This month, Hawaii news media picked up the results of Surfrider Foundation’s annual report on water quality from its Blue Water Task Force https://hawaii.surfrider.org/bwtf. The report reveals that Hawaii beaches are among the most polluted in the nation.
Waikomo Stream, that empties into the popular Koloa Landing, has made the top of this year’s list at being polluted with concentrations of enterococcus bacteria more than 90 percent of the time.
The mouths of Hanalei, Hanamaulu and Nawiliwili streams were reported polluted at levels above Hawaii state standards 100 percent of the time in 2024. All three of those sites have been posted with water quality “Caution” signs by Hawaii Department of Health or by the Kauai Chapter of Surfrider Foundation. Moloa’a Stream, at 90 percent, is also posted by Surfrider.
Koloa Landing results should be posted soon.
Recent test results for Waikomo Stream were 110 mpn bacteria per 100 ml, slightly below the Hawaii state standard of 130 mpn, but the mean for the year, 186 mpn, is 5 times the state standard (35 mpn). Other types of testing by Surfrider and Hawaii DOH has consistently identified human waste water in Waikomo Stream.
BWTF sampling on June 14 found extremely high concentrations of bacteria in the streams because of recent rains, with the small stream on the west end of Makua (Tunnels) Beach and Moloa’a having the highest concentrations that can be obtained with the IDEXX tests being used. The water at the beach at the east end of Tunnels showed the impact of stream pollution.
BWTF testing showed all of the ocean surf sites with bacteria concentrations below the level measured (10 mpn) or below the Hawaii state standard (130 mpn).
Everyone should be aware of the potential chronic pollution at our streams and river, and where they flow into the ocean.
Surfrider advises always rinsing off with clean fresh water after getting out of the ocean to avoid getting infections.
Source: The Garden Island