Update: High bacteria count advisory canceled at Honoli‘i Cove

Update at 4 p.m. March 13: The high bacteria count advisory for Honoli‘i Cove north of Hilo is canceled.

Hawai’i Department of Health officials report that water sample testing results show the enterococci levels at the popular surf spot, which includes Honoli‘i Beach Park, no longer exceed the threshold level.

Original post at 3:51 p.m. March 12: Hawai‘i Department of Health officials advise the public that the amount of bacteria in waters at Honoli‘i Cove, which includes popular surf spot Honoli‘i Beach Park north of Hilo, have exceeded acceptable levels because of recent heavy rains along windward slopes of the Big Island.

Levels of 288 per 100 mL of enterococci were detected during routine beach monitoring March 11, indicating potentially harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa or parasites could be present in the water.

Swimming and other ocean activities at beaches with polluted water can make people ill.

Keiki, kūpuna and people with weakened immune systems are most likely to develop illnesses or infections after coming into contact with polluted water, usually while swimming.

Fortunately, while swimming-related illnesses can be unpleasant, they are usually not very serious. They require little or no treatment and tend to get better quickly upon treatment. They also have no long-term health effects.

The most common illness associated with swimming in water polluted by fecal pathogens is gastroenteritis, which occurs in a variety of forms.

Gastroenteritis can have one or more of the following symptoms:

• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Stomachache.
• Diarrhea.
• Headache.
• Fever.

Other minor illnesses associated with swimming in polluted waters include ear, eye, nose and throat infections. In highly polluted water, swimmers also can occasionally be exposed to more serious diseases.

Not all illnesses from a day at the beach are from swimming either.

Food poisoning from improperly refrigerated picnic lunches can have some of the same symptoms as swimming-related illnesses, including stomachache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

The high bacteria count advisory was posted at the Honoli‘i beach and will remain in effect until water sample results no longer exceed the threshold level of 130 enterococci per 100 mL.

There are two websites you can visit for additional information:

• Hawai‘i Department of Health Clean Water Branch System.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.