Water quality status and snorkeling guide
📍 Kohala Coast, Big Island — Hidden gem, excellent snorkeling
Read the live DOH advisory status above. This guide supplies no current bacteria sample. An unavailable source, dry weather or clear-looking water does not establish swimming clearance.
DLNR identifies an intermittent stream and reduced visibility from freshwater. It also describes winter high surf and no lifeguards at Waialea. Check actual waves, currents, visibility and posted warnings before any ocean activity.
DLNR: Waialea Bay conditions and marine-life rulesBefore driving, confirm dated access notices for the Waialea section / Beach 69. HÄpuna beach and camping may have different restrictions. An access notice does not measure water quality.
Official park page: check the Waialea section Park notices: check the date and exact locationOfficial sources checked October 20, 2026. Recheck before your visit.
Stay out of the ocean for 72 hours after heavy rain. The Kohala Coast rarely sees significant rain, but when it does occur upslope, any runoff reaching the bay can temporarily affect quality.
Waialea Beach is a small, crescent-shaped bay tucked between the resort beaches of Hapuna and Mauna Lani. Its local nickname "Beach 69" has stuck for decades. Shaded by kiawe and coconut palms, it has a more relaxed, local feel than the manicured resort beaches nearby.
DLNR describes coral communities and diverse marine life in Waialea Bay. Visibility varies, particularly when freshwater enters the bay. Wildlife, a reef or clear-looking water does not establish current water quality or safe snorkeling conditions.
Top-rated experiences near this beach. Check water quality above, then plan your trip.
Tours listed via Viator and GetYourGuide. Safe to Swim Hawaii may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
The nickname comes from a now-removed telephone pole (pole number 69) that marked the unpaved access road before GPS navigation. Early beachgoers would give directions by referencing the pole number. The road has since been paved and the pole replaced, but the name stuck. The official name is Waialea Bay Beach Reserve, but locals and visitors universally call it Beach 69. When searching DOH records or official maps, look for Waialea or Puako.
Turn off Highway 19 onto Old Puako Road (between the Mauna Lani and Hapuna Beach resort areas). A marked parking area is on the left after about a quarter mile. The lot holds roughly 20-25 cars and fills early on weekends and holidays. From the parking area, a shaded 3-minute walk through kiawe trees leads to the beach. The kiawe thorns are brutal on bare feet, so wear shoes for the walk. There are portable restrooms at the parking lot but no other facilities. Bring all supplies including water, food, shade, and snorkel gear.
DLNR describes reef habitat around rocky areas and the southern part of Waialea Bay, but also warns of winter high surf and states that no lifeguards are on duty. Freshwater intrusion can reduce visibility. High surf, winds, shorebreak and currents can make snorkeling dangerous even for strong swimmers; follow the official snorkeling-safety guidance, check actual conditions and posted warnings, and do not enter when conditions are dangerous.
Check Waialea, HÄpuna and Mauna Lani separately for access, advisories and ocean conditions. Waialea is not an automatic fallback when waves affect HÄpuna. Read the notices for your exact destination and follow posted warnings.
Free grouped email updates when Hawaii DOH issues or cancels advisories for your chosen island.
Hawaii DOH’s September 2024 Beach Monitoring Program document lists approximately 407 BEACH Act beaches statewide and reports that approximately 167 were monitored in 2023. Monitoring frequency varies by tier and available resources; many beaches receive no routine sampling, and Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi are not routinely monitored. Water quality varies significantly based on rainfall, stream proximity, coastal development, and ocean circulation patterns.
After heavy rain, streams and storm drains carry bacteria, sewage, pesticides, and sediment into coastal waters. The DOH recommends staying out of the ocean for at least 48 to 72 hours after heavy rain, even if the water appears clear. Brown or murky water is a visible sign of contamination, but bacteria can be present in clear water near stream mouths.
This site aggregates data from six sources — DOH advisories, USGS stream monitoring (25 stations), NOAA tide and temperature data, NDBC wave buoys, NWS weather alerts, and City & County of Honolulu water testing — to provide a more complete picture than any single source.
The 72-hour rule is the standard guideline from the Hawaii Department of Health: avoid swimming for at least 72 hours after heavy rain stops, especially near stream mouths, canal outlets, and areas with brown or discolored water. This applies to all beaches across all islands.
Bacteria from urban runoff, agricultural land, and aging cesspool systems enters the ocean through streams and storm drains. Hawaii has approximately 88,000 cesspools — more than any other state — many of which leak untreated sewage into groundwater that eventually reaches the coast. Beaches near known cesspool contamination areas carry higher risk, particularly after rainfall.
Safe to Swim Hawaii is an independent passion project — not affiliated with the Hawaii DOH. Ratings are estimates, not real-time measurements.
Always verify with the Hawaii DOH Clean Water Branch before entering the water.
This site does not recommend or advise anyone to swim at any beach. We share government data and geographic analysis so you can make your own informed decisions. By using this site you accept full responsibility for your own safety. See our Terms of Use for full details.
When in doubt, don't go out. 🤙
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
Safe to Swim Hawaii is an independent passion project — not affiliated with the Hawaii Department of Health or any government agency. Water quality ratings 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 DOH Clean Water Branch before entering the water.
This site does not recommend or advise anyone to swim at any beach. We share government data and geographic analysis so you can make your own informed decisions. By using this site you accept full responsibility for your own safety. See our Terms of Use for full details.
When in doubt, don’t go out. 🤙