Best Puna beaches?

[DanielP]

Kaimu ("new blacksand beach") is nice, but don't try to swim in the water. Too rough surf.

[aunty]

Kapoho Tide Pools are located through a Private Community.Please donate for parking on our privately maintained roads. Please pick up after your selves and leave your dog at home. We also have a lua that we will share and hope you will donate toward that cost for your convenience.
Aunty

[missydog1]

quote:

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Originally posted by hotinhawaii

Kathy, re. Hookena, you can get a permit in person at the beach for camping on the day you arrive there on a first come, first served basis. The spots fill up fast so best to reserve online in advance. But, if you happen to be down that way and are looking to camp for the night, you can just stop in.

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Thanks for that correction hotinhawaii.

I forgot that the system at Ho'okena changed when the County transferred management of Ho'okena to FOHBK after the assaults down there. What I said about no on site permits still applies to County managed beach parks.

Ho'okena has a whole different management system now.
I looked up their page, and here it is for anyone interested.
http://hookena.org/camping.html
It looks like Ho'okena has gone from marginal to very well managed in the last five years.

[missydog1]

quote:

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Originally posted by terracore

quote:

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Originally posted by oldtoys87

I read somewhere that you have to be careful in the volcanically heated pools for bacteria; any problems with this in Kapoho tide pools recently? We are staying at a rental near them for 4 nights in August. Anything I should know before I get here? Places not to go, etc. I don't want the locals mad at us; got worried reading some stuff on Puna that it has an off beat vibe, etc. Actually I think that sounds kind of cool and different, and the area sounds beautiful. How are the frogs lately?

KH

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I did see diaper-aged children in the pool so I'm sure you can draw your own conclusions.

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Diapers are not the reason that the Kapoho community has been discussing water quality since the 1980's or so. Old style wastewater treatment systems, and how they leach in extremely porous ground, are the main issue.

Glad to see the lua is back.
There were also luas there during the summer I lived down there.

[terracore]

While I understand that, mentally I'm just more afraid of fresh poo than I am old leached poo.

[Rob Tucker]

For best results watch the tide charts and days of the week. High tides wash into the pond and clear and cool it... low tides are generally warmer water. Weekends are busier. Like any hot tub the number and frequency of users affect the water quality.

[missydog1]

quote:

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Originally posted by terracore

While I understand that, mentally I'm just more afraid of fresh poo than I am old leached poo.

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but what is old?
There's a study that was done in Kapoho Beach Lots where they put die tracer in the toilet water and timed how long it took to get to show up in the water in Champagne Pond. From toilet flush to swimming water, 15 minutes or less ...

[Hunt Stoddard]

You probably have nothing to worry about in the hot ponds as long as you follow a few precautions. I wouldn't go in with open wounds, cuts, sores. Depending on water quality, I wouldn't dunk my head under and squirt water out of my mouth You know what I mean. Just use common sense. Don't go in if you are immune compromised or taking immune suppression drugs, etc.

From all the accounts I've read about serious bacterial infections, ie, "flesh eating" bacteria, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason outside the known indicators. They all see to be cases where a certain person meets a certain type of bacteria that they're susceptible to, "perfect storm" type scenarios, and I'm not sure how much you can guard against that.

[Green]

i believe the answer is an oxymoron

[Green]

or the question is an oxymoron