in Hawaii —Â with no streams and no cesspools. A-Bay's moderate rating reflects its sheltered geography rather than any pollution source. The overall Kohala Coast resort corridor is the cleanest in the state.

What is A-Bay at the Mauna Lani?

A-Bay (Anaeho'omalu Bay) is a crescent-shaped beach with calm, protected waters adjacent to ancient Hawaiian fishponds. It is the public beach nearest to the Mauna Lani, Fairmont Orchid, and Hilton Waikoloa Village resorts. The bay has good snorkeling and calm swimming conditions.

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Hawaiʻi Island · Kohala Coast

Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts

Water quality at A-Bay (Anaehoʻomalu)

Checking live advisories…

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If It Looks Brown, Don't Swim

Never enter the ocean when the water appears brown or murky, even if no advisory is posted. Hawaii is often slow to test beaches and update advisories — not every beach is monitored. After heavy rain, wait at least 72 hours and until the water clears before swimming.

Learn more about brown water advisories →

Historical Bacteria Risk

⚠ Historical rating — this is based on long-term testing data, not current conditions. The state of Hawaii is often slow to test beaches and update advisories. Always check the water yourself and avoid brown or murky water.

Moderate Risk 2 / 5

The Mauna Lani resort area uses A-Bay (Anaeho'omalu Bay) as its primary ocean beach, though the resort also has its own small beach at the historic fishponds.

The Kohala Coast is the driest area in Hawaii —Â roughly 10 inches of rain per year. No streams, no cesspools in the coastal zone. This means virtually zero runoff-driven contamination. A-Bay's Moderate rating (vs Low for nearby Hapuna) comes from its sheltered bay shape —Â the ancient fishponds and calm waters don't flush as aggressively as the open coast.

Between A-Bay's occasional mild risk and the near-zero risk at Hapuna, the Kohala Coast is the safest resort corridor in the state.

Based on: DOH monitoring, Kohala Coast dry climate (~10 in/yr rainfall), no stream inputs, sheltered bay geography

⚠️ The 72-Hour Rain Rule

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. Bacteria and pollutants from runoff can linger in the water longer than the brown color does.

Nearby Beach Guides

🏖 Hapuna Beach

15 min north · Cleanest on the island

1 / 5

🏖 Spencer Beach Park

20 min north · Family beach, calm water

2 / 5

🏖 Kahaluʻu Beach Park

30 min south · Popular snorkeling, higher risk

3 / 5

Area Comparison

Kohala Coast Water Quality Guide →

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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, Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts, or any government agency or hotel brand. 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.

When in doubt, don’t go out. 🤙