We are headed to the Big Island in Feb. and in the course of researching Kapoho, one of the places we will be staying, I came across some disturbing info on TripAdvisor which I feel I ought to share.

Kapoho is known for its geothermally heated ponds and lagoons populated with gorgeous fish and turtles, and many people visit specifically to snorkel there. Evidently, however, there have been some instances of serious and potentially life-threatening bacterial infections resulting from swimming in the warm pools, of a type that is resistant to anti-bacterial meds.

Here is an article from a few years back in the Star-Bulletin:
http://starbulletin.com/2002/12/12/news/story7.html

I discussed this with my rental agent there, who was quite candid, and said that people with cuts, etc. and lower immune levels would do best not swimming in the ponds. While I can understand why the vacation home owners and rental agents don't mention this potentially serious problem up front, morally speaking, I think they should. Even from a business perspective, they stand to lose big time if somebody gets sick -- or dies -- and they get sued.

That aside, I am disturbed that the guidebooks haven't picked up on it, and thought I needed to post the info here.

We are staying at a house there anyway, because it sounds like a great place to be, but will not be swimming in the ponds, period.

We stayed at a rental house in Kapoho for a week this summer. We visited three different pond areas. Our least favorite was Ahalanui Park mentioned in the news article. Quite frankly, it was not very inviting...sandy bottom, trees dropping leaves, concrete sides, lots of people, a few fish, no coral but had warm water.

The champagne pond area was just OK. The very best for snorkling was the Kapoho tide pools. Pools are a bit protected from the open ocean, but determined by the rising and lowering of the tides. We visited three different times. The best time was in the morning (high tide) when the sun is shining. The water temp. was the same as the ocean. The coral and the fish were fantastic. Better than the Cayman Islands and almost as good as Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

I would not hesitate to swim in the tide pools, just be careful of the volcanic rocks. Our son scraped his belly on the rocks. It healed with no problem, but we had him apply Neosproin a few times.

A. The article only focuses on the naturally-heated Ahalanui pond, NOT the Kapoho tide pools, which are a distinct Puna attraction/locale a few miles away
B. The Kapoho tidepools are "reported" to have a separate problem, which is that homes in that area run on septic systems and that some of the pollution may have seeped into the Kapoho tide pools. I don't know how much truth there is in the above, but if true, it would probably be in a few isolated spots since these are tidepools, and most of them get a continual influx/flushing from the ocean. If concerned, I'd merely stay away from the pools close to the homes or ones that seem self-contained (no currents) and enter only those nearer the ocean (which would then make them potentially more dangerous).
C. In a tidepool (which the Ahalanui pond is) or the ocean, never enter when it's dark (which these people did at 2am when the park was closed) because that's when the nocturnal/carniverous marine creatures are most active

I've personally been in both and the only one I'd avoid next time would be the Ahalanui Pond NOT because of the vibrio issue or eels but because it seemed/felt "dirty" to me--besides the sulphur residue--as BarbaAnn well sums it up

These risks -- which are very slight BTW -- aren't unique to Ahalanui, Kopho or the Big Island.

I've enjoyed and will continue to enjoy the pool and the tidal areas. It's true Ahalanui might not appeal to some folks, because it can get crowded and isn't the most scenic. But on a quiet evening with a starry sky it can be lovely. The state tests the water weekly.

Bacteria is an issue in many warm-water locales, including freshwater and ocean areas. There have been five deaths from Vibrio infections since 2001 in Hawaii -- not just the one that is spooking the OP.

Of course, with the growing concerns about hospital infections, where can you go to avoid all risks? You can't so yu try to weigh the risks appropriately.

Unless I have scabby legs I'll be back in the pool ....

If someone got sick while swimming in the tidepools or baths, why on earth would they sue the rental owner? The pools are public property. And almost any body of water -- pools, hot tubs, springs, rivers, the ocean -- poses a threat of contracting bacteria through skin breaks. Then again, you can also fall down the hotel stairs, crash your rental car, etc. It's good to have all the facts but you need to decide how much you're going to let worrying affect your vacation plans.

My family owns two lots at Kapoho so I can address some of these issues, and I am the one that originally posted the StarBulletin article on TA.

1. People have died and not just the ones in the article
2. The tide pools are separate and distinct from Ahalanui and Champagne Ponds – excellent snorkeling and never go when the tide is going out, only in or high. The tide pools are generally safe, but sewage from the houses IS leaking into the ocean (which is plain bad) but doesn’t pose a large threat
3. The road is NOT a public road (I know I just cut a check for the maintenance costs even though I don’t live there)
4. The state does NOT test weekly. They test on a predetermined schedule and usually average once or twice a month. They take no action other than posting a sign if bacteria levels are dangerous.
5. While medically speaking the threat is relatively minor – education is important and those with open wounds, reduced immunity or are pregnant should not enter the water in these ponds.
6. The ponds on individual properties, which are NOT public, sometimes pose an even higher (as in deadly) risk of Vibrio, staph, and ecoli. These are also NOT tested by the state.
7. Because someone entered the water at night, does that mean they deserved to die?
8. All of this is meant to EDUCATE not “spook” or scare anyone. If you know the risks and enter the water great. But if you enter thinking the “Revealed” book is right, and end up with a resistant strain of bacteria it is too late. A safe vacation is a happy one.

Good luck and happy travels!

This report is about four years more current ...

Including a note that (county ocean safety officer Chris) Birkholm said he considers the water to be clean, noting the state tests the water quality weekly.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar...605070349.html

And advice ...
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar...605070348.html

And it's not just Hawaii ...

http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epi/vibfacts.htm

I certainly didn't mean to imply that echolynch was ``spooking'' anyone. I hadn't even seen the previous link/post.

But it's clear by the over-the-top response: hyperbolically overstating and then a bizarre concept of litigation . . .that the OP was spooked.

sheesh.

Oh for pete's sakes, repete! I fail to see the hyperbole in "there have been some instances of serious and potentially life-threatening bacterial infections resulting from swimming in the warm pools, of a type that is resistant to anti-bacterial meds." I then posted the article which more than supported that statement - somebody died.

Your slash and burn rhetoric is unpleasant and unnecessary. The information was posted so that readers could see it and make their own judgements -- as I did myself, by checking with my realtor to see if she thought the information was accurate, which she did.

I am a senior on a regimen of immune suppressing drugs and that information was critically (no hyperbole there, friend) important to me. I thought it might be important to other Fodors readers as well.

I also ended my post by saying that we were going to rent a house in Kapoho, just not swim in the warm pools there.

But it sounds as if a swim somewhere would you a world of good.

I swim/snorkel at the tidal pools at Vacationland (Kapoho) and Champagne Ponds at least 2-3 times a week for the last 14 years and have not had a problem. I wouldn't swim at Ahalanui though, not enough water goes in and out, and an elderly man did die a few years back. if you have cuts or sores, i'd stay out of the ocean anyway, doesn't need to be a tide pool for bacteria to get into your sores.

All I can say is I was there when the County inspector (I think the State pays the county to conduct the test) was doing the tests last August. He showed me his clipboard and it concurred with what he told me, which is the waters are tested about once or twice a month. Maybe the state has their inspectors do it on the other weeks? Who knows it is Hawaii and we do things differently here. Anyway, as the OP said it may be important info for visitors to be aware of is all.

Well, I guess it was the remark about a home owner getting sued by someone who got sick -- a very small risk -- in the Ahalanui pond that got me going.

If you could find an attorney who would take that case -- even here these litigation happy days, run away fast . . . and take a shower.

Repete, I never said a word about the Ahalanui pond.