What beach is the Grand Wailea on?

The Grand Wailea is on Wailea Beach in South Maui. It has a low bacteria risk rating (1 out of 5). South Maui is the driest coast on the island with no stream mouths and well-managed resort infrastructure, making it consistently the cleanest stretch of Maui coastline.

What beach is the Hyatt Regency Maui on?

The Hyatt Regency Maui is on Ka'anapali Beach in West Maui. It has a moderate bacteria risk rating (2 out of 5). Note that Hanakaoo Beach Park (Canoe Beach), just south along the same coastline, recorded bacteria levels 10 times the safe limit in February 2026.

Is Wailea Beach cleaner than Ka'anapali Beach?

Generally yes. Wailea Beach has a low bacteria risk (1/5) while Ka'anapali has moderate risk (2/5). South Maui receives less rainfall, has no major stream mouths, and has better-managed wastewater infrastructure. However, conditions can change and DOH advisories should always be checked.

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MAUI HOTEL GUIDE

Which Beach Is My
Hotel On?

Every major Maui hotel mapped to its actual beach with water quality data

⚠ Why this matters — the beach name on your hotel's website is not always the same name the DOH uses for water quality monitoring. This map connects the two so you can check bacteria risk for the beach you will actually be swimming at.

🏨 Hyatt Regency Maui Moderate

Beach: Kaʻanapali Beach

South end of Kaʻanapali. Nearby Hanakaʻōʻō Beach hit 10x bacteria limits in Feb 2026.

🏨 Sheraton Maui Moderate

Beach: Kaʻanapali Beach (Black Rock)

North end of Kaʻanapali at Puʻu Kekaʻa (Black Rock). Popular cliff diving and snorkeling.

🏨 Westin Maui Moderate

Beach: Kaʻanapali Beach

Central Kaʻanapali Beach location. Same water quality profile.

🏨 Kaʻanapali Beach Hotel Moderate

Beach: Kaʻanapali Beach

The most Hawaiian hotel on Kaʻanapali Beach. Northern end near Sheraton.

🏨 Grand Wailea Low

Beach: Wailea Beach

South Maui's driest coast. Wailea-to-Makena is consistently the cleanest coastline on Maui.

🏨 Four Seasons Maui Low

Beach: Wailea Beach

Same pristine Wailea Beach stretch as Grand Wailea. Excellent water quality.

🏨 Andaz Maui Low

Beach: Mokapu Beach (Wailea area)

Small crescent beach at the north end of the Wailea resort strip.

🏨 Fairmont Kea Lani Low

Beach: Polo Beach

Between Wailea and Makena. Excellent water quality on the dry South Maui coast.

🏨 Ritz-Carlton Kapalua Low

Beach: Kapalua Bay / D.T. Fleming Beach

Two beaches. Kapalua Bay is calm and sheltered. Fleming is more exposed with occasional waves.

🏨 Montage Kapalua Bay Low

Beach: Kapalua Bay

Directly above Kapalua Bay, one of the best protected swimming beaches on Maui.

🏨 Napili Kai Beach Resort Low

Beach: Napili Bay

Small crescent bay with excellent water quality. Calm swimming most of the year.

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Understanding Water Quality in Hawaii

Hawaii’s Department of Health monitors approximately 57 beaches statewide through regular bacteria testing. However, with over 300 swimmable beaches across the islands, many popular spots have no regular testing program. 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.

72-Hour Rain Rule

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.

:700;font-size:15px;border-radius:14px;text-decoration:none;font-family:inherit">Check all Hawaii beaches & hotels →

Hawaii Beach Safety Tips

Check Before You Go

Always check live advisory status before swimming. Water conditions can change rapidly after rain, and the DOH may not have posted warnings yet.

Brown Water = Stay Out

If the ocean looks brown, muddy, or discolored, do not enter the water — even if no advisory is posted. Hawaii is often slow to test and update beach advisories.

Avoid Stream Mouths

Bacteria levels are highest where streams and canals enter the ocean. Swim away from visible freshwater runoff, especially after rain. Even small streams can carry contamination.

Open Wounds

Avoid ocean swimming with open cuts, scrapes, or wounds. Bacteria in coastal water — including Staphylococcus and Vibrio — can cause serious infections through broken skin.

About Our Data

Safe to Swim Hawaii aggregates water quality data from six independent sources to provide broader coverage than any single agency. Our sources include the Hawaii Department of Health Clean Water Branch (beach advisories and bacteria testing), USGS National Water Information System (25 stream monitoring stations across all islands), NOAA CO-OPS (tide levels and water temperature), NDBC (wave buoys and ocean conditions), NWS Honolulu (weather and marine alerts), and City & County of Honolulu Environmental Services (Kailua Bay water testing and spill reports).

Historical bacteria risk ratings on this site are based on DOH testing data, Surfrider Foundation monitoring, geographic analysis (stream proximity, cesspool contamination areas, coastal development), and advisory frequency. These are historical assessments, not live measurements. Always check the live advisory status at the top of each page and verify conditions with the Hawaii DOH Clean Water Branch before entering the water.

⚠️ 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 data. They are not real-time measurements.

Always verify 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. 🤙