How Clean is the Water at Hawaii's Beaches?

Hawaii's swimming and surfing beaches can become contaminated after a heavy rain, just like the beaches in every other part of the world. This week the Hawaii State Department of Health issued water contamination warnings for Hilo Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii, and several beaches on the islands of Kauai and Oahu. A sewage spill into the Ala Wai Canal has authorities concerned that the beaches of Waikiki could become contaminated, but so far only Magic Island, the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor, and the Ala Wai Canal itself are affected. You can check Hawaii water contamination levels on a Web site produced by the Hawaii State Department of Health: Hawaii Water Contamination Bulletins.