Beachgoers in beautiful Hawaii have been issued a grim warning, urging swimmers to stay out of the balmy waters.
O’ahu, the most visited Hawaiian island, was handed a dispiriting advisory by the Hawaii Department of Health, imploring Sunset Beach visitors to stay away after the water was reportedly brown in color.
The Brown Water Advisory, a caution issued when waters appear brown or murky, came on Tuesday as heavy rain offloaded pollution into the ocean at a higher than normal rate.
The displeasing dirt-colored water is likely high in harmful bacteria including leptospirosis which if exposed to symptoms can include fever, headache, vomiting, red eyes, chills, kidney or liver problems, anemia and rash.
The Brown Water Advisory, a caution issued when waters appear brown or murky, came on Tuesday as heavy rain offloaded pollution into the ocean at a higher than normal rate
The DOH recommends staying out of the water as swimming, wading in or drinking water from any freshwater streams or ponds should be avoided for 48 to 72 hours after the rain has stopped and after the beach has received full sunshine
The DOH recommends staying out of the water as swimming, wading in or drinking water from any freshwater streams or ponds should be avoided for 48 to 72 hours after the rain has stopped and after the beach has received full sunshine.
‘If the water is brown, turn around,’ the advisory reads.
In addition to its picturesque shores, O’ahu is also a popular surfing destination, offering world-class surfing especially during the winter season. In February, Hurley, a popular surf-wear brand, hosted the World Surf League at Sunset Beach.
O’ahu’s many paradise-like beaches were named amongst some of the nation’s best beaches by Professor Stephen P. Leatherman, whose nickname is Dr. Beach, earlier this year.
O’ahu’s many paradise-like beaches were named amongst some of the nation’s best beaches by Professor Stephen P. Leatherman, whose nickname is Dr. Beach, earlier this year. Pictured: Winter surfing conditions at O’ahu’s Sunset Beach
Dr. Leatherman, a Professor and Director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University, considered factors like the beach’s sand softness, its amount of sunny days a year and overall cleanliness into account when creating his annual list.
He used a five-point scale based on 50 criteria store when ranking all of the beaches on his list.
Ranking atop the coveted list is O’ahu’s Duke Kahanamoku Beach, which was named after surf legend Duke Kahanamoku. Coming in third is Maui’s public Wailea Beach which The Hawaii Vacation Guide calls ‘a great backdrop for a memorable vacation.’
