Staff at the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge on Maui have been monitoring the pink water since Oct. 30.

Weird NewsHawaiidrought

A Pond In Hawaii Turned Pink.

HONOLULU (AP) — A pond in Hawaii has turned so bubble-gum pink it could be from the set of “Barbie,” but the bizarre phenomenon is no cause for a dance party. Drought may be to blame for the strange hue, scientists say, and they’re warning against entering the water or drinking it.

Staff at the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge on Maui have been monitoring the pink water since Oct. 30. Staff was concerned the bright pink could be a sign of an algae bloom, but lab tests found toxic algae was not causing the color. Instead an organism called halobacteria might be the culprit.

Halobacteria are a type of archaea or single-celled organism that thrive in bodies of water with high levels of salt. The salinity inside the Kealia Pond outlet area is currently greater than 70 parts per thousand, which is twice the salinity of seawater. The team will need to conduct a DNA analysis to definitively identify the organism.

There are several natural phenomena that can cause bodies of water to change color include certain types of algae, minerals, or microorganisms that create a temporary color change.

For instance, pink water in lakes or ponds can sometimes result from the presence of specific types of algae, such as Dunaliella salina or red algae, which produce pigments that tint the water. These pigments, like beta-carotene or astaxanthin, give the water a reddish or pink hue.

Additionally, certain salt ponds or salt flats can exhibit pink or reddish colors due to the presence of halophilic microorganisms, such as archaea or bacteria, thriving in high-salinity environments. These microorganisms can produce pigments that color the water.