UPDATE: Brown water advisory issued 3+ weeks ago for Honuʻapo to Punaluʻu canceled
Hawaiʻi Department of Health, however, still urges the public to avoid brown, murky coastal waters, especially following storms or heavy rainfall; remember: if the water is brown, turn around.
Update at 6:16 p.m. Sept. 17, 2026: State health officials reported Thursday that a brown water advisory issued more than 3 weeks ago for waters from Honuʻapo to Punaluʻu along the Big Island’s southeast coastline is canceled.
Hawaiʻi Department of Health, however, still urges the public to avoid brown, murky coastal waters, especially following storms or heavy rainfall. Remember: if the water is brown, turn around.
Story originally posted at 2 a.m. Aug. 26: A new brown water advisory was issued for a portion of the Big Island’s southeast coastline, from Honuʻapo to Punaluʻu.
Hawaiʻi Department of Health advises beach users to stay out of waters that appear brown or murky, especially following storms or heavy rain — even if a brown water advisory was no issued in the area.
Waters could contain higher-than-normal pollutant levels.
State health officials recommend staying out of these affected waters for 48 to 72 hours (2 to 3 days) after heavy rainfall stops and the beach received full sunshine.
Hawaiʻi Department of Health also advises the public to avoid swimming, wading in or drinking water from any freshwater streams or ponds to prevent leptospirosis, a bacterial infection caused by the Leptospira bacteria.
Remember: if the water is brown, turn around!
Visit the state Health Department Clean Water Branch website for additional information and updates.
