In a bizarre and eye-catching phenomenon, a pond at the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge in Maui, Hawaii, has turned bright pink, leaving scientists puzzled and prompting warnings for visitors to avoid the water. The pond, which has been monitored by refuge staff since the end of October, has undergone a drastic color change that no one, not even the long-term volunteers, has ever witnessed before. Scientists initially suspected that an algae bloom might be responsible for the pink hue, but lab tests ruled out this possibility. Now, the focus has shifted to an organism called halobacteria, which thrives in high-salt environments.

The current salinity level of the pond is more than double that of seawater, standing at 70 parts per thousand. The cause of this high salinity is believed to be the ongoing drought in the area, which has prevented Waikapu Stream from feeding into Kealia Pond as it normally does. Refuge manager Bret Wolfe mentioned that rain might be the key to restoring the pond's normal color and reducing its salinity. A lab test will confirm whether halobacteria is indeed present in the water.

Despite the unusual color, the refuge's bird inhabitants, including the endangered Hawaiian stilt and Hawaiian coot, seem unaffected by the pink water. However, officials are urging caution and recommending that people keep a safe distance from the pond, refrain from entering the water, avoid consuming fish caught there, and ensure that pets do not drink the water.

The pink pond has garnered significant attention on social media, attracting curious visitors to the refuge. While Wolfe prefers visitors to focus on the refuge's mission of conserving native and endangered waterbirds and wetland restorations, he acknowledges the fascination with the pink water and welcomes interested individuals. As the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service continues to gather information and investigate the cause of the color change, they will keep the public informed.

This occurrence is not the first time water has mysteriously changed color. Environmental factors such as climate change have been linked to blue lakes turning green, as highlighted in a study published in Geophysical Research Letters last year. Similar color changes have been observed in the world's oceans. In other instances, non-toxic pink dye was released into a California estuary to study the interaction between freshwater and saltwater, and a contamination incident in Idaho Springs resulted in light pink wastewater due to concentrated pink dye. Additionally, a landslide in Rocky Mountain National Park caused Lake Haiyaha to transform into a stunning turquoise, while a valve malfunction in a Canadian town led to hot pink tap water after potassium permanganate, a water treatment chemical, entered the distribution system.

As the investigation into the pink pond at the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge continues, scientists and officials hope to identify the precise cause and bring the water back to its natural color.