Water quality status and bacteria risk rating
📍 Kahala, Oʻahu South Shore
Waiʻalae Beach Park is a quiet neighborhood beach in the Kahala area of Oʻahu's South Shore with generally acceptable water quality under dry conditions. The beach sits near The Kahala Hotel & Resort and offers a calmer, less crowded alternative to Waikiki.
The primary water quality concern is storm drain runoff from the Kahala residential area. Several storm drain outlets discharge near the beach, carrying fertilizers, pet waste, and urban contaminants after rain. The reef-protected shoreline slows natural flushing compared to open-ocean beaches, which can allow bacteria to linger longer after storms.
Based on: DOH beach monitoring, storm drain proximity, residential runoff potential, reef-protected shoreline flushing
The Department of Health recommends staying out of the ocean for at least 72 hours after heavy rain. Waiʻalae Beach is particularly affected by post-rain runoff due to nearby storm drains from the Kahala residential area. The reef-protected shoreline can slow flushing, so contaminants may linger longer than at open-ocean beaches.
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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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