High bacteria levels detected off handful of West Hawai‘i beaches
Bacteria levels in waters off the west side of Kailua Pier as well as at Kekaha Kai State Beach Park and Kua Bay were reported by the state Department of Health Thursday afternoon.
Levels of 238 per 100 mL were detected during routine beach monitoring at the pier by Kamakahonu Beach, fronting King Kamehameha Beach Hotel. The DOH is unsure about the accuracy of the first sample and has collected a second sample, which will be retested.
The DOH is also retesting Kua Bay where levels of 2,005 per 100 mL were detected during routine beach monitoring. And the third beach, Kekaha Kai Beach State Park, had levels of 306 per 100 mL detected during routine beach monitoring. Restesting is also scheduled.
According to the DOH, all locations have historically met acceptable beach threshold levels and there is no known source of fecal contamination.