Waikiki Beaches Closed After Rains Trigger Sewage Spill

The State Department of Health has advised that the public stay out of the water in those locations and to avoid contact with any standing water near Ala Moana and Atkinson.

Heavy rains from Tropical Depression Kilo contributed to a massive sewage spill near the intersection of Ala Moana Boulevard and Atkinson Drive on Monday.

Shayne Enright, a spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Emergency Services, cautioned the ocean was risky.

In 2006, the city temporarily closed Waikiki’s beaches after 48 million gallons of raw sewage poured into the Ala Wai Canal bordering the area’s hotels and condominiums. “You could get a serious infection, get extremely sick or even worse”, she said.

Honolulu Director of Environmental Services Lori Kahikina said Monday storm water from the rain flowed into the city’s sewage system.

City officials were posting warning signs and police officers and lifeguards were at the beach to warn visitors and residents about the contamination.

Waikiki is home to many of Hawaii’s biggest hotels and is the backbone of its tourism-dependent economy.

That spill was triggered when a sewage line ruptured following weeks of heavy rain.

Steve Casar of the Waikiki Yacht Club said the contaminated water came close to flowing onto club property this morning before subsiding.

Crews from the city and the Hawaii State Department of Health were on the scene and collecting samples from the affected areas.

Officials say one of the causes, residents opened manholes to prevent their homes and cars from flooding after the storm drains backed up.