Hanauma Bay
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- Viewing a 12 minute film is required prior to being granted beach access in the nature preserve. To avoid long waitscome early in the morning (the gates open at 6 a.m.). The orientation film covers the formation of the bay, introduces you to some of the marine life you may encounter, what you can do to help protect the reef, important ocean safety information and how to make the most of your visit.
- For our summer session, Hanauma Bay is open daily from 6:00a.m. until 7:00p.m. except on Tuesdays. We are closed all day on Tuesdays. On the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, Hanauma Bay remains open until 10:00p.m.
- For our winter session, Hanauma Bay is open daily from 6:00a.m. until 6:00p.m. except on Tuesdays. We are closed all day on Tuesdays. On the second Saturday of each month, Hanauma Bay remains open until 10:00p.m.
- Changes are possible at any time; for the latest information call the recorded information line at (808) 396-4229.
34 Reviews for Hanauma Bay
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'10, '11
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"Worth Braving the Crowds to See"
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is one of the most spectacular natural resources in Hawaii. And plenty of people come from far and wide to see it.
Hanauma’s draw is a fabulously beautiful beach with a calm inner reef and tame tropical fish – which makes it an ideal place for kids to swim with the fishes. (And for parents, the outer reef has coral gardens, green sea turtles and more amazing reef fish.)
What’s great is that because this is a bay, the water is calm and even the most fearful kids don’t have to worry about waves. You don’t have to go too far out to see the fish, either.
Since our kids weren’t confident swimmers during our visit, we brought along a boogie board with a window. This allowed the kids to see into the water without dunking their heads.
We had so much fun taking turns looking at all the cool fish, playing in the sand and sitting at the water’s edge, that before we knew it, several hours had gone by. Which is what makes Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve such a special place to play.
Plan to arrive way earlier than you’d ever want to. This place is extremely popular with tourists and fills up fast. We got there at 7:30 a.m. and scooped up one of about 10 remaining spots in the parking lot.
Bring water shoes to keep little feet protected from the hot sand, rocky reef and sunburn.
Consider taking the trolley – at least on the way back up from the beach. The hill from the upper Bay to the lower Bay and beach area is quite steep, especially for tired little legs. Pay the small fee and enjoy the ride.
A few planning essentials: Restrooms, outdoor showers, an information center and snorkeling concession are located in the lower Bay area (beachside). Lifeguards are on duty. There are no shaded areas available on the beach.
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"Great Value"
I thought this was a great value for snorkeling!!! They have all sorts of companys that will pick you up from your hotel and bring you here. I have been a few times and have never been disappointed at what I have seen. I have seen turtles, amaing fish and I love seeing all the coral. You will love it.
1 family found this helpful
"Worth Paying"
Even though Hawaii is full of free beaches it is worth paying to go here. The parking lot fills up, so I recommend going early and setting up camp for the day. But, even when the parking lot is full the beach and water don't feel crowded. It's a steep walk down to the the beach but they do have a shuttle that you can pay extra to take. Even close to shore there is plenty of colorful marine life and if you venture further you can see a ton! The bathrooms are ok, pretty clean for a beach and they have a kiosk with charts that identify the fish and naturalists who will teach you a little bit about what's out there and answer any of your questions!
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"Snorkeling for the Whole Family--Tons of Marine Life"
Hanauma Bay is a great place to take kids snorkeling. There are plenty of shallow areas for them to stay in that are filled with plenty of marine life. When we went we saw hundreds of different fish and we even saw a sea turtle! It was adorable! Hanauma Bay is pretty crowded on the weekends, but if you don't mind a crowd, there is plenty of water to explore, so you won't miss out.
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"Wonderful Family Experience"
The water is calm, parking is easy, and the sea life is amazing. This is one of those experiences you’ll never forget. I hope I can do something similar again someday. Snorkeling is required to fully take in the experience so this would be best enjoyed with children old enough to snorkel. Rental of snorkel equipment was fairly easy.
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"Save the coral"
Hanauma Bay is beautiful. The view from above is breathtaking. You will have to walk down a somewhat steep hill to reach the beach. The water is pretty shallow. Unfortunately, this means a lot of people have damaged the coral. There is a movie you have to watch before you can go down, and it talks about the efforts being made to restore the coral. The beach can be crowded. It is a nice beach with some trees so you can find a little shade. There are trams for a small price to take you to and from the top of the hill.
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"Best place to snorkel with the family"
Hanauma Bay is so beautiful and a wonderful place to bring the whole family. It's safe for the kids and great experience to see and interact with the native marine life. You can bring your own snorkel gear or rent a set for $10. Before you can head down the hill to the beach, you are required to watch an educational video. Don't forget to put your name on the list after so that you can bypass that at your next visit.
1 family found this helpful
"Awesome for Everyone"
Hanauma Bay was a great place to go that everyone can enjoy. The water is warm and fabulous. We happened to be there on a day that visibility was considered poor, but we were still able to see a lot. Snorkeling was amazing. Even if all you have is a mask there was lots to see. The water is pretty shallow for a ways so even little kids can splash around and play in the sand. There is a movie you have to watch before you can go down, and it is a steep road to walk up or down. There are trams for a small price to take you to and from the top of the hill. Other than that it was a great experience.
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"Loved it!"
Hanauma Bay was a great place to go snorkeling. We've been to a few other places on the island and this was our favorite. It has tons of sea live, plus because it's in a bay there aren't any swells to move you around. Great for kids too. The coral doesn't start until a little ways out so the younger kids and swim while the older ones snorkel. The only downside is the large hill to get to the beach but there is a tram and it only costs a dollar which is well worth it when you have lots of kids and tons of gear!
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"Hanauma Bay the best!"
We visited Hanauma Bay in October 2006. This was by far our favorite thing we did on our trip to Hawaii. We spent about $15 a person for shuttle and snorkel gear to snorkel Hanauma Bay. First of all, this place is breathtaking. It is truly what you picture Hawaii looking like. The water was perfect, the sand was perfect and the snorkeling was perfect for our beginner family. We spent most of the day there and I wish we would have gone back another day. Love it!!
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"speechless"
the hike back up isnt easy but the trolley is i believe $1 to take a ride up. this place is amazing and you see tons of fish and sometimes other animals too! greta for kids, lots of shade and a nice relaxing way to spend the day. you have to take a class the first time you go but its really short and informative! this place is so wonderful i cant get enough of it great snorkeling and a wonderful peice of hawaii
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"Amazing"
This is such a fun activity for the whole family. The color of the water, coral, and fish is simply amazing. For those who can't swim, there is always the beach to play on. Don't go too late in the day or you won't be able to take full advantage of the snorkeling. Also, check to see if the tide is high or not before you go as that can affect your confidence in the water!
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"a must go and see/do"
this is a must do if you visit or even live here! if you love to swim, and snorkel....THIS IS THE PLACE, military and residents are free, i think its 7-10 for non, before your able to swim you must go see a 5min dos and donts video about the wildlife, and the beautiful beach, i suggest after the video if you plan on coming back, place your families name in the book they provide at the end of the video so you do no have to go through the video each visit, you can bypass that! This beach is beautiful and sooo kidfriendly,the water is calm the fish are beautiful...this beach NEVER gets old, they do not serve food there on the beach you have to eat at the top (but we always brind our food, just pick up after yourself). they also have snorkeling gear for 5-10 dollars....JUST GO YOU WONT REGRET IT!
1 family found this helpful
"Clean, safe place to snorkel with families"
Not only will your family learn about the sea life being protected in this snorkeling heaven, you can get up close and personal with fish, coral, and more without feeling like you have to look over your shoulder for sharks (at least to me, since it's pretty crowded, which may be a negative to those looking for less crowds). They offer equipment rental so you don't have to schlep anything but a towel from up the hill, but little ones may have trouble with the steep hike to the beach, so be prepared to wait for the tram.
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"Playing with Fishies"
This is a MUST do for families visiting Oahu! This is such a great and relaxing beach located in an alcove. It's a perfect place for kids to snorkel since there are many shallow areas. There are many trees to situate yourselves in case you prefer shade. For the more avid snorkeler, you can venture out deeper. Please don't step on the corral - I noticed some people doing that despite the fact there was a presentation before entering the beach, specifically stating that stepping on the corral can damage them.
1 family found this helpful
"A Hawaiian Must See!"
This spectacular natural preserve is a must see if you're visiting Honolulu. The City and County of Honolulu have done a fine job in their role as protectors of this beautiful place. Among the systems put in place to keep Hanauma in a clean, healthy state are reducing the number of visitors, establishing an education program, and instituting supportive restrictions.
At the heart of the environmental efforts here is the award-winning Marine Education Center. A short video welcomes residents and visitors, encouraging them to join staff and volunteers as stewards of the fragile marine life and other living reef environments seen during a visit.
You can hike up or down the hill into Hanauma Bay or take the shuttle. Just be warned, the hike up is a bitch!
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"great for older kids"
I think this place is great for kids who can swim and snorkeling, but for the small kids or baby I rather choose different location. It is because this bay was down the hill and you have to walk with small child. Of course, this is a perfect to place to learn the nature ( they have a short film showing before going in) and you can actually see a tropical fish, so if you had never been before, you should try to visit at least once.
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"AMAZING!"
Even if your kids aren't interested in snorkelling they will enjoy this beach. if you don't have a car your hotel can probably help get you a limo ride, taxi or tour. it is worth doing while in Honolulu because it is such a calm shallow place to snorkel.
The only downside is that it is very very busy and touristy, but if you are a tourist, who cares?!
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"My kids loved it!"
Went there in June 2010 with my 6 & 3 year old daughters & loved every minute of it! The parking lot was full when we first arrived, so we drove down the coast for a few minutes & then came back & the lot had opened. We brought our own snacks & drinks & waited in line for about 5 minutes to get in. We then had to watch a movie for another 10 minutes, but it was educational & not bad at all. Once we got down to the beach, we rented snorkeling gear & found a nice place to sit on the beach. The snorkeling was great for my 6 year old daughter, since she had been practicing in a pool which I highly recommend doing first. My 3 year old also enjoyed it a lot since she could walk right into the water & see fishes swimming at her feet. The snorkeling was pretty good & there was a decent variety of fish, but they were mostly small. The only drawback was that there is lots of shallow coral everywhere, which scraped my daughters knees & arms, causing her to get discouraged. Nevertheless, it was really great to be able to do it with the entire family & we all enjoyed a terrific picnic while laying in the sand. A few tips: Do not park outside on the street & try to walk in, it is way too far for kids. If the parking lot is full, drive down to the blowhole or do some sightseeing & try to come back a little while later. You need to have a credit card, rental car key or 30 dollars cash for a deposit to rent snorkeling gear. Bring snacks & beach towels, it is worth spending at least a half a day there. The water is only about 2 feet deep at the shoreline, so it is pretty safe for kids who cant swim to play in the waves without being fearful of getting washed away. The admission is $7.50 per person & the shuttle down the hill costs $1.50, but it is worth it if you have small kids.
1 family found this helpful
"The best place to Snorkle"
This is the best place to snorkle. The water is so calm here along the shore and kids will have a great time looking at the fish from above the surface! There nice facilities here but remember if you can get your own snorkle from Walmart or Kmart before go for it, the rentals are reallt expensive...and in my opinion kind of gross :)
Word to the wise, get here early! The lot fills up quickly and you could be in for some disapointment. If you are staying in Waikiki, on your way back down the hill to the hotel there is a turn out with an amazing view, if you can stop here safely I suggest it, the view is of the city but its just as beautiful as the ocean and it gives you something new to appreciate!
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