South Kaneohe Bay

South Kaneohe Bay is the southern flank of the larger Kaneohe Bay system on windward Oʻahu, around the Heʻeia State Park area — a Surfrider BWTF sample point. Check the Community Water Testing section for the sample date, result and full Surfrider report. A sample describes the water collected at that place and time; it does not establish today's water quality. Check the live DOH status above separately.

South Kaneohe Bay receives runoff from streams including Heʻeia, Kaʻalaea and Waikalua. The bay lies behind a barrier reef, with fishponds and other sheltered shoreline areas.

Stream inputs and sheltered geography do not establish a current bacteria result. Check the collection date and source report in Community Water Testing, alongside the separate live DOH status.

The Hawaii Department of Health does NOT routinely test South Kaneohe Bay. The community-tested readings on this page come from the Surfrider Foundation Blue Water Task Force, a volunteer-led monitoring program run by the Surfrider Oʻahu chapter.

BWTF samples South Kaneohe Bay biweekly using the IDEXX Enterolert method (MPN/100mL), and compares results against the same 130 Beach Action Value DOH uses statewide. See our overview of citizen water-quality testing in Hawaiʻi for the methodology and how BWTF data fits with DOH coverage.

Heʻeia State Park has the best protected access. Avoid the immediate stream-mouth zones (Heʻeia, Kaʻalaea). The reef-protected channels are calm but slow to flush — pick spots away from canals and harbors.

After at least 5–7 dry days. The windward side gets more rain than leeward Oʻahu, so dry windows are rarer. Summer trade-wind days are often clearer. Avoid the bay for 4–7 days after a major storm.

Heʻeia State Park is off Kamehameha Highway in Kaneohe. Several public access points along the bay's south flank. Boat launches at Heʻeia Pier and Heʻeia Kea Boat Harbor. Sandbar tours leave from the boat harbor on calm days.