A Westin Resort — Water quality at Waikiki Beach
The Moana Surfrider is Waikiki’s first hotel, built in 1901, sitting on the east end of Waikiki Beach.
This is arguably the best position on Waikiki for water quality — it’s the farthest major beachfront hotel from the
Ala Wai Canal outlet at the west end.
That said, all of Waikiki shares the same water. The Ala Wai drains the entire Honolulu watershed, including thousands of cesspools,
and after rain the bacteria spreads along the full shoreline. The east end tends to be affected less directly, but it’s not immune.
On dry days, the water is usually fine. After rain, give it 2–3 days before swimming.
Based on: Ala Wai Canal distance, DOH monitoring data, Waikiki shoreline compliance rates
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.
When conditions are clear, Waikiki has world-class ocean activities. Check the water quality above, then book with confidence.
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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, Moana Surfrider, Marriott/Westin, 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.