Hanauma Bay

Beautiful beach with plenty of reef. Got snorkeling gear and was able to see so many varieties of fish even on a very windy day. Felt like we had a better snorkeling experience on left side of the beach. There’s a store where you can rent all the snorkeling equipment you need. Reservations highly recommended.

Pay USD25 for tickets to get in. We went with a 'tour' for around USD50 per pax, which included hotel pickup and snorkeling equipment included, and I also added USD10 for a life vest. We arrived the earliest at 6.45 am when the park opens, but the waters were sadly too cold and we decided to enjoy by relaxing on the beach instead. The tour ends at 11:00 More visitors came at around 10:30 when the sun was stronger and a little bit more pleasant. Recommend to come on your own (totally doable) and especially if your hotel already provides snorkelling gear and beach hotels etc for free (as ours did), so you can pick the best time and leave as you wish.

Beautiful nature preservation on Oahu. Amazing location for snorkeling! Extremely busy so you have book your registration spots online 2 days in advance or visit in person before 7am the day of just to have a chance at getting in! The earlier you get in, the longer you can stay as they close at 3pm. A must visit if you can get in!

This was my first time snorkeling! Perfect place for it! You can rent or bring your own. There is so much to see undewater! The fish are unbelievable and not at all scared of you, but you have to be careful of where you step. Also, if you're coming to Hawaii for a short time & want yo bisit Maunalua Bay, make sure you visit the website at least 48 hours prior to book a reservation because it goes fast!! However it's absolutely worth seeing and the beach is gorgeous!!

One of my favorite places to visit when I’m in Hawaii is Hanauma Bay. Great snorkeling site and lovely hike. The views here are breathtaking. Harder to get into the reserve since Covid years but well worth the hassle!

Good and safe place for snorkeling. Reservations are in place, book early and on time. There is parking fee as well. Saw beautiful fishes but not much as in Shark’s cove. There is a shop to rent out snorkel gears, price ranges from 10-20$. The depth increases as you go away from the beach so it is not random.

Bought tickets to snorkel here and had a blast. They brief you on what you can and can't do before you head down so just follow the rules. You can rent gear and equipment if you want. I would highly suggest getting snorkeling gear there is so much to see in the coral reef.

My exp at hanauma bay was UTTERLY HORRIBLE N DISGUSTING🥰🗿💀💀 We arrived at 7:30am with ready-bought vouchers n got entrance tickets for 11:20 so waited a few hours. (a couple of the staffs were quite rude as well) But even after we lined up for the final entry queue, they made us wait AGAIN(two times) n watch a 5min documentary about the bay which i did not even give the tiniest piece of shit about + 5min of instructions(well this was helpful) So as a result we were only able to do snorkeling 4 hours after we got here. Can u believe it? We were already too tired to have any fun by the time we got to the beach. Systems are scattered. y dont u just shut the whole place down at this point n stop bothering thousands of innocent visitors who j wanted to have a good time with their family. oh wouldnt that also serve the purpose of ur "nature preservation" center as well :) And guess what? most importantly not much too see in the water either. unclear water, little wildlife. The patience n time we wasted didnt pay off at all. Thank you so much for ruining my 2024 holidays!

If you have never been, make your reservations and get there early to be able to park in the lot and not have to walk a distance. They will let you in about an hour ahead of your time slot. The snorkeling is really nice because it is a protected preserve and they have plenty of staff to give you an orientation and ensure all guests are abiding by the rules to preserve the beauty of the reefs and inhabitants. Plenty of gear for rental onsite. Onsite restrooms. Gift shop. Snack bar, but I recommend you bring your own picnic lunch. 2 trams to move guests from up top to the beach but you can also walk and it's not difficult with a paved walkway. Plenty of rinse showers. Narrated talks. Lifeguard onsite. My critical recommendation is that you also check the predicted tide levels for the time of your reservation. We got there before low tide but had we waited it would have been a wait to get in the water. At low tide it is nearly impossible to snorkel above the reef and see the inhabitants. Not to mention it is dangerous since the rocks and coral are very sharp. Overall, a very beautiful cove.

Third times the charm! Previous attempts to obtain a reservation were unsuccessful. As others have mentioned, the online reservations sell out within minutes. Traffic lines were backed up for parking. Luckily we Ubered there so were able to forego the wait. Just give yourself plenty of time to park if you plan on driving there. The employees were impatient as they herded each group to the required orientation. Definitely felt like we were going through TSA check out. Despite it all, the view of the bay was magnificent and well worth the effort. They have rentals for goggles, life jackets and lockers. Plenty of spots to settle down and enjoy the beach. We spotted many colorful fish but the coral reef was sadly dying. Overall, I preferred the experience at Shark's Cove but am glad to have experienced this beautiful bay.

Growing up in Honolulu I've always loved coming here. Ensure you're aware of the new reservation system, $25 for non-locals, and free for kamaʻāina. If you're kamaʻāina, no need reservation, make sure come early to get the most out of your day and better chance at parking. Bring your state or driver licenses I.D. This nature reserve is well kept and its beauty has been the same all these years. If you're local or not, I would recommend everyone to come at least once, it is worth it.

After multiple attempts to get a reservation our family was so excited to get to go to Hanauma Bay to snorkel and hang out on the beach. $25 a person seemed a good price to pay to be able to spend time in such a beautiful place. We got some Zippy's on our way over and made sure to pack lots of water. They have a great system for getting you checked in and through orientation. They stress the importance of not standing/ walking/ touching the reef. There is a shuttle that takes you from the visitor center to the beach but we decided to take the short 4 min walk down. There are beach umbrellas for rent and you can get food (hot dogs/ burgers, candy, shave ice...) at the snack area and walk it down. Lockers and snorkel gear are available for rent. It gets a bit crowded but there are so many places to snorkel that it wasn't too bad. The ocean was relatively calm so the clarity was good. Later in the day it did get a little murkier as the tide came in and the bay had 100's of people swimming in it. We saw lots of fish and we even got a surprise visit from an endangered monk seal who came ashore for a nap. They set up a barrier around the seal to keep people away but my kids loved sitting and watching it.

For those who are unfamiliar, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is a popular location for snorkeling in Oahu. They rolled out new entry requirements in 2021, which involves purchasing tickets for specific time slots. These entry tickets for non-residents go live two days in advance at 7AM HST, and they go fast! Limited walk-in tickets are also available for purchase the day-of at 7AM in person, and your whole party must be present for entry. I do want to note that they have a five adult ticket max per person/email when buying online, so if you have a larger group, plan on having more than one person help with the purchases. Parking is also $3 per vehicle once you arrive, cash only. Hanauma Bay has day rentals for snorkeling gear at $20, and varying locker size rentals - we got the smaller one for $10. Surprisingly, these rentals were card only, so bring both! They also have a concession stand at the welcome center of the Bay, but guests can bring in a picnic as well. We found musubis to be the perfect snack! Last but not least, coral reef safe sunscreen is required for visiting. It's so important to check the label as many generic sunscreens include ingredients that harm the reef. If you don't have one on hand, Hanauma Bay also has bottles available for purchase. This is one of our favorite spots to visit in Oahu, and is a great spot for new and beginner snorkelers. Just a reminder though to please be respectful of the nature there and to not walk on the reef, touch the wildlife and take any and all trash to the trash can or back up with you.

Went there without a reservation and got into the bay after about 30 minutes of waiting. After we got in there's a 5 minute talk and an 8 minute video before you can enter the bay. Rented a complete snorkeling kit for $20. I think it was a really nice beach, but it's super touristy and the employees were not the nicest, except for the lady that was giving out the reservation tickets on the stairs. $3 for parking and $25 per person. $1 parking and free for locals. Went with a local here and they said that they'd give it a 2/5 because there's better beaches on the north shore and those are free. This bay is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

This is a beautiful location to take a nature walk! I've been doing this trail for years and the ocean view never gets old! It's nice and hilly so be prepared to walk up hills. Great for dogs. Just please be sure to check your dog's paws. This trail is on asphalt and it gets hot, sometimes too hot for a dog. So take plenty of breaks.

As a kid I remember haunama bay as being more accessible with hundreds of fish. However, I think the number of visitors in this area has deteriorated the bay and that's why there are huge efforts to try to repair the years of damage. We arrived to the bay at 7:40am and being a resident there is no need for a reservation. The parking is discounted to $1 which is great however get there early as the lot is very small. We walked to the entrance and there were a number of signs posted with times and there lines behind all the times some an hour out! Since we were residents we were pushed to a waiting area to wait to check in and watch the video. That was painful part. Waited 25 minutes to walk up to ticket counter. Cost is $25 for each visitor which we think is too expensive. Residents are free. Then move onto next area to wait another 20 minutes to wait to watch video. Note that someone is there in waiting area from gift shop. You have to use their special sunscreen...$$$ and they do sell snorkeling gear. Then you move onto to watch the 8 min video. The take away..don't step on the coral or you will kill the coral and fish won't return to the bay. Finally! After almost an hour we were at the beach. Very windy day and water was super murky. Where are the hundreds of fish from 20 years ago? Where are the turtles? Sadly..the bay appeared sad and desolate. Coral appeared darker in color and not as vibrant. Totally understand the measures to limit visitors after our visit. We saw two humumunukuapua'a...that's pretty much it. We didn't stay very long at all. Heard lifeguard yelling at tourists several times about stepping on coral or venturing in areas that are off limits. We probably won't be back for a very long while. It is sad the once beautiful waters teeming with life has now kinda been abandoned by sea life.

I was visiting a friend in Hawaii for a little post grad gift to myself and was quite excited to see the beautiful Hanauma Bay! It was definitely a beautiful day and a beautiful nature preserve but for being a visiting guest (which I'm sure they get a lot of) the staff was the absolute RUDEST! Tickets were extremely hard to get and parking was chaos. How do they have a certain amount of tickets to sell but then can't accommodate the parking for those reservations, it doesn't make sense! It was also upsetting that I had a friend not able to come due to not getting a reservation/ticket but then while standing in line to get our reservation checked, the guy gave a family of 4 tickets/a reservation time and let them in....so my friend couldn't get a ticket but then they just gave out 4 day of?

One of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. Try to get a reservation which only opens online two days before and goes FAST. We could not score a reservation so we drove up around 630am. They would not let cars in until exactly 7 am. But I was able to get 730 am tickets. Your entire party needs to be there in order to get in. But it was beautiful. If you like snorkeling-do it on the left side of the bay. In the morning it's clear and beautiful but as the day passes and more and more people show up-the water gets more foggy and you see less marine life. I loved it tho and I'm really glad I went.

This is a beautiful nature preserve. It's like snorkeling in an aquarium! No need to go far out or into super deep water to see fish. Must make a reservation if you are not a Hawaiian resident. This is done online by time slots. Arrive ahead of time to get parking and line up. BRING ID!!! You will watch a video on how to preserve the reef and the do's and don'ts . Lockers are available for rental to store your valuables ($12). There is a free tram to take you up and down. I recommend walking down as it's a beautiful view all the way then ride tram up when you are done.

It was my first time visiting this place, despite having lived in Hawaii for over 20 years. As a local, I didn't need a reservation to enter, but I still had to watch a mandatory 9-minute educational show. Since my fiancé is from out of state, I had to wake up early to make a reservation for her, which cost $25. It's important to have your name, information, and payment details ready by 7:00 am, two days before your visit, as the best time slots get filled within 2-3 minutes. Going through that level of anxiety is something I wouldn't want to experience again. Fortunately, we managed to secure a reservation for her, and we arrived at around 10 am. From the moment we entered the parking lot to the check-in process, orientation, and tram ride to the beach, it took approximately one hour. The day we went, the beach was a bit windy, resulting in strong waves. We did see some fish, but the water was a little murky, which was slightly disappointing compared to other spots on the island. However, next time I visit, I plan to come earlier when the water is less disturbed. I brought a life jacket as I knew that easterly winds can be strong and can make snorkeling easier. I regretted not bringing fins to swim farther into the water. I highly recommend purchasing your gear from stores like Walmart or Target beforehand. The rental snorkel equipment was of flimsy quality and cost $20. Life vest and water suits are $10 each. Overall, I believe it would have been a better experience if I had been better prepared with proper gear. Water was nice and there are 3 lifeguards watching the bay. There was ample staff to direct visitors and answers questions if needed. We also seen a seal resting on the sand which was also a first for me. I might come back again.

Staff was pretty bad but the snorkeling was amazing!!! Would recommend staff was just kind of rude.

I've lived on Oahu since 1998 and moved to Hawaii Kai in 2008 and this year (2023) was the first year I've paid a visit to our beautiful Hanauma Bay! We will definitely be back to visit soon, but here are a few things to keep in mind when visiting HB: Residents of Hawaii do not need to make a reservation via the Parks and Recreation Online System (https://www.honolulu.gov/parks-hbay/home.html).  Kamaaina pay $1 for parking (non-Hawaii residents pay $3). Kamaaina also enter for free (non-Hawaii residents pay $25). Active military members and their dependents pay the same as kamaaina but still need to make reservations. Before arriving at Haunama Bay, keep your ID handy. You'll need to flash it at least 3 times before you can put it away! They'll ask for it before you are allowed to start your descent down into the parking lot. You'll need to flash it again before you enter the actual parking lot. Finally, you'll show it again for admission. You are required to watch a 10 minute educational video about Hanauma Bay (i.e., don't touch the coral, float over the coral, use beach safe sunscreen). If you have sunscreen that isn't reef safe, you can turn it in to the gift shop and get a discount on your purchase of reef-safe sunscreen. There are no food/drink vendors on the beach. You can bring your own or purchase some at the gift shop. We brought our own food (musubis and chips) as well as drinks so I am not sure what is available to purchase. From the time we were let in from the first checkpoint until we got to the beach, about 45 minutes had passed. We were waiting a good while just to get into the parking lot. After watching the educational video, you have the option to walk down to the beach or catch a little trolley. It is the same when heading back up to the parking lot. You can walk back up or catch a trolley. If you smoke or vape, you'll need to trek all the way up to the main entrance of Hanauma Bay! I don't smoke or vape but thought it would be a good tidbit to share. They'll stamp your hand before you leave so when you come back, you can just walk right in. The sun beams directly into the bay so a beach umbrella and/or hats would be great to have. Beach mats or towels to lay on when you're not in the water are also a good idea to have. While I didn't snorkel, most of my family did and saw fish in varying sizes (tiny to "good eating size") as well as a starfish. Plan to spend about 2-3 hours there or longer if you can handle the sun!

I am all about a preserved site. The location is secluded and I like how the sun hits so perfectly. You make reservations on the parks and rec website for Hawaii. The tickets sell quickly, sometimes within 10 minutes. I did wake up at 7am just to secure my time at 10am. The drive isn't a bad one and you get to see a beautiful neighborhood. There are snorkel, life jackets, and flippers for rent down at the beach. It feels really safe down there. The life guards are consistently scanning the waters and even called out some visitors for stepping on coral! I'm glad they did because there's a bunch of safety requirements prior to even going down the hill. The water was cold but you got used to it when you started paddling. The fish are not afraid and will swim away closely, but not before you get to see the beautiful colors. There's a grassy area and sand. You can pick depending on how close you want to be to the water. I will say, the bathrooms are clean and there are showers. I do warn that because of the grass, unfortunately that means ants. So please be aware.

I visited Hanauma Bay in Honolulu in March 2023, and it was an incredible experience, perfect for my first time snorkeling. The crystal-clear waters were full of different colorful fishes like the bright yellow tangs, playful parrotfish, and even some elegant butterflyfish. Snorkeling in these calm waters as a beginner was really easy and exciting. The bay itself is stunning, with lush green hills around it. Just lounging on the beach was relaxing too. Hanauma Bay is an ideal spot for anyone new to snorkeling who wants to see a variety of fish in a gorgeous natural setting. It's a memory I'll always cherish.

Timed entry for good reason. I didn't understand WHY it had such strict timed entries and why it was only open 3 days in advance but I understand now. Yes, they should continue doing so because when I went in 2022, there was hardly any sea life present. I can only imagine if there was even more people present. This is the easiest and safest place to go snorkeling in my opinion. Keep in mind they do close on Tuesdays for cleaning, which means Wednesday is the best day to go. Park at the parking lot, get golf carted down and stay to play as long as you please!

Who wants to come to this place. My whole neck got sunburned so badly just by being in the ocean for 20 minutes. Everything is average, and then you wait so long just to deal with stingy people and a horrible hot beach. There is nothing special about this place and they're overprotective. Thank gosh I don't live in Hawaii to deal with this trash. I will never come here again over my visit in Hawaii. Don't t listen to those fake reviews. Please do me a favor to never come here in your life. But my father saw a seal on the shore which was pretty cool. If you go far then it would be amazing but I'm not risking my life for some stupid snorkeling. To be fair the views are pretty nice but other than that this place needs a lot of work. Never come here again.

I was walking from the Koko trail to Hanauma. It took 20 minutes to get to the entrance. It seemed that I had to pay $25. One of the gatekeeper came to me. He said, " You can see the bay from the observation deck". I went there. That was true that I could enjoy amazing views. I also had a restroom. That saved my life. Thanks

This nature preserve gets good marks for overall picturesque beach setting. However, big time downgrades for the check-in process, which is long, confusing and sucks. The lady on the bench out front has one job: count heads. And she couldn't even get it right. When your one job involves counting, mostly up to 9, and you cannot do it right, you should be fired. Also, unfortunately, most of the coral is dead here from overuse no doubt. Because the coral is mostly dead, there are only a precious few colorful fish. It's a pretty disappointing experience.

Fantastic getaway for locals and tourists alike. Locals still get the well deserved preferential treatment for access and parking. While this beautiful and pristine natural reef is perfect for snorkeling and relaxation, shade on da beach is limited. I feel a Burger and or Hotdog type of fast food grill set up on da lower beach area, instead of the snack bar on the upper level, would be a hit and a huge money maker. People having fun in the sun get hungry! However, you can bring your own coolers & snacks. Come prepared with your own chairs, mats, gear and take the shuttle bench-trailer ride down & back up to the beach area. Life guards on duty and volunteers keep everyone safe and mellow. Word to the wise, you MUST apply reef friendly sun block or you will be the bbq on da beach! No worries if you decide to come as an unprepared tourist. Everything you need is provided. Showers, restrooms and a shop that sells everything from sun block to t-shirts. The 7-minute mandatory film brings a good overview of the history and modern day expectations on how to keep this natural place of local beauty preserved for all that come here. Making reservations on line is the best way for nonresidents to get access and have a hassle free time, enjoying this epic landmark. Now time for a nap while they snorkel.

Another must check out when visiting Oahu. My first time going to Hawaii, I wasn't able to check out this park because of the reservation system. Luckily, with the help from the hotel I was staying at, I was given a pro-tip! Here it is for you all to know: Get there super early! They have a window of standby tickets to give to people that weren't able to score a reservation online. We arrived around 7AM and were able to secure tickets. By 8:45AM we were down at the bay ready to explore for some fishies! They try to limit the number of people coming here because the reefs are dying and they're trying to preserve it as much as possible, so it makes sense. Parking is $3 and admission is $25 per person! It's a bit hefty, but it does go towards the presentation as well as the little museum they have at the top of the bay! They also have a small snack area, but it has limited food. I'd recommend to pack a snack bag with some sandwiches to keep you satisfied while you're snorkeling the water!

OMG, one of my favorite activities of my trip! I really wanted to go snorkeling, but was too afraid of going too far out. I really, really wanted to go to Hanauma Bay, but I heard it's difficult to get tickets. Make sure to get tickets. We actually tried to get tickets and tried to walk in, but we were turned away. I ended up coming back that night and trying to get tickets. Thankfully, we had several more days on my trip. I believe you can reserve tickets 2 days in advance at 7 AM HST. I would make sure to set an alarm because once the ticketing is open, they sell out within minutes. I actually set my alarm to get tickets and was disappointed that they sold out. But, I did refresh about 15 minutes later and saw a group of additional tickets so I snagged one. So, my tip is that you check even if it seems like all the tickets are gone and make sure to be quick because just because you are signing up doesn't mean the ticket is reserved. I actually thought I had a ticket, but when I filled out all the information, the slot was already gone. On the day, I arrived about 30 minutes early. I was there pretty early, so I was able to find parking (when I was leaving there were people trying to finding parking so I would allot extra time for this). I waited in a line to watch the orientation video. All in all, it took about an hour from when I arrived to park and check in. After the video, there's a tram that will take you to the beach or you can walk down. As for the bay, BEAUTIFUL. The water was so blue and clear. I ended up snorkeling for a bit and seeing tons of fishes. My hotel was renting out Gopro's, I wished I took them up on the rental because I would have loved to record it. I was initially only going to stay for a short period of time, but ended up staying way later than I thought. I could have spent the whole day there, but it was my last day, so I had to head back to the hotel. It was GREAT last day activity and would definitely recommend. A few things I would bring: 1. Reef safe sunscreen - They do sell some at the gift shop if you forget or don't have any 2. Snorkeling gear - I definitely brought my own, but I think they either rent and/or sell them 3. Go pro - I know some hotels rent them out, so would recommend bringing one 4. ID's - They checked our ID's As a note, I did buy some of those plastic cases for my phone to see if I could take videos/photos, but it actually did not work for me because of the pressure of the water.

We managed to secure tickets to Hanauma Bay on our second attempt, and unfortunately both were very stressful attempts. The website would load slowly or crash meaning we weren't able to purchase the first day, and we found it harder having to input a foreign billing address. Entry into the reserve was quite efficient and streamlined. I bought a little plastic card from the gift shop on the way in which listed and illustrated all the sea creatures living within the bay. I would recommend purchasing one so you can identify the creatures you see as you snorkel. The snorkelling was great in terms of selection of fish and sea life. I lost count of how many Hawaiian state fish I saw. The coral is not colourful at all which I am told is typical in Hawaii, but I feel the fish made up for this. The only sour spot of our experience at Hanauma Bay aside from the ticketing process was the service provided by the snorkel rental hut onsite. The employees seemed disinterested and were actually rude. This was the only rudeness we encountered on our whole trip to Hawaii.

The most beautiful place I have ever snorkeled. Such a treasure location of so many wonderful wildlife species. Getting tickets was very difficult for me but sometimes they have standby tickets which is worth a try getting. It's $25 but the price was so worth what you get. The staff were all amazing at explaining the rules and information about this place. They have snorkeling gear you can rent for about $20 for the whole day, they do take your id first but as a traveler that is an amazing price and so glad I did. I haven't seen this many fish in one place while snorkeling. Usually I see one or three fish. But at hanauma bay, you see schools of fish in the beautiful Hawaii waters! Also fair warning to future visitors, please help preserve this place and don't step on the coral or feed/touch the fish. While there I saw a couple of tourists swimming while jumping and walking on the coral which was so sad to see. So if you see people stepping on coral, call em out on it if you want to continue to visiting this place. If I come back to Hawaii this is definitely the place I will always come back to

We attempted to get online tickets for a couple days on the website, however, was unsuccessful as all tickets sold out five minutes after the portal opened. The reservation ticketing system was a nightmare! We decided to take Uber and line up in walk in line super early (at 6:05am) for the standby tickets. Luckily, we were able to get 2 tickets without any issues. Entrance cost was $25 per person. I recommend going to the Bay early, as the water is clearer, beach is calmer, and more fish to be seen. Compared to Hanauma Bay 5 to 10 years ago, I felt that there were less fish than before.

It's been a long time since I've been to Hanauma Bay - almost 8 years I think. They've changed the rules a little bit. You have to get a time slot at 7am Hawaii time 2 days before your visit. Since we were going to fly from SF, I had a friend help us get the tickets. He told us that the tickets were already all gone within 5 minutes after release. There are about 35 tickets available per every 10 minute time slot, so it is a tight race. There are also only about 300 parking spots in the parking lot, so make sure you arrive with plenty of time to circle around for a spot if you're driving. We arrived about 30 minutes before our time slot at 8:45am on a Thursday morning and were able to find a spot after one circle around the lot. I do appreciate that they're limiting the amount of people coming in at a time, as I can see it getting very crowded and hard to snorkel with tons of flippers in your face. They have gear rentals - including prescription goggles, which was a huge win for me. I was able to go snorkeling without needing contacts! The water here is incredibly clear and also there are a ton of fish. It's a lot of fun and a great spot for beginner snorkelers like us.

One of the greatest nature experiences of my life. We hired a service to help us out and it was worth it since this is a Nature Preserve. Not much to say other than to take a look at the pictures and book it. This is a memory for your entire life. To prepare, read a few guides/articles and it should be fine. An amazing beach and experience overall. The food is overpriced of course, so if you don't like that' bring your own food.

Beautiful and a great place to see ocean life. Must reserve time to get access to the bay to watch a 5-10 minute video on conservation. They have rental gear that can be quite expensive if you have a big family, otherwise, a decent price for one or two people. All the fish were unique and beautiful and easy for children to spot even in the non-coral areas.

It's beautiful here! Plenty of fish! I reserve 2 days in advance for a Wednesday and the tickets were sold out within 10 mins! I bet the tour agencies got the most of them tickets!.

Hanauma Bay is a very nice beach. Nice snorkeling. We saw a lot of fish, but it was cloudy and that affected the experience I feel. I think if the sun were to be shining thru the water it would have been much prettier. A lot of the area is rather shallow and my perception was that I was too close to the coral. The entire reserve is very well managed. If you don't take a tour, you can rent a full snorkel set for $20 and a life jacket for $10. There were beach chairs and umbrellas too, I didn't check those out as we had rented them from our tour. We used Kaimana tours and they were fabulous!

Such a God-given, gorgeous place to visit. One and done for me. I think people, visiting for their first time, should really just appreciate its existence and admire the view of Hanauma Bay instead of jamming in water, looking for a snorkeling spot with their go-pros, and stepping all over the coral reef. ‍

I fought for my life to get reservations haha. We got the 10:20 time slot but thankfully they let us in a little bit early. Parking was easy to find but when we were leaving it was packed. This place is truly so beautiful. Pictures really don't do it justice on how crystal clear and bright blue the water truly is. You can tell the park is taken care of and people for the most part respect the area. We were also lucky enough to see a monk seal. Make sure you bring your own umbrellas, sunscreen, etc because there's not a ton of shade there and sadly lots of people were BURNT. Tons of restrooms, showers, FREE transportation, a food stall, lifeguards, you really can't go wrong here. $25 per person to get in. If you're military or local, it's free. Parking is $3. The only reason I'm giving this four stars instead of five is because whoever that girl was working outside of the movie section was RUDE. Rude to guests, rude to her own coworkers. So many people were disgusted and appalled by how she talked to her own coworker, calling him stupid and all sorts of names. Yelling at this older man who asked where the bathrooms were. She definitely did not have the aloha spirit and should not be allowed to deal with people. Other than that, our day was perfect!

It's a must see if you love snorkeling but good luck getting a reservation. Generally, you'll want to bookmark the reservation website and get on immediately after 7am Hawaiian time (that's 1pm EST) 2 days before when you intend to visit. As per their website, you'll want to come prepared and that includes bringing things like an umbrella, towels, reef-safe sunscreen, swimwear, etc. They have a restaurant on-site as well as snorkeling equipment rentals (including prescription goggles if you're nearsighted.) The restaurant has a limited selection of fast food options though you might be able to order something with Uber Eats and meet in the parking lot (I didn't try.) You should be able to see fish underwater if you bring your snorkeling gear and swim a bit towards the reef.. generally, if you see people gathered in an area looking underwater, there's bound to be fish there. Keep in mind the earliest you can enter the place is 7am depending on your reservation and you must leave the beach by 3pm. I had a reservation for 7:45am and arrived about 20 minutes early and they let us in a little before our reservation time so it's not exactly set in stone as long as you arrive early. There's also a shuttle that'll take you from the entrance down to the bay but I prefer to walk down as it'll give you ample time to take amazing photos of the bay from atop the hill.

OVER-RATED! LONG WAIT! FIRST, THE WAIT........... Seriously if you have small kids. Avoid this place. You must have a reservation and even still you will wait in a line. THEN you will enter and wait in the video queue. THEN you will watch a pointless video.... THEN you can head down. This takes an hour. Easily. THE VIBE AT THE BEACH People leave pretty quick because you run out of things to do. Once you've cut yourself on the reef enough because you literally can't help but get washed over it, you'll end up hanging on the beach for a few minutes and you'll be over it. THE REEF Once you get down there... it was pretty rough when I went so all the sand was churned up and it wasn't clear. Even still, you could see some fish and some reef. None too amazing. THE BEACH Basic Hawaii beach. Nice. THE FOOD Some options. Nothing amazing. SKIP IT If you're here for a long time and you've everything else AND you don't have small kids (under 10).... Sure go for it. But don't waste a whole afternoon or morning here IN A LINE!!

This place was the highlight of our trip! So many species of fish and marine life! You'll need to buy tickets from the website 48 hours in advance, but recommend logging in right at 7 AM Hawaiian time because it'll sell out FAST. Parking is another obstacle you'll have to plan for - spots are limited and there's no time limit for parking spots. Once the lot is full it'll be hard to get a parking spot. We arrived around 8 AM and there were still spots available. $3 CASH only! Have your ID and confirmation email. There were many families bringing beach chairs, umbrellas, and towels/picnic mats. Id recommend to bring food and drinks because the snack stall is up the hill and is kinda expensive. Once you're in, you'll have to watch the documentary/orientation. For those who want to snorkel - there's gear available for rent! They accept cash and card. The premium set ($20) includes the snorkel and flippers, life vests are an extra $10. I recommend the life jacket because sometimes it's too shallow to actually swim, otherwise you'll hit the coral!! With the jacket you can float! There are also small lockers to rent - only big enough to store wallets, keys, phones. Be careful not to step on the coral, especially with your flippers/water shoes!

Hanauma Bay is an absolute must for snorkeling. The abundance of sea life, beauty, and history are unparalleled. We took a Lyft from Hilton Hawaiian in Waikiki ($130 round trip), and I'm glad we did because the lot was full by 8:45am. We were dropped off and picked up right in front of the entrance. Last ride share pick up permitted is 3:30pm. I hope you find this information helpful. 1) Only cards are accepted on site. No cash or tap options. 2) The gift shop is hella expensive. Bring your towels, mask defogger, hats, sunscreen, etc. I forgot the defogger, and it was 13 bucks for an ounce. 3) We had tickets for 9:30am. Our Lyft dropped us off 45 minutes early, and they still let us in. 4) The snack bar food is decent, but again, only cards are accepted. 5) You must wait in line upon arrival to watch a safety video. A limited amount of people are permitted in the tiny theater at a time. We arrived at 8:50am. By the time we actually entered the park, it was 9:45am. 6) Get a stamp from security before heading down to the bay. This allows you to travel freely between the snack bar/shop and the bay. No stamp means watching the safety video again. 7) The tram runs constantly, so no need to walk down to the water unless you want to. 8) You can rent a TINY locker for valuables, snorkeling gear, and life vests. There are ZERO umbrellas and chairs for rent. I HIGHLY recommend bringing at least an umbrella. There is shade under the palms, but they aren't close to the shore. 9) Showers are available to rinse off. The restrooms are decent. 10) Bring a life vest or rent one if you're not a strong swimmer. The current changes constantly and rapidly. I removed a star because most of the employees we encountered appeared to have a general disdain for life lol. That being said, the experience was unforgettable. We saw so much sea life and made memories to last a lifetime. Set the alarm early and make the reservations before 8am to get a prime spot.

5 for the scenery 2 for the park service. We stood outside in the sun for 30 minutes waiting to watch the required movie about nature preservation, which includes the instruction on using reef safe sunscreen. While waiting for the movie, everyone slathered on sunscreen with all the unsafe chemicals. Awesome.

If you're looking for a place to snorkel and want to avoid getting on a boat, this is the place for you! Reservations open up 2 days before at 9am PST and they go super quick. You are able to book up to 5 people per reservation. It is currently $25 per person for admission. The price does not include parking. Make sure you bring cash and give yourself extra time to find parking. There is a small gift shop and snorkel gear rental stand.

This place is paradise. It's a treasure. However, I have some conflicting thoughts. I can recommend its beauty and the amazing clear waters filled with marine life. Yet, I'm not so sure this place should be opened to the general public. Numerous times, I can hear the life guards on speakers asking folks to get off the corel/rocks. Repeatedly, I can see one or two douches in middle of the bay, standing tall, as if they're walking on water like the almighty. Again, this place is wonderful, but not sure it should be open to the general public.

Def hard to make reservations. I had my alarm set for 957am pacific standard time and was trying to reserve tickets for 7 adults and 3 kids. However, it wasn't until 10am when I was trying to book tickets that I found out that one can only book 5 adults and 5 kids at a time. Ok fine, I booked the 5 adults and 3 kids for 8am since all earlier slots were taken but when checking out- they were sold out! I tried again for 11am and managed to check out however, my payment never went through within the 10 min you have to finish paying. I waited for over an hour and ended up saying forget it and closed my browser. I did end up calling their number and left a message. They did call back and I explained what had happened. I was informed that their IT dept would look into it. Their IT department confirmed that there was a glitch on their end and asked me what time we preferred to enter the park. I said requested 7am and they emailed me with specific directions. Our party arrived on the designated day at 645am but the gates were still closed. Once opened, we had to grab 2 adult walk-in tickets but the soonest spot they had for that was 11am! There was plenty of parking in the morning. 8 people in our party were able to get in and the other two walk-ins had to wait on the side to be called in. The staff were aware of our dilemma, and after about 20 min of waiting- the two stragglers in our party were able to enter the park to join us. When booking, you definitely need to be connected to quick internet service. I was using a laptop with mi-fi. Be kind and patient with staff and they will return that energy. Is hanauma bay beautiful? For sure. Did we see millions of fish? Not really. If you don't get in, it's not the end of the world, you can see a lot of the same fish snorkeling in Waikiki.

This place was absolutely gorgeous, super clear waters, great weather in Jan. and safe to swim in. Saw cute little fishies while snorkeling but wasn't a huge variety. However, felt like a complete tourist trap. The reservation system was a bit confusing, and the employees were kind of mean for no reason. Especially this one girl during the demo video where she was yelling at people to be quiet. Felt like I was in line for the TSA or the DMV omg. 1st time things but wouldn't come back, definitely more lowkey and less crowded places to snorkel.

Came here on Saturday. Luckily got the 1020am slot the moment tickets opened 48 hours at 7am. tickets do run out as soon as they open so you have to be vigilant if you want to go. HIGH ANXIETY. not fun. we got there almost 30 minutes early around 950am. parking is $3 cash (can't go in & out and is not guaranteed). Luckily we found plenty of spots. we checked in at the desk and then waited about 10 minutes to be let in and then was told about the rule for 5 minutes before we went inside and watched another 10ish minute video about the bay. They would not let you go to the bathroom during any of this time so make sure you go prior or hold it. they're very strict with the rules here. wouldn't let us take in our food/beverages in either (had to leave it outside or throw it out). then once done with all this, we walk down the steep slope to the bay or take the shuttle. once on the beach itself there is a changing room and outdoor shower. there's also a snorkel & life vest rental for $22 (you gotta return it in by 3pm). the beach itself is nice and the water wasn't too cold after a while. there was a low tide today so the reef was very shallow and there wasn't that much of a current. however there wasn't a LOT of fish. more on the left side than the right. either way, i went to maui's honolua park and saw WAY more there. pretty disappointing but not bad in terms of if you're a not a strong swimmer so you can see fish from the beach while standing and dont need to swim. the reason why this place gets a 2 instead of a 3 OK (definitely not a good or great experience) is because: 1. not that many fish despite it being a preserve 2. too many rules that are too strict (we should be able to go to the bathroom if it's urgent and not told to wait like a child- we can wait to hear the rules again, it's not like we're refusing but the staff would not let us go). 3. the staff are HORRENDOUS. unkind and unprofessional. besides them being super strict, we left the park around 250 and realized we left something and turned back around and got there 3pm. the park closes at 4. i understand that they don't allow re-entry after 130 but we weren't asking to go in to GO IN, we showed proof we were there earlier and just wanted to get what we left and were fine if one of the workers came with us to go and retrieve it. BUT NO. they said "it's your fault" "not our problem" and wouldn't let us go in to get it but they allowed lyft & uber drivers into the park. like what in the world. we were told even if it's REALLY important or a million bucks or something very sentimental/expensive, they wouldn't let us go back in. like where in the world is humanity or just basic kindness. we're not asking to go in because we missed our time or what not, we showed proof that we were just in there and we were done snorkeling and literally just wanted to get our item but nope. they yelled at us. said that their job would be "at risk" and told us to leave. they "supposedly" called their supervisor to see if it was ok but i genuinely heard their call and they were complaining and just told us that they said no. like dude. no. overall this experience wasn't it and left a sour taste in my mouth. i feel like for $25/person this experience wasn't worth it. you can easily go to free beach and possibly get the same snorkeling experience. better yet go to a different island because Oahu is filled with not nice people. This was the SECOND experience where we ran into this problem where the staff just turns people away and do not care about their customers when we genuinely have a VALID reason. there is no aloha / ohana vibe. very disappointing

Known for its snorkeling and clusters of fish, the bay is a scenic lookout point with various colors of green and blue waters scene from above with a nice panoramic view from the upper level area. Even though I had passes, we chose not to go down into the water, as tourists have harmed the coral and bottom dwellers and don't need to be destroyed more. I am completely happy just seeing the waters and enjoying this perfect day!

A little tricky to get reservations. Like trying to get tickets to a great concert. Demand outweighs supply. It's understandable when you step onto the beach. It's a private park with a lot of rules. In the south shore it's one of the best places to see so many amazing fish. It's $25 per visitor, but free for locals. The beach is clean and the water is beautiful. I highly recommend a visit. You can rent equipment or bring your own. We brought our own and rented fins only. Really loved the day. Tips- the beach closes at 3 and the last time they'll let a cab pick you up inside the park is 3:30. So plan accordingly.

Probably my favorite part of our trip to Oahu. I can't swim and I got third degree burns from being in the water for four hours, but I would do it all again (applying more sunscreen). I highly recommend buying water shoes and your own snorkel equipment, it's much cheaper than renting it there but in retrospect supporting the preserve means you'll also know your money is supporting the conservation of the wildlife and that's something I can absolutely behind. It was such a wonderful experience being about to take in the views, see the fish on the reef, and sit on the shore eating chicken tenders after hours of swimming. The water was warm, the sun was high and I could not have asked for a better time!

Unfortunately I couldn't describe this as anything other than a waste of time, mostly because of the effort required to visit here. Yes it's a beautiful place but it's also an extreme hassle to get here, and once you get here, the reefs are destroyed and trampled on and there are not very many fish. There are certainly better places to snorkel in Hawaii. In order to get here, you need to make a reservation. They don't start taking reservations until 2 days before you want to go, and the reservations fill up within minutes. If you get lucky and get a spot, make sure to arrive before 9am or the parking lot will fill up (and there is nowhere nearby to park so you will need to turn around). After this it's about 45 mins to go through the orientation which consists of queues and then a speech, a video, and a tram ride down. Once you get down there it's packed with people, on the beach and in the water. The only thing really worthwhile about this place is that the bay itself is beautiful. But that's not worth all the effort. I cant recommend this unless you have tons of time to spare and don't mind mediocre snorkeling.

Took me a while to get this review in, but better late than never! Seriously gorgeous beach inside an extinct volcano. Snorkeling is good and you don't have to go too far off shore or too deep of water to enjoy it. Great for beginners like me. Free tram up and down the hill to the beach was appreciated. You must reserve tickets ahead of time and they sell out FAST! We tried for three days to get them before we were successful. Not sure if it helped, but my method to finally get them was to choose a time later in the day that wasn't on the hour or half hour, and to have my credit card number already copied on my clipboard so I could quickly paste it when it came time. The staff here are not going to cut you any slack. They deal with thousands of tourists a day and aren't there for customer service, their concern is making sure you follow the rules to preserve the park. The park closes exactly when it says it will and they aren't waiting for you to gather all your junk from the sand.

They make the ticketing process so complicated online... and sold out so quickly we didn't have enough tickets for our whole group so some of us had to wake up early and line up at 6-7am in the morning to get tickets. Parking was hard to find when you line up. The police kicked us out of the line when it was 5 minutes away from opening... make sure you're parked or waiting across the street by the other side of the entrance or follow the tour vans since they know where to wait (maybe by the nearby lookout). Overall it was not a good experience and I don't recommend it unless you really want to go. Not impressed by what we saw, doing a sandbar tour was easier and we saw the same fish on the tour. Take the car ride up so it's easier and wear water shoes while you snorkel! You can get scratches early in the water.

I'm from California, used to my fair share of not-so-friendly encounters, but let me tell you, the staff here takes rudeness to a whole new level! Most were so mean to visitors especially this young guy, a bit on the chubby side, white, in his late teens to early 20s, manning the rental area for snorkeling gears on 10/20/23 from around 11 am to 2 pm. His attitude was just unbelievable, getting irritated with everyone over everything. QUIT your job if you're that miserable!!! Despite the breathtaking view, the underwater life didn't quite live up to my expectations also. The snorkeling experience was okay, but I'm on the fence about coming back.