State health officials have put up a warning at Cove Park in Kīhei after routine water testing on Monday showed elevated levels of bacteria. The Department of Health’s Clean Water Branch says polluted ocean water can make swimmers sick, especially young children, older adults and anyone with weakened immune systems. Warning signs are now posted along the shoreline while crews run follow-up tests.
What the advisory says
According to the Hawaii Department of Health, samples collected at Cove Park exceeded the Clean Water Branch’s allowable limits, which automatically triggers a public advisory. The agency repeats its standard warning that “swimming at beaches with pollution in the water may make you ill” and directs the public to its online beach-monitoring tool for location-specific test results and updates.
How the state posts advisories
The Clean Water Branch issues alerts when indicator bacteria levels, typically enterococci, climb above the program’s safety threshold. A Department of Health Q&A hosted by the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency explains that the state uses a limit of 130 enterococci colony-forming units per 100 milliliters. Once that line is crossed, staff follow set rules for posting signs, resampling the water and keeping the advisory in place until tests show concentrations have dropped back to acceptable levels.
Recurring problem at Cove Park
Cove Park is no stranger to these kinds of warnings. Past high bacteria readings and brown-water advisories have been documented by local media, including Maui News. Officials have often pointed to storm runoff and nearby pollution sources as likely contributors when counts spike.
What visitors and residents should do
Anyone who went into the water at Cove Park and later develops symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or skin and ear infections is advised to contact a healthcare provider. Details about the advisory are listed in the Department of Health’s online system, accessible through the Hawaii Department of Health site, where the Clean Water Branch also provides public contact information for questions about follow-up sampling.
According to officials, the advisory will stay in place until new test results show enterococci levels below the state threshold. County crews are expected to keep the warning signs up at the beach until they get the all-clear.
