The state Health Department issued a high bacteria advisory Thursday for three Hawaii beaches during routine beach monitoring: Lanikai Beach Shoreline of Oahu, Kepuhi Beach on the north shore of Kauai, and Cove Park of Maui.

On Oahu, levels of 150 per 100 milliliters of enterococci were detected off of Lanikai Beach Shoreline.

On Kauai, levels of 222 per 100 milliliters of enterococci were detected off of Kepuhi Beach. The area impacted stretches from Wainiha Bay Park past Makahoa Point to Waikoko Reef.

On Maui, levels of 205 per 100 milliliters of enterococci were detected off Cove Park.

The Department of Health Clean Water Branch provides beach monitoring and notification through its beach program.

The advisory for these beaches are posted because testing for enterococci indicate that potentially harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, or parasites may be present in the water. Swimming at beaches with pollution in the water may make you ill.

Potentially harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, or parasites may be present in the water, according to the state Health Department, and swimming at beaches with pollution in the water may make one ill.

Children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are the most likely populations to develop illnesses or infections after coming into contact with polluted water, usually while swimming.

While swimming-related illnesses can be unpleasant, they are usually not very serious, require little or no treatment or get better quickly upon treatment, and have no long-term health effects.

Signs have been posted, and the advisory will remain in effect until water sample results no longer exceed the threshold level of 130 enterococci per 100 milliliters.

Updates are available at this link.