Sunday at "Brown" Lanikea's Surfbreak
After Thursday’s massive rain storm and rain showers all weekend, Sunday was the first real sunny day. I was happy to venture out of my house and maybe do some surfing. The winds were perfect and the conditions would be right for me, so I thought.
I went around the eastside past Kualoa and began to see the sea of brown. The sea of brown continued all the way up the coastline getting browner as I went up north. Velzyland and Sunset looked a disappointing brown and there were about a handful of surfing on the clean 2-4 foot Hawaiian scale size surf. I thought I should check all the breaks just in case and continued up to Haleiwa, but to my dismay it got even browner as I passed Waimea Bay.
Hawaii State Officials have warned residents to stay out of streams and coastal waters that have turned brown and murky by storm waters since Thursday’s downpour. These waters and flooded areas may contain chemical pollutants or harmful micro-organisms from overflowing cesspools, septic tanks, as well as animal feces. The Department of Health even issued a Brown Water Advisory for all of Hawaii until conditions clear.
After remembering all this information and staring at the dark brown water all morning I decided against risking my health. There are many things I will sacrifice for surf such as work, family functions, or even a boyfriend, but after careful deliberation I decided that getting leptospirosis (a bacterial infection) was not the sacrifice I was willing to take today.
To the few surfers I did see in the water I wish you good luck. I envy you for getting clean, uncrowded North Shore to yourselves, but I don’t envy you for all the bacteria that you may have ingested into your body.
Tags: leptospirosis, North Shore, Surfing
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