Hanauma Bay image

Hanauma Bay

Tourist attraction State park

Popular state park featuring a sandy beach, snorkeling, a coral reef & an education center. People often mention beach, snorkeling, water, reservation, time, fish, amazing, parking, people, park,


Address

7455 Kalanianaʻole Hwy, Honolulu, HI 96825, United States

Website

www.honolulu.gov

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (1.9K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Thursday: 6:45 am to 1:30 pm
  • Friday: (Good Friday), 6:45 am to 1:30 pm, Hours might differ
  • Saturday: 6:45 am to 1:30 pm
  • Sunday: (Easter), 6:45 am to 1:30 pm, Hours might differ
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: Closed
  • Wednesday: 6:45 am to 1:30 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: beach (30) snorkeling (21) water (19) reservation (13) time (13) fish (13) amazing (10) parking (10) people (8) park (8)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Guilherme C. 2 years ago on Google
    Amazing place to visit in Honolulu. If you are not a Hawaiian resident, you will need to get a reservation for your visit. They allow 30 people every 10 minutes. The reservation is super contended, you have about 45-60 seconds to get your ticket after the website opens for reservation, 7 am in Hawaiian time. You can only reserve 48 hours in advance. Once you are there, it is super amazing, best snorkel I have ever done. Try to get there as early as possible, the water gets less crystal transparent as the tide rises and the waves shake the sand of the bottom of the beach. The place has parking lot with limited number of slots. I used Uber, but the way back can be tricky because the entrance of the park and the parking lot are closed before the park is closed. They have snorkel rental, $20 for the day. You can bring your own. They also have a place for food, bathrooms, and showers with fresh water to remove sand.
    38 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Stacy W. 1 year ago on Google
    Family friendly beach. Alcohol/drugs are not allowed and nobody playing music. $3 for parking. $25 per person to enter. If you can, make a reservation ahead of time. Max people allowed in daily is 1,400 people. Educational information provided upon entrance. Everyone has to participate in listening to policy of the beach which delays you going down but it isn’t too long. Snorkel rental available on beach or bring your own. Snorkeling better in morning. Water gets stirred up by the evening. Free shuttle to bring you up and down steep incline or you can walk. Beach closes at 3pm. Last shuttle at 3:40pm. Gates for cars to leave closes at 4pm. I would do this again! So relaxing!
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Michael C. 1 year ago on Google
    Hanauma Bay is absolutely beautiful, whether you are standing on the beach or overlooking it from the top—the water is amazing; however, our experience wasn’t exactly what we expected. The beach is very clean, with several lifeguards on duty. It was also very crowded. Even with timed reservations going on, you still feel like you are on top of others. The day we went the water was rougher and the current was strong, making it tough to see underwater. Like the beach, it was very busy in the water—at one point, I pointed out a huge fish to who I thought was my wife, but it was some other person. They have a concession stand up at the main entrance area—you can either shuttle back up or walk, and the food was tavern-like food. Tickets are $25pp (unless you are a HI resident) which I felt was a bit steep. I am grateful for the people who work hard to preserve the land and coral at Hanauma Bay. I just think if you want a better snorkeling experience, where you can see lots of fish and sea turtles, head north to Shakes Cove.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ivo G. 2 years ago on Google
    The best place we’ve snorkeled on the island so far. Definitely worth the trouble of getting the reservation. The way it works is that you reserve a time spot for a certain number of people. $12 per person, card is accepted. $3 for parking, cash only. The person making the reservation needs to be present and have an ID. Get there a little early!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Erin J. 6 months ago on Google
    Such an awesome experience! The bay is technically a private park. Reservations are a MUST! You can reserve a spot up to 48 hours prior to your visit. Spots fill up QUICKLY! Be sure to log on promptly at 7 am local time to snag your reservation. $3 parking fee - cash only. Food bar on premise and outside food is allowed in. Upon entering, you must undergo a training video about what kinds of sunscreen are acceptable and how to interact with the coral and fish. This site is maintained and has lasted as long as it has because of this maintenance. Please be mindful of this and wear reef-safe sunscreen and pick up after yourselves. No limit to your time on the beach. The beach itself closes an hour before the park closes. Bathrooms and multiple showers on premise both at the top and along the beach. There is also a shuttle that takes you from the top to the bottom and back. Small gift shop located on site too. Snorkel gear for rent or you can bring your own too. Bring water shoes!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Vaibhav V. 2 years ago on Google
    Outstanding snorkeling in 4-feet deep water within yards of the beach. Reserving a spot is the challenge, but once done this is a fabulous, family friendly beach. A free trolley is available for the parking lot to beach ride. Restrooms available at the beach, lifeguards are present. The snorkeling is amazing - large schools of fish can be seen close to the shore.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Victor W. 2 years ago on Google
    Really awesome place with small waves, not quite crystal clear water but the clearest I’ve experienced out of all the beaches in Oahu. Tons of very large (2-3 ft) parrot fish. Even got to see a school of 100 fish swimming around. Sadly a lot of the coral is dead but there were a couple of live ones but not very colorful like some other tropical destinations. Coral rises from the seabed and there is very little room to float over them in the shallower parts of the bay, be careful not to scrape knees and feet. Entry is a little expensive at $25 per person but it’s well worth the trip at least once. A very picturesque beach and nice grassy areas and the outlook overview point is amazing as well.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 TCKDTC X. 2 years ago on Google
    Breath taking scenes. Magical creatures (sea lions came to swim with us). Pretty calm water. Crazily crowded even though it is limited to 1000 per day. If you just have one day in beach and want everything in a day I will recommend this place. It closed at 3 and after that you can go snorkeling somewhere else: Lanikai has better coral, Shack’s cove has more variety of fish and other sea creatures. Kūhiō is more accessible.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 IT S. 1 year ago on Google
    Great and relaxing beach. Snorkeling is good to see awesome fish. But corals are mostly dead. I spotted few that are alive. Do not come here if you expect to see many corals. I have seen bigger corals around Waikiki area. Also, this is not a place for swimming. Bottom is rather rocky. This beach is for either snorkeling or sun bathing. Honestly, I do not share the hype of this place. It is definitely worth visiting to decide whether to come here again.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jeesue K. 2 years ago on Google
    Enjoyable Trail up the ridge line, east and west, away from the crowd. You can park inside or outside. The trail starts to the east gates, and guards will let you know that it's ok to bypass the Private Property sign. You can just enter, but I like to ask so that there's no AOR, or assumption of risk. There's mermaid sculpture tree I noticed on way down, and up the hill to view both seaside and lookout town side. The weather in afternoon, the sun is a bit harsh here many say for spf, shade, water, and so forth. The turquoise waters over the reefs from afar is quite amazing to see, but up close in it a bit murky. Nice and breezy moments at top. Can look right to the Hawaii Kai Maunaloa Bay side. Altogether about two hours for me roundtrip. Easier than the railway. If you get leg cramps like I did at first, turns out if you walk further about 4 hours or so after, you don't get leg cramps or charlie horse.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sheng J. 1 year ago on Google
    Best experience in Oahu. Arrived 6:45am and got 9:40am 'walk-in' tickets. BTW, tried online reservation it was impossible. Parked and waited inside. Nice bay and beach with beautiful blue water. Snorkelled until 12:30pm and saw a lot of colorful fishes. Really enjoyed it. Snorkel rental was convenient and affordable on the beach. They disinfected the mouse piece and even sprayed the mask with anti-fog spay before giving to you.👍
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kate S. 5 years ago on Google
    Easily our favorite beach! Minimal waves for littles and fantastic snorkeling! We got there crazy early and didn’t regret it!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Average J. 10 months ago on Google
    We had a great time snorkeling here. Be aware that they're very strict on entry. You have to buy your tickets two days in advance online only. Tickets are $25 a piece and parking is $3 for non-resident and non-military. Get there early cuz parking can be a challenge. They only allow so many people in each day. In the park is closed two days a week to let the reef recover. They do have rentals of snorkeling equipment there if you don't travel with equipment. I found the restrooms to be acceptable and food choices to be okay for state park. What was really nice is there some grass areas to sit for their away from the beach if you wanted to get off the sand and get under a tree. The snorkeling was amazing there's a lot of wildlife to see. It's a little tricky sometimes because it can get shallow at low tide with the reef. You can walk down to the beach or take the tram if you have a lot of Beach gear. It's a short ride down. You have to sit through a 10-minute orientation video before you even go down to the beach basically outline the rules that you must follow.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jinseung K. 5 months ago on Google
    This is the place that everyone wants to visit when they come to Hawaii. However, not everyone can go. The shallow sea, the calm waves, and the many fish... everything is harmonious. Even if you pay the entrance fee or not, you will not regret investing a day's schedule here. It may seem difficult because it is a paid park, but the behavior on the beach is the same as other beaches. Bring an umbrella, a mat, water, and snacks. Snorkeling equipment or towels can be rented or bought locally, but buying them is a much more reasonable choice. Showers and toilets are similar to free parks, so don't expect too much.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Seivad E. 1 year ago on Google
    Hanauma Bay is a must see/do when in Honolulu. Tickets can be a little hard to get but we’ll worth it once inside. I recommend going early in the day around 9:30/10am so you can get your money’s worth in time spent. There are plenty of fish to see and equipment available to rent if you don’t have your own snorkeling gear. Only reason I give it 4 stars and not 5 is because there is no food/snack stand on the beach. You have to walk all the way up to buy snacks. You can bring your own from outside if you want.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 S Y. 1 year ago on Google
    Feels like this place is little overrated as far as snorkeling. This is rather a great place for kids and families to enjoy the beach and shallow water. If you're trying to get deeper into the water and swim further away from the land you might not have the best experience. It's easy to get trapped and injured from rocky areas. Water doesn't get deep enough for a long time so you can stand up and take a break.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Mike R. 2 years ago on Google
    Make sure you reserve a spot or get there early to get onto standby. Even with the significant reduction in admittance the place is still pretty packed. It's a gorgeous bay and its pretty safe place to snorkel. There are better places on the island but this is iconic and quintessential snorkel spot.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Hosang H. 1 year ago on Google
    Absolutely gorgeous beach with amazing panoramic view! If that satisfies you, it’s worth to make in-advance reservation and visit (5 stars). If looking for snorkeling, I would not expect much (3 stars).
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Melise H. 2 years ago on Google
    Make reservations online 48 hrs in advance. You have to be on and ready, they go fast. There is a snack bar and snorkeling rental items on site.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Taryn L. 1 year ago on Google
    Stunning views! There were a lot of people but it was very easy to get parking and to be in your own area while snorkeling !!

  • 5/5 Leann L. 1 year ago on Google
    My favorite snorkeling place in Oahu. The water is clear with colorful fishes. The beach is clean, well managed, safeguard on duty. When you go there please please use reef safe sunscreen to protect the environment!

  • 5/5 paris p. 2 years ago on Google
    It’s a must go on Oahu. Try to get there early to enjoy the clear water.

  • 5/5 Elsy M. 9 months ago on Google
    Such an amazing place! First time snorkeling, water was so clear even though there were a lot of people i was still able to see a lot of colorful fish. I didn’t want to get out. All stuff was super nice.

  • 5/5 Booger 9 months ago on Google
    This is an amazing beach to visit if you can. The snorkeling is amazing. And possibility of seeing the endangered monk seal. $3.00 for parking and $25.00 per adult to get in. Reservations online is the best way to get in, but they do take walk ups.

  • 5/5 Kristi Y. 2 years ago on Google
    Everything was super well-organized. We were lucky enough to snatch our tickets through their online reservation system. There was an educational video session that everyone must watch before going in. Seems like water before noon are way clearer due to low tides.

  • 4/5 Luke L. 1 year ago on Google
    A national Reserve area that is more or less grown with coral rather perfect for snorkeling. In order to visit, you must make a reservation to enter. for Resident the entry is free, for non-resident it would cost $25 USD per person to enter. The reservation system is opened few days before the day of your choosing 7:00 a.m. in the morning. From some other blogs and previous posts it seems to be 7.5 USD back then. Be sure you come before on time for your reservation. The volunteers will guide you where to go and when to go one session at a time before you get to the theater for watching a 10 minutes video. The gift shop there offers to exchange your sunscreen for non-chemical sunscreen with 20% off, it is reef safe the brand is Hawaiian sol and they only have 30 SPF. The bay is a nice place for snorkeling and if you're lucky you may find sea turtles or octopuses or squid and for sure you can see a school of fish swimming around. However, be careful if you approach the very shallow Reef area try not to touch any of them otherwise you will end up killing them. From time to time it can get wavey so be careful when snorkeling around and don't go away too far past the stone wall. The bay is beautiful yet the water not as clear as the ones I saw in Okinawa or the ones I saw in Australia.

  • 5/5 Ondra S. 4 months ago on Google
    Beautiful place. It's good the entrance is limited so it does not get overcrowded. Good for snorkeling. But if you want to see a lot of colorful corals and a lot of fish - Honolulu Bay in Maui is the place to go.


Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

Trends



Last updated:

Similar Tourist attractions nearby

Diamond Head State Monument image
1
Diamond Head State Monument
Park
A trail leads visitors to the summit of this volcanic tuff cone & former fort with panoramic views.
4.70 (15K reviews)
Koko Head District Park image
2
Koko Head District Park
Park
Sprawling collection of sports fields, gardens, picnic areas & stairs climbing a volcanic crater.
4.70 (7.2K reviews)
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve image
3
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
Nature preserve
Known for it’s snorkeling, this beachfront protected park offers a coral reef & diverse marine life.
4.60 (6.6K reviews)
Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden image
4
Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden
Botanical garden
400 acres of tropical plants along with a man-made freshwater lake, hiking trails & camping.
4.70 (4.9K reviews)
Halona Blowhole Lookout image
5
Halona Blowhole Lookout
Tourist attraction
From this lookout, visitors can see ocean water shoot 30 feet into the air from a lava tube.
4.70 (4.8K reviews)
Last updated:
()