Kauaʻi Chapter of Surfrider Foundation reveals water quality findings for 2026

The Surfrider Foundation Kauaʻi Chapter reported the water quality of Kauaʻi streams, rivers, river mouths, and bays for January and February.

Hawaiʻi’s Department of Health Clean Water Branch and the Blue Water Task Force, Surfrider’s volunteer water quality monitoring program, test different areas of beaches and coastal recreational waters on Kauaʻi to provide more extensive water quality information for informed, safe beachgoing.

According to Surfrider, the Clean Water Branch collects water samples at popular ocean beaches, while the Blue Water Task Force collects at popular surf breaks or in estuaries where canal, stream, or river water meets the ocean at the beach, which are popular places for children to play in the water, but the water is often polluted.

Both groups collect samples in similar ways and test for Enterococcus bacteria (fecal indicator bacteria) concentrations using the exact same method approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The samples are then compared to the water quality standards set to protect public health.

The task force tested Kauaʻi waters on Jan. 10 and Feb. 14 and measured Enterococcus bacterial concentration per 100 milliliters. Anything over 130 is considered polluted.

In January, 10 water sources of 26 tested were considered polluted with the highest concentration of bacteria, 3,654, located in the Mānoa stream. The rest of the polluted waters are listed below:

• 2,778 in the Moloaʻa stream
• 1,782 in the Hanamāʻulu stream
• 1,782 in the Nāwiliwili stream
• 1,036 in the Pūʻū Poa (Wailaiia stream)
• 728 in the Anahola River
• 512 in the Wainiha river mouth
• 388 in the Hanalei River
• 183 in the Lumahaʻi river mouth
• 168 in the Waikoko surf

According to the Kauaʻi Annual Water Quality Report in 2024, sites located at stream mouths, beaches with freshwater outlets, or in bays without much circulation are typically characterized by higher bacteria levels across Kauaʻi.

Streams located at many of the most contaminated sites could also carry runoff from cesspools and other pollution sources in the watershed, such as animal waste from pets, agriculture, and wildlife.

In February, 17 water sources were considered polluted out of 28 tested. For this month, the Moloaʻa stream had more than doubled the concentration of bacteria with 6,131 per 100 milliliters. The rest of the polluted waters are listed below:

• 3,130 in the Nāwiliwili stream
• 2,909 in the Hanamāʻulu stream
• 2,035 in the Waikomo stream in Kōloa
• 1,565 in the Wailua River Park
• 1,553 in the Pakala surf
• 933 in the Mānoa stream
• 789 in the Hanapēpē River
• 609 in the Hanalei River
• 473 in the Hanamāʻulu Bay beach
• 465 in the Port Allen Boat Harbor
• 455 in the Anahola River
• 443 in the Wainiha river mouth
• 309 in the Kalihiwai surf
• 203 in the Lydgate (Morgan’s pond)
• 171 in the Lumahaʻi river mouth
• 161 in the Anahola Bay surf

According to Surfrider, sampling over the years has documented chronic levels of pollution at Hanamāʻulu stream, Nāwiliwili stream at Kalapakī Bay, and Waikomo stream at Kōloa Landing.

The data is reported to the Hawaiʻi Department of Health and the EPA, and Surfrider is attempting to get warning signs at these spots and take measures to stop the polluting.

For those interested in receiving notifications when a Department of Health beach advisory, brown water advisory, or sewage spill is posted, or when any water quality advisory is closed, visit the Clean Water Branch System.

To learn more about these efforts, contact Dr. Carl J. Berg, senior scientist, Kauaʻi chapter: 808-639-2968 or cberg@pixi.com.