Updated at 3:28 p.m. Oct. 2, 2026.
State health officials advise the public that a bacteria threshold exceedance advisories are in effect at Keālia Beach Park and Anahola Bay Pavilion on Kaua‘i.
Hawai‘i Health Department reports that the level of enterococci bacteria in waters at the park currently exceed water quality standards. Levels of 2,005 per 100 mL were detected during routine beach monitoring by the department’s Clean Water Branch.
Levels of 137 per 100 mL of enterococci were detected also during routine beach monitoring at Anahola Bay Pavilion.
The advisories are posted because testing for enterococci indicate potentially harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa or parasites could be present in the water.
They will remain in effect until water sample results no longer exceed the threshold level of 130 enterococci per 100 mL.
Officials also remind the public that a brown water advisory is in effect for the island of Kaua‘i. Remember: If the water is brown, turn around.
Swimming at beaches with polluted waters can make people ill.
Children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are the most at risk after coming into contact with polluted water, usually while swimming.
Fortunately, while unpleasant, swimming-related illnesses usually are not very serious and require little or no treatment and can get better quickly upon treatment with no long-term health effects.
The most common illness associated with swimming in water polluted by fecal pathogens is gastroenteritis. It occurs in a variety of forms that can have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Stomachache.
- Diarrhea.
- Headache or fever.
Other minor illnesses associated with swimming include ear, eye, nose and throat infections. In highly polluted water, swimmers can occasionally be exposed to more serious diseases.
Not all illnesses from a day at the beach are from swimming.
Food poisoning from improperly refrigerated picnic lunches also can have some of the same symptoms as swimming-related illnesses, including stomachache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
At any given time and place, people are constantly exposed to a variety of microorganisms with the potential of causing illness.
Visit the Clean Water Branch website and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website for additional information about both advisories and swimming-related illnesses.
