Water quality at A-Bay (Anaehoʻomalu)
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 — 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 — 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 cleanest resort corridor in the state.
Based on: DOH monitoring, Kohala Coast dry climate (~10 in/yr rainfall), no stream inputs, sheltered bay geography
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.
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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.
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When in doubt, don’t go out. 🤙