Your TL;DR Guide to Exploring Oahu
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TL;DR: Hanauma Bay is a popular and beloved tourist destination on the Island of Oahu. After decades of human impact, however, the Bay has been damaged and is currently undergoing restoration efforts. Consequently, you now need to pay and reserve tickets to the park ahead of time. The process can be pretty tricky, so do your research before you try to purchase online. The bay is stunning and offers peaceful swimming, but there are several important things to know ahead of time (like what to expect, parking, getting your timed entry correct).
- What Makes Hanauma Bay So Special?
- The logistics
- The Reservation Process
- Commonly Asked Questions/Problems
- What to do at Hanauma Bay
- When is the Best Time to Visit
- From the blog
I’ll be honest – the online reviews of Hanauma Bay nearly turned me off from ever visiting. “Reservations are difficult, staff are rude, and the coral is dead” – all of these complaints dominate forums discussing the bay.
However, the rest of our group really wanted to go and I – ready to experience everything I read about – arrived, bracing myself for a less than enjoyable experience. Instead I ended up having a fantastic time.
The water was pristine for swimming. Absolutely relaxed, I really felt like I had entered that paradise everyone talks about. And now, I’m a self-certified fan of Hanauma Bay – but it does have a few drawbacks or “quirks.”
I learned a few things in the process that can help you decide if Hanauma Bay is right for you – and how to prepare for your trip should you decide to go.
Before you head out, you will need Reef-Safe Sunscreen, like this one from NAISIGOO, to enjoy your time in the water. Please note: I may earn commission if you do decide to purchase using this link (of course, you don’t have to!) – just make sure you have some proper sun care because the sun is intense!
What Makes Hanauma Bay So Special?
Located on the South-East part of Oahu on the eastern edge of Honolulu, Hanauma Bay has long been touted as the destination for Paradise travelers.
Due to its unique shape and location, Hanuama Bay has been a thriving home to a diverse and beautiful marine ecosystem. Once upon a time, royals used the area for some rest and relaxation. It also was a place to launch canoes and boats. And it’s been featured in films and shows, like my personal fave Hawaii Five-O.
However, quickly the area started to experience the negative impacts of overtourism. Years of people standing on the reef have caused some of the natural beauty to die and has threatened the ecosystem of the area. Part of the reef was even blown up in the 1950s to make way for telephone cables.
Why Does Hanauma Bay Cost Money Now?
Many of the complaints from guests come from how to access the park, especially in comparison to before. I’ll go more in depth to address some of the questions I see online, but I think it’s helpful to understand why the park changed its model for guests.
As a result of damage and overtourism, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve moved to focus on protecting and rehabilitating the marine life. And many of the changes have affected how guests can access and experience the park.
The Nature Preserve shifted from a free-for-all model to timed entry reservations only to limit the number of people in the bay at one time. The entrance fee – the bay used to be free – also goes to aid preservation efforts. And lastly, all guests now need to watch an educational film about the bay before they can enter. So, it does take about 45 minutes from parking before guests can step foot in the water.
The logistics
At a Glance
Address: 7455 Kalanianaʻole Hwy, Honolulu, HI 96825
Hours: 6:45AM – 1:30PM (WED-SUN); Closed MON-TUES
Cost: $25 per person (free for children under 12, Oahu residents, and active military stationed in HI) + parking
Parking: limited $3 paved lot; $1 for Oahu residents
Restrooms: Lots of restrooms and changing rooms both on the beach and in the parking lot
Getting to the Park
Hanauma Bay is located off of Kalanianaole Highway on the edge of Honolulu. The most common way to get there (and around Hawai’i in general) is via car. You can purchase a transportation package, which includes pick-up from Waikiki) directly on the website here to bypass the whole parking headache.
Preparing to Park at Hanauma Bay
There is a 300 stall lot located just outside of the Bay. Many people will tell you that it’s a little stressful to enter the lot as those 300 spots fill up quickly. If you are arriving early in the day (especially during peak tourism season), you do run the risk of all spots filling up.
Most people suggest arriving early to increase the likelihood of snagging a spot. Keep in mind that if you arrive before the lot opens there is no where to wait – the lot entrance is right off of the highway – and the cars can start to pile up as a consequence.
Should the lot fill up before you arrive, you can drive a little down the road and walk (some people head over to Kokohead).
I arrived later in the afternoon and had no issues – but that also limited the amount of time I had in the bay.
What to Expect When you Arrive
Once you paid and successfully parked, you’ll then make your way over to the bay entrance. There are restrooms, picnic tables, and a snack shack all located outside of the actual bay entrance.
A staff member checks your tickets before you get in line/while you are in line (depending on how crowded it is) – the person who made the ticket reservation/whose name is on the ticket MUST be with you. They will make you get out of line and be very frustrated.
(I arrived later in the day and the mood was generally more relaxed than anything I read about, but keep in mind stress levels can run high with both staff and guests.)
Then, after waiting, you make your way to the ticket windows pictured here. They once again check your tickets and i.d.s – repeating myself for emphasis but, the person who made the reservation MUST be with you. This was the most stressful part in my opinion.
Then, you move to yet another line before being let in to the educational center. Once you are allowed in, you have a few minutes to peruse the educational center – there are restrooms located here.
You are next shuffled into a small room to watch a 9 minute video on the bay. The staff give you a few more instructions and then you can either board the tram or walk down to the beach.
And from there – you finally made it!
The Reservation Process
The biggest complaint I hear about Hanauma Bay is the reservation process. During Covid-19, Hanauma Bay (once a free to enter park) moved to a reservation-only basis. This changed two big things:
- It limits the number of people allowed in at a time (timed-entry only)
- There now is a fee for the park
In full disclosure, someone else in our group booked all the tickets, so I was able to bypass a lot of the stress in this step. But from what I hear, this is the most stressful part of the process – and this sentiment is echoed by every review I’ve found online.
Tickets must be reserved online at the Parks & Recreation Department website 2 days in advance. The ticket platform opens starting at 7am HST and often sells out within 5 minutes. One person can reserve 10 tickets at a time – 5 adults and 5 kids.
If you’re booking the tickets, have multiple devices up and operating (with your credit cards out and ready) before 7AM hits to increase your chances.
Alternatively, you can book with a tourism company, but there is no guarantee that everyone will get the same entry time.
One other tip, expect a little flexibility with your Hanauma Bay plans. If you aren’t able to get your tickets one day, you may be able to get them the next.
Commonly Asked Questions/Problems
I couldn’t get a reservation
Technically there is a small amount of same-day tickets available for purchase at the park. As you can imagine these sell-out fast and from what I can tell, the park staff can get pretty stressed out in the mornings as they try to corral the crowds.
But, if you’re open to trying (and possibly failing) to get same-day tickets, most online folks who’ve reported success say to arrive early (a little before opening). You won’t necessarily be able to enter the bay immediately, but you may be able to get a ticket for later in the day.
Someone in my group has a later/earlier time than everyone else
With limited timed entry spots available it’s incredibly difficult to get a whole group/family in at the same time.
I’ve seen a few different options online:
- Wait until the last person’s time and go in together
- Arrive at the same time and have the others wait for you (there are picnic tables and view points to wait at)
- Arrive early and beg the staff to let you in
1 seems to be the most common. I personally did a version of 2 (I just arrived later than everyone else). And many people try 3 but be warned – this can really frustrate the staff because EVERYONE is trying the same thing in the morning.
Is the beach accessible?
The bay is pretty accessible. There is a free tram that will take you from the educational center down to the beach.
There are also wheelchairs available for check-out.
The one hitch, however, is getting from the parking lot to the educational center. If someone has difficulty standing for long periods of time, the wait and long lines can be difficult. Some staff/volunteers may be able to help, but from what I’ve read online, it really depends on who is working that day and how stressed out they are. If you have access to your own wheelchair or mobility-support, it would be worth having on hand for this portion of the trip.
Is the snorkeling really that good?
In short, no. But let me explain.
Once upon a time, the snorkeling was considered prime. But, years of human-impact on the coral has led to a serious decline to the bay’s ecosystem. In addition to all of that, inclement weather or changes to the tide will also stir up some sand leading to some dangerous riptides or low-visibility in the thriving areas of the reef.
But, for casual swimming the experience is still wonderful. And a little dip in the water is what ultimately convinced me that Hanauma Bay was worth it
If you are really hoping to go snorkeling and aren’t up for the Hanauma Bay experience, many people love going to Shark’s Cove on the North Shore.
What to do at Hanauma Bay
Hanauma Bay is most popular for snorkeling, but it also offers beautiful swimming and photography views.
There is a small educational center and gift shop as well.
Aside from the entry process, it pretty much functions like any other beach.
When is the Best Time to Visit
Hanauma Bay is best experienced away from crowds – which is a tall order considering how popular of a spot this is.
However, you’ll have better luck visiting during the week or out of Hawai’i’s busy tourism season (Summers and Spring Break).
In my experience, the time of day you visit is also important – but what’s better really depends on your priorities.
If you want to have more beach to yourself and have as much time as possible in the bay, get there as soon as possible. Just expect more crowds trying to get in to the park and higher staff stress levels.
If you’re more flexible with your plans and want a smoother entry process, you can try coming later in the day, once most people have already entered (and left) the bay. You do run a small gamble with parking, though, if you arrive a little too early.
Hanauma Bay is beautiful, a little slice of paradise. Snagging tickets and getting to the park, however, can be a stressful experience unless you’re prepared. With some careful planning – and flexible scheduling – you can enjoy this gorgeous stretch of Oahu’s coast on your next trip to the Island.
What other tips would you share with first time visitors? And do you think Hanauma Bay is worth the stop?
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