High bacteria count notifications issued for two East Hawaiʻi beaches

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health is retesting the beach at Richardson Ocean Center in Keaukaha and water at Honoliʻi Cove in 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.