Water quality status and bacteria risk rating
Also known as: Ōhaiʻula Beach
📍 On the Kohala Coast near Kawaihae Harbor and Puʻukoholā Heiau
Spencer Beach Park sits on the dry Kohala Coast with no stream inputs and very low rainfall — the same stretch of coastline as Hapuna Beach and the major Kohala resort corridor. Under normal conditions, the water is clean.
However, Spencer’s calm, sheltered bay doesn’t flush as effectively as open-coast beaches. DOH has recorded periodic bacteria exceedances — 238 enterococci/100mL in June 2023 and 178/100mL in February 2026 (EPA threshold: 130). Both advisories cleared within days, but the pattern suggests the bay’s limited circulation can occasionally allow bacteria to accumulate.
The beach is adjacent to Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site and near ancient fishponds. It’s one of the Big Island’s most popular family beaches thanks to its gentle, protected waters and full facilities.
Based on: DOH Tier 1 weekly monitoring, advisory history (Jun 2023, Feb 2026), sheltered bay geography, dry climate
Spencer Beach is a DOH Tier 1 beach tested weekly for enterococci. The EPA Beach Action Value (BAV) threshold is 130 CFU/100mL.
Both advisories were cleared within days after follow-up sampling showed levels returning below the 130 threshold. Between exceedance events, Spencer Beach typically passes routine DOH testing.
Spencer Beach is protected by a reef and rocky headlands that create calm swimming conditions — ideal for families and children. But this same shelter reduces ocean flushing. Bacteria from any source (wildlife, restroom seepage, stormwater) can persist longer in a sheltered bay than at an exposed beach like Hapuna just up the coast.
This is the same dynamic seen at Kahaluʻu Beach Park (20 miles south), where the sheltered bay combined with cesspool seepage produces much more severe contamination. Spencer’s situation is far less serious — no cesspools have been identified as contributing — but the sheltered geography is a shared risk factor.
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. Spencer Beach is on the dry Kohala Coast where heavy rain is uncommon, but the sheltered bay means any contamination that does enter will take longer to clear. If there has been unusual rainfall, give it extra time.
The Kohala Coast has the cleanest resort water in Hawaii thanks to roughly 10 inches of annual rainfall, zero streams, and no cesspools. See our full breakdown of every resort and beach in the corridor:
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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 or any government agency. 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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