DOH Issues Brown Water Advisory for Kauai Beaches After Kona Storm

The Hawai'i Department of Health has issued a brown water advisory for Kaua'i after a kona storm struck the island Tuesday, sending muddy runoff pouring into nearshore waters along both the North Shore and East Shore. The advisory covers communities including Hanalei, Princeville, Kīlauea, Wailua, Līhuʻe and Kapa'a, along with the shorelines bordering Nā Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon parks.

Officials attribute the discoloration to storm runoff carrying soil, bacteria and other pollutants into coastal waters. The DOH advises beach users to stay out of the water whenever it appears brown or murky, and recommends waiting 48 to 72 hours after rain has stopped and the beach has received full sunshine before returning to the water. State environmental staff say the notice is meant to protect swimmers, surfers and shoreline hikers until bacteria levels and turbidity return to safer ranges. As one state official put it: if the ocean looks like chocolate milk, the official advice is to stay on the sand.

The advisory is precautionary while sampling teams fan out to test water quality at key beaches and stream mouths across the island. No water-sample results have been released yet, and the advisory remains in effect while that testing continues.

The DOH is also warning the public to avoid swimming, wading in, or drinking water from any freshwater streams or ponds in the aftermath of the storm. That precaution is specifically tied to leptospirosis risk, a bacterial infection caused by the Leptospira bacteria that can be contracted through contact with contaminated freshwater.

Health risks from swimming in storm-affected ocean water can include skin rashes, ear infections, stomach illness and eye infections. Notably, the water does not need to appear brown to pose a health risk; bacteria levels can remain elevated even after the water has visually cleared.

Kalapaki Beach near Līhuʻe warrants particular attention. According to a Reddit post that has circulated online, Kalapaki has been under a separate brown water advisory since December 17, and testing by the Surfrider Foundation reportedly found a 100 percent bacteria test failure rate at that beach going back to 2016. Those claims have not been independently confirmed by DOH or Surfrider, and residents and visitors should check with the Department of Health directly for the latest advisory status at that beach before entering the water.

For the most current advisory information, the DOH can be reached through its official website and social media channels, where updates are posted under the hashtag #BrownWaterAdvisory.