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MAUI · SOUTH SHORE · KIHEI

Waipuilani Beach Park

Quiet Kihei beach park north of Kalama — Surfrider BWTF community testing

Community Water Testing
The Hawai‘i Department of Health does not run routine bacteria-testing here. The readings below come from the Surfrider Foundation’s volunteer Blue Water Task Force, which fills coverage gaps DOH doesn’t reach.
Community Testing · Surfrider BWTF
Waipuilani
Last sample 2026-04-15 · view full report →
41 MPN/100mL
within threshold
About: Volunteer water-quality monitoring by the Surfrider Foundation's Blue Water Task Force. Method: IDEXX Enterolert (MPN/100mL). Threshold: 130 MPN/100mL Beach Action Value — matches Hawaii DOH. Sampling: monthly (Kauaʻi/Maui), biweekly (Oʻahu).
Source: Surfrider Foundation Blue Water Task Force · Updated 2026-04-25
Bacteria Risk Estimate
2 / 5 — Moderate-Low
BWTF tested · monthly

Waipuilani Beach Park is the quieter Kihei beach park just north of Kalama Park, fronting a long open south-shore stretch. The latest Surfrider BWTF sample (2026-04-15) measured 41 MPN/100mL — within the 130 BAV threshold. The Hawaii DOH does not routinely test this beach.

Why the Readings Run the Way They Do
Open south-shore exposure

Waipuilani sits on Maui's leeward south shore in the same dry-climate stretch as Wailea and Kihei. The recent BWTF reading was 41 MPN/100mL — within the 130 BAV threshold, though slightly higher than the central Kihei beaches.

Open-shore exposure flushes the area effectively, but the proximity to the Kihei road network means storm-drain runoff during heavy rain can briefly elevate readings. The drainage that feeds The Cove (which exceeds BAV at 2,613 MPN) is upstream of Waipuilani — not at the same location, but in the same general drainage pattern.

Standard 72-hour rule applies after heavy rain. Long dry windows are common in Kihei; check recent BWTF readings + visual conditions.

🌧️
After Rain — Wait Times
Light rain: 72 hours minimum, then visually verify the water has cleared.
Moderate rain: 4–7 days.
Storm or Kona low: wait until the water returns to clear blue-green visually. Can take 1–2+ weeks in extreme cases.
Testing Coverage

The Hawaii Department of Health does NOT routinely test Waipuilani Beach Park. 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 Maui chapter.

BWTF samples Waipuilani Beach Park monthly 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.

Practical Notes
Where to Enter

Sandy entry from the central park area. Calm summer conditions; occasional south swells in summer. Less crowded than Kamaole Beach Parks just south.

When It's at Its Best

Summer mornings before the trade winds kick up. Locals and longtime Kihei residents come here more than tourists. Year-round in dry weather.

Getting There

Off South Kihei Road in central-north Kihei, between Kalama Park and the older condo stretch. Free parking. Restrooms, showers, picnic tables.

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⚠️ Important Disclaimer

Safe to Swim Hawaii is an independent passion project — not affiliated with the Hawaii Department of Health, the Surfrider Foundation, or any government agency. Bacteria readings on this page come from the Surfrider Blue Water Task Force, a volunteer-led monitoring program. Readings are point-in-time samples; conditions change with weather, runoff, and wave patterns. 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 and BWTF directly before entering the water.

This site does not recommend or advise anyone to swim at any beach. We share publicly available 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. 🤙

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