HONOLULU, Aug. 25 (UPI) — Hawaii’s famous Waikiki Beach remains closed Tuesday after a half million gallons of raw sewage poured into the Pacific Ocean amid torrential rains.
Wastewater flooded from manholes on Ala Moana Boulevard, a major east-west highway along the coast, after tropical depression Kilo dumped rain in the area. Honolulu Ocean Safety posted signs and lifeguards to warn beachgoers to stay out of the water from Point Panic at Kaka’ko Waterfront Park to Kapahulu Groin in Waikiki.
Officials said the rain overwhelmed the sewage system, causing 500,000 gallons of sewage to seep from manholes. A statewide Brown Water Advisory was issued, asking the public to stay out of flood and storm waters, due to possible “overflowing cesspools, sewer, manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals and associated flood debris.”
“Please stay out of the water at least for the next couple of days or until we get the OK to go in,” said Shayne Enright, Emergency Medical Services spokeswoman. “Don’t take the risk. We don’t know what’s in the water, you could get a serious infection get extremely sick or even worse.”
