Brown Water Advisory: Honokahua, Honolua and Kahana

The state Department of Health Clean Water Branch issued a Brown Water Advisories today for both Kahana, Honokahua Bay and Honolua Bay in West Maui, due to heavy rains.

The department issued a notification saying, the “public is advised to stay out of flood waters and storm water runoff due to possible overflowing cesspools, sewer manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals, and associated flood debris.”

The advisory includes waters at DT Fleming Beach and Makaluapuna Point in West Maui.

The advisory also noted: “Not all waters may be affected, however if the water is brown stay out and continue to practice good personal hygiene and follow up with your primary care physician if you have any health concerns.”

The island of Maui has been under a Flood Advisory since Tuesday evening, and was extended several times overnight.  Over the last 24 hours, more than two inches of rain was recorded at the Kaupō Gap in East Maui and at Kahakuloa.  Kahului had more than an inch of rain, and gauges at Haʻikū recorded 1.69 inches over the 24 hour period that ended at 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015.

Image courtesy State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Health.

Honolua Bay brown water advisory map. Credit: State Department of Health/Google.

Kahana brown water advisory map. Credit: State Department of Health/Google.