Brown water advisory issued for Kōloa Landing on Kauai

Hawaii State Department of Health issued a brown water advisory for Kōloa Landing on Kauai after routine beach monitoring detected 560 enterococci per 100 mL, and a separate water-quality advisory record listed 192 per 100 mL at the same site. The warning tells residents and visitors to avoid ocean contact until further notice.

At Kōloa Landing, brown water advisories follow heavy rain that sends stormwater runoff and debris into coastal waters. Brown water can carry higher-than-normal pollutant levels after storms, and beach users are told to stay out of water and exposed beach sand when the water is brown or murky, especially after heavy rain. Swimming, surfing, fishing and other ocean plans are at risk along the South Shore until conditions improve.

The Clean Water Branch uses Hawaii’s beach monitoring program to track water quality and post advisories when bacteria levels or runoff conditions create a potential health risk. The site is being retested.

Public guidance tied to brown-water events says to keep out of the ocean for 48 to 72 hours after rain stops and after the beach has had full sunshine. Kōloa Landing appeared in the state’s water-quality system before: A Jan. 25, 2022 notice canceled the islandwide Kauai brown water advisory while the advisory remained at Kōloa Landing, and a separate DOH update canceled the brown-water advisory for Wailua Bay and Lydgate Park while Kōloa Landing stayed under warning.