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Several city facilities reopened, Waikiki beaches remain closed

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KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM
Ala Moana Beach remained closed Tuesday following the discharge of more than 500,000 gallons of sewage, mixed with stormwater, into the ocean Monday.

With the exception of Ala Moana Regional Park, several city facilities that were closed Monday due to heavy rains and flooding have reopened to the public. 

Waikiki Beach and much of Oahu’s South Shore were placed off-limits Monday after more than 500,000 gallons of sewage, mixed with stormwater, spewed into the ocean. 

While Ala Moana Beach remains closed due to the wastewater overflow, Waikiki beaches are closed due to a brown water advisory. 

Facilities reopened Tuesday include: the Honolulu Zoo, and all city golf courses, the Waipio Soccer Complex and other city parks as well as the Waikiki Grass Shack Bistro in the Kuhio Beach pavilion. 

The Department of Parks and Recreation will reopen Ala Moana Regional Park tomorrow morning, though the ocean will remain off-limits until further notice. 

The Department of Environmental Services has sanitized the portion of the park affected by the spill today and it will be safe to open tomorrow, according to a city news release. 

The city Environmental Services officials are working with the state Department of Health to conduct testing of water samples from the beaches affected by the wastewater spill and brown water advisory. DOH and ENV have conducted water sampling at about 20 South Shore sites. The results are expected to be available midday Wednesday. At that time, an announcement will be made about reopening the beaches. 

The earliest the beaches would reopen to the public would be Wednesday afternoon, if the DOH determines that contaminant levels are acceptable. 

The city’s Waikiki beachboy surf rental concessions remain closed Tuesday due to the water quality issues. Also, lifeguards will remain at the impacted beaches to warn the public not to enter the water. 

Mayor Kirk Caldwell has approved overtime for lifeguards who reported for work early Tuesday and will stay until sunset — and will do the same tomorrow — to warn beachgoers and keep signage in place. 

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