Share(808) 396-4229
7455 Kalaniana'ole Hwy
Honolulu,
HI
96795
21.275
-157.6966
Neighborhood: Hawaii Kai
Hours:
Wed-Mon 6am-6pm
Parking:
Pay lot
Hanauma Bay Nature Park
Last updated 1.30.09
What People Are Saying About Hanauma Bay Park
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
In Short – Formed by a volcano that erupted and then collapsed into the sea, the bay is home to a complex crater that hosts a bonanza of marine life. Oahu's best snorkeling is as good as it gets, with hundreds of tropical fish and corals. If you're not too dazzled to come up for air, the large, sandy beach is perfect for sunbathing. For a different perspective, explore one of several nearby hiking trails that lead to breathtaking vistas. A designated landmark since 1967, the marine park is well-equipped with amenities, including outdoor showers, restrooms and picnic tables. Get there…
02/04/09
Rent Gear and Swim with Fishes
by reyrey333 at Citysearch
I've been to Hanauma Bay twice now. A great visit each time. My gf and I took her neice snorkeling out here this last trip. We came early in the morning and there were clouds and a few showers at 9a. Then again, its hawaii in the winter for you. We waited it out since we already secured a parking spot. The sun came out sporatically during the day and it got a tad crowded. My gf's neice enjoyed all the snorkeling and sea life she saw. A lot of the coral can be seen without having to go too deep. The gear is only $9 for the upgrade. I don't recommend coming here just to lay out. You can do that up and down the coast without having to pay the $5 to watch the video and $1 for parking. Oh, and when we left about 1230p, the lot was already closed. Bring snacks too since the walk up to the snack bar is time consuming.
- Pros: shallow coral snorkeling, awesome view, cheap rentals
- Cons: long walk up and down, small parking lot
11/10/07
Free Entry After 4!
by dreammachi at Citysearch
We've been to Hanauma Bay for the last 3 times we visited Hawaii. It's one place that almost guarantee you'll see some fish if the waves' aren't too big. This time, we came late since we were busy doing other things prior and ended up getting there at 4 PM. We were still determined to pay the $5 entrance fee and see some fish. To our surprise, they stopped charging folks money to get in, so we didn't pay the $1 parking, nor the $5 entrance fee. By that time, it was a little dark and cool. The tides were getting a little big again. We still saw some fish, just would have been better if we had gotten there earlier, with big sun and little wave... $5 would have been nothing! Big fun for the family. Arrive early, bring picnic, relax. Go home happy!
- Pros: Awesome Fish Viewing Point!
- Cons: Can be Overfilled with Visitors!
08/02/07
Over Rated
by joeletx at Citysearch
Our kids did not have a good impression when we left the bay. We came to the park on a weekday around 2:00 pm in the afternoon; spent about two hours and left little after four. The park was overly crowded that it closed its door in the morning when we came by at 9:30 am. We spent $50 for renting four snorkling gear sets and ended up returning them 40 minutes later. It was quite a disappointment because we did not find fishes worth seeing. The bay was so crowded and was poluted with white cloud of tanning lotions in the water. Peolple in the park told us that there were fishes in early morning but they quickly disappeared around mid morning. On the possitive side, the beach scence was very nice viewing from the top. The park has clean facilities and hambuger stand that serves all kinds of burgers and hot dogs. The best hidden secret beach, to me, is the Waimanalo Park beach that is 15 minutes further north.
- Pros: Beautiful view of the bay and beach, full service facilities, well kept
- Cons: Overly crowded, limited parking, milky green water, and no fishes
The Details on Hanauma Bay Park
Know Before You Go:
Visitors are required to watch an educational film about the bay, the marine life and the preserve prior to going down to the beach.
When to Go:
The park is open every day but Tuesday, so plan your week accordingly.
The Extras:
Combine a morning at Hanauma Bay with an afternoon picnic lunch at Lanikai and you'll find yourself in beach bum nirvana.
