Kalapaki Beach on Kauai will be closed indefinitely after a sewage spill on Wednesday. Health officials are awaiting test results of the water quality, but in the meantime, posted signs notifying the public.
Although Kalapaki’s closed, there are many other Kauai beaches to explore.
About 400,000 to 500,000 gallons of wastewater spilled into a storm drain that leads into Kalapaki Bay. Officials say it happened because of an electrical malfunction at a nearby sewage plant, but the test results should be in sometime this weekend, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Until health officials deem the waters safe, beach-goers can explore other beaches on the east side of Kauai. For starters, there’s Lydgate Beach Park. This is the place to go if you want to feed fish or snorkel because manmade ponds allow for perfect conditions on almost any day of the year. When you want to take a break from the ocean and sun, then picnic in the large grassy field adjacent to the beach. Kids love coming here for the huge playground and bike paths.
Kealia, about 10 miles south of Kalapaki, is a family-friendly beach that can be good for swimming on calmer days. It can be dangerous for swimming, however, when the surf’s up. The beach is known for its sand bar, which constantly changes with the currents. If swimming’s not an option, then you can always walk the half-mile long beach or hang out at the sheltered picnic areas.
Photo Credit: Jana Viles
