Hanauma Bay Oahu
Hanauma Bay Oahu is one of the most popular and most visited beaches outside of Waikiki and the North Shore beaches. But it’s not so much about the beach as it is about the marine life nature preserve, and the amazing Hanauma Bay snorkeling experience! With over 300 different Hanauma Bay fish species lurking about the shallow coral reefs, it is easy to see why this Oahu Beach holds its fame!
Part of what makes Hanauma Bay Oahu so
special, is that it lies
at the bottom of a volcanic crater.
As a kid, I loved visiting this natural marine reserve to
explore the
reef’s protected pockets & tunnels, and vast display of
colorful Hanauma Bay fish –it’s
like jumping into a giant fish
bowl...!
Back in the day, you could even feed
the Hanauma Bay
fish. But you can imagine how cloudy the waters became
when
each visitor had a bag of bread or part of their lunch in the ocean,
trying to attract a feeding frenzy around them...not to mention that
human food is not necessarily the best fish food.
As Hawaii Hanauma Bay started to become more polluted and neglected, state park officials stepped in and made necessary changes to the Marine Life Preserve at Hanauma Bay. The marine park now looks much better with the provided care.
Today, you obviously are not allowed to feed the fish, and they also now control the amount of visitors allowed in park at one time. Only 3,000 visitors are allowed into this snorkeling heaven per day.
That might seem like a lot, but they used to easily get over 10,000 visitors each day. The marine park also takes a break on Tuesdays when nobody is allowed in. Even the fish and the coral reefs need a break from their adoring fans.
To better protect the Hanauma Bay fish and coral reefs, they
have also
created a mandatory 9
minute education program before heading down to
the beach. This constitutes watching a quick
video on how to
better protect what you are about to see.
Admission and Park Hours
There is a $7.50 per person park entrance fee for visitors 13 years of age and older. Free admission for children up to 12 years of age and Hawaii residents w/ proper ID. There is also a $1.00 parking fee, if you are driving to this Oahu beach .
Hanauma Bay Oahu is open
daily, except for Tuesdays, Christmas
& New Years Day.
Hours open : 6am – 6pm Oct thru March
6am – 7pm April thru Sept
Saturday
6am – 10pm
Recorded message for current fees, hours & conditions – (808)
396-4229
Getting to Hanauma Bay Oahu
Take advantage of the $1.00 beach shuttle ride when you arrive in
the parking lot located up top.
It is an easy 20 minute drive or 35 minute bus ride to Hanauma Bay Oahu
from Waikiki .
Map of Hanauma Bay Hawaii
Driving Directions
From Waikiki , take the H-1 Kalanianaoli Highway south
. The
H-1 turns into Hwy 72, but still remains the Kalanianaoli Hwy along the
coast. Follow this coastal freeway through the residences,
past Hawaii Kai, and up a ridge until you reach Hanauma Bay Road ,
where you will turn into the parking grounds.
Oahu Bus
Take the 22 Oahu Bus from Kalakaua Ave in Waikiki straight to
Hanauma
Bay . Depending on traffic, it should only take about a half
hour to get there.
Beach Facilities
- Restrooms
- Beach Showers
- Lifeguard on Duty
- Parking lot - $1.00 fee
- Food Concession Stand
- Picnic Tables
- Mask, Snorkel & Fin Rentals
- Locker Rentals
- Educations Center
- Gift Shop
- Beach Transportation Shuttle - $1.00
- Handicap Facilities
Hanauma Bay Beach Tips
- Arrive
early!
- I can’t stress how important it is to arrive
early at Hanauma Bay Oahu beach park. There is limited
parking available which fills up very quickly.
Once the parking lot fills up, you will be turned away. If this happens to you, I would recommend trying again another day, or driving back down the hill and parking near the residences, where you can take the local 22 Oahu Bus back up the hill.
You will also want to arrive early for better vision underwater. The ocean is typically calmer in the morning, and the clarity of the water is much better for viewing the Hanauma Bay fish.
- Food and Drinks - I always recommend bringing food, water and other drinks to the beach. There is a snack shack on site, so bringing food is optional, but it’s always good to have extra snacks of your choice just in case the snack shack food is not what you were expecting. If you plan on bringing a cooler along with your beach gear, you might want to consider taking the beach shuttle from the parking lot down to the beach. The cost is only $1 and it will save your arms and everything you might drop along the way.
- Sun Protection - Bring lots of high rated spf sunscreen and a tee-shirt to wear in the water. It is easy to get carried away, spend hours partaking in the Hanauma Bay snorkeling. Unfortunately this means your backside will be more susceptible to the powerful Hawaiian sunrays, which can result in a severe sunburn. Make sure to reapply sunscreen every hour, and wear a tee shirt to help block the additional rays that your body does not need.
- Snorkeling Gear - Bring your own mask, snorkel and swimming fins. Although you can rent snorkeling equipment at the beach, it’s inexpensive and more pleasurable to have your own gear. You avoid problems if the shop runs out of rentals, and you will also have equipment that fits you better and are familiar with so you can be sure to have the best Hanauma Bay snorkeling time!
What Else is in the Hanauma Bay Oahu Area?
Halona Blowhole
If you continue on from the 72 Kalanianaoli
Hwy after snorkeling in Hanauma Bay , there is a fun spouting blowhole
that is just down the road. After driving around the single
cliff side lane, you will see a small turnout with parking, right
before you head on down to Sandy Beach.
The waves are the key
for the Halona Blowhole magic to happen. Don’t
expect much if
the waves are small and calm. But when the seas are rough and
the waves are pounding into the rocky coast, you can bet that the
Halona Blowhole will be spouting ocean spays high in the air
to give
you a magnificent show.
Sandy Beach
Go from the calm Hanauma Bay Oahu waters to the
pounding shoreline waves of Sandy Beach.
This Oahu Beach
is
an ocean playground for
the locals to relax, bodysurf, and body
board.
Located just 5 minutes away, as you continue driving
on the H-1 around the bending lava rock cliffs, you will see a long
strip of sandy beach.
The name actually comes from its
reputation of sand getting into everything you bring to the beach,
including you! When the surf is up, it is an impressive show
to watch the locals pull
off some death defying stunts in the
surf.
You can feel the power of these waves as they crash in front of you on this beautiful Sandy Beach. Please be advised that this is not a swimming beach and the powerful shore breaks have been known to rip off unsuspecting tourist’s swimsuits and gear.
Heed the warning
signs and if you are intent on going
into the water, it would be wise to check in with the lifeguard if you
are not familiar with the riptide and rip current
patterns.
Makapu’u Beach Park
If you are feeling adventurous and would like to see one of my favorite Oahu Beaches, and part of the beautiful Windward coast, then continue on the Kalanianaoli Hwy for another 10 minutes. After you climb the Makapu’u mountainside and start your decent down towards the beach, pull over to the side of the road where you can capture some amazing views of Makapu’u Beach Park and the beginning of the pristine Windward Coast .
Aloha & Enjoy!!
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