Ocean Safe turns public ocean data into a simple, cautious read on each beach's conditions. Plainly, up front: we don't certify any beach as safe. We describe today's conditions and show how our model scores them. The decision to enter the water is always yours, with help from posted signs, county lifeguards, and the National Weather Service.
Where our data comes from
Surf, swell, wind & UV from the Open-Meteo Marine and Forecast models, updated hourly.
Rain and brown-water risk from Open-Meteo precipitation, combined with each beach's stream and river-mouth profile.
Official advisories from the National Weather Service and county lifeguards, which are always the authoritative word.
How the score works
For each beach we read today's modeled surf, wind, and rain and translate them into a simple band: calmer today, elevated, use caution, or high. Sheltered, reef-protected beaches get more forgiving thresholds than open coast. Two rules override the live read:
Per-beach floors. Beaches with documented hazards or a record of fatalities, such as Queen's Bath, Lumahaʻi, and Polihale, always score do-not-enter, no matter how calm the water looks.
Fail-safe to caution. If the data is missing, stale, or fails to load, we show "conditions unavailable, treat the ocean as hazardous." We never quietly show calm when we don't know.
What the score is not
It is not an official forecast. It's a modeled estimate from public data.
It is not a safety certification. A good score is not permission to enter the water.
It is not a substitute for posted signs, lifeguards, or your own judgment. Conditions change fast, and a calm beach can turn dangerous within the hour.
Beach facts
Lifeguard status, hazards, parking, and access come from Hawaiʻi State Parks, Kauaʻi County, and documented public records. If something is wrong or out of date, tell us and we'll fix it.
Use Ocean Safe at your own risk. We work to keep the data accurate but can't guarantee it, and we're not liable for decisions made using this guide. Always defer to official warnings and trained lifeguards.
Common questions
Does Ocean Safe tell you a beach is safe?
No. We score today's conditions from public data and flag documented hazards, but we never certify a beach as safe. The decision to enter the water is always yours, with help from lifeguards and the National Weather Service.
Where does Ocean Safe get its data?
Surf, swell, wind, UV and rain come from Open-Meteo; tides come from NOAA Tides & Currents; and we point to the National Weather Service for official advisories.
How often does the score update?
Live. Every time you open a beach page it pulls the latest conditions, so the read reflects right now, not a cached snapshot.