Update: High bacteria count notification also now canceled for Honoli‘i Cove north of Hilo

Update at 11: 26 p.m. Jan. 15: The Hawai‘i Department of Health canceled the high bacteria count notification for Honoli‘i Cove north of Hilo on the east side of the Big Island.

Officials report that water sample retesting results show enterococci levels no longer exceed the threshold level.

Update at 4:41 p.m. Jan. 15: Hawai‘i Department of Health officials canceled the high bacteria count notification for Richardson Ocean Park in the Keaukaha area of Hilo.

Water sample retesting results show enterococci levels no longer exceed the threshold level.

Original post from 4:30 p.m. Jan. 14: The Hawai‘i Department of Health is retesting the beach at Richardson Ocean Park in the Keaukaha area of Hilo and water at Honoliʻi Cove north of Hilo after finding higher than usual levels of bacteria at both locations.

The state Department of Health issued high bacteria count notifications after detecting bacteria levels of 254 per 100 mL at Richardson and levels of 238 per 100 mL at Honoliʻi.

Officials are uncertain about the representativeness of the first sample since both beaches have historically met the acceptable threshold. There also is no known source of fecal contamination.

Additional samples were collected to retest both sites.

The state Department of Health will update the public based on the results of the retesting.

For more information about the high bacteria notifications, click here. To learn about what can affect your health at the beach, click here.