What to know before you go
20-30ft waves breaking over extremely shallow reef, multiple injuries and deaths each season
Flat and relatively calm, snorkeling possible but reef is still shallow
| Lifeguards | No |
| Nearest Hospital | Kahuku Medical Center (8 mi) |
| Cell Coverage | Moderate |
| Emergency | Call 911 — Ocean Safety: (808) 723-8170 |
Everyone except professional surfers in winter. Even in summer, the shallow reef causes injuries. No lifeguards on duty year-round.
After heavy rain, bacteria and pollutants from runoff contaminate coastal waters. Wait at least 72 hours after heavy rain and until the water clears before entering. This applies to Banzai Pipeline and every beach in Hawaiʻi.
World’s most dangerous wave. Shallow reef — 2-4 feet below surface. Expert surfers only in winter. Fatalities and serious injuries every season.
No. Nearest hospital: Kahuku Medical Center (8 mi). Cell phone coverage: Moderate.
Winter: 20-30ft waves breaking over extremely shallow reef, multiple injuries and deaths each season. Summer: Flat and relatively calm, snorkeling possible but reef is still shallow
Everyone except professional surfers in winter. Even in summer, the shallow reef causes injuries. No lifeguards on duty year-round.
Tours listed via Viator and GetYourGuide. Safe to Swim Hawaii may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Free alerts when advisories change at your beach.
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
Safe to Swim Hawaii is an independent passion project — it is not affiliated with the Hawaii Department of Health, any entity mentioned on this page, 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.
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.
When in doubt, donʻt go out. 🤙