Kailua Bay reopens

KAILUA-KONA — Kailua Bay has reopened after a ruptured sewer line earlier this week closed the area to all water activities.

After testing several water samples, the State Department of Health determined the water quality in the bay was safe, officials announced Thursday afternoon.

“The Department of Health reviewed the most recent sample test results, and found that all sample points were well below state standards for contamination,” said William Kucharski, director of the Department of Environmental Management, in a press release.

The untreated wastewater entered the bay on Monday at the shoreline near Alii Drive and Palani Road in front of the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel. The leak shut down water activities from Kamakahonu Beach to Hulihee Palace to 1,000 feet offshore.

County crews had to dig up the road to locate the pipe and assess the damage. Kucharski said the 55-year-old, 6-inch iron cast pipe ruptured because of corrosion.

The Department of Environmental Management reported Thursday afternoon that repairs to the ruptured main at Alii Drive and Palani Road were complete with final pavement work to come at a later date.

As the county waited for results to come in Thursday morning, the normally crowded pier was nearly empty.

One of the few people near the water was Steve Sudela, operations manager for Body Glove. He described the bay as a central point for divers and swimmers.

Sudela started with Body Glove in 2002. He left the company in 2006 but returned in 2010 and has remained with them since. During that time, he said, this is the longest he’s ever seen the bay closed because of contaminated water.

The pipe crack has led the Kim administration to look into replacing the aging infrastructure, something that could cost millions of dollars.

“This is a major, major problem to tell you the truth,” Mayor Harry Kim said on Wednesday. “This brings to light something we have to do.”