Outstanding, beautiful views and great snorkeling. Gentle waves and plenty of fish to seeTips: Get there early!!! Limited parking. They have all the snorkeling gear to rent if you don’t want to bring or have anything.

One of the most beautiful places I have ever been. We saw so many different kinds of fish and didnt have to worry about winter waves crashing in on us. I loved that we watched a video in the beginning about the history of the park. Having a trolley to ride back up after a few hours of gorgeous swimming was also a huge bonus in my book. Id love to make it back someday, this place was simply breathtaking. If I could rate it higher that 5 stars, I would. If you fly all the way out here and dont stop here, you have failed yourself.

Yes its beautiful. Yes you can see a lot of fishes - there was even an Hawaiian Monk Seal on the beach.But you got to love being on a beach packed with people to come here - I dont.

Amazing beach! Keep in mind parking is limited so arrive early.

A fantastic place for beach-entry snorkeling. We saw so many species of fish. You must watch a short video about the coral reef that focuses on how to be a good visitor without damaging the environment. And then you are welcome to spend the rest of the day. Highly recommend. We took the public bus Line 22 directly from Waikiki and bought our snorkel masks for $15 each at our local ABS store. Our group ranged from 10 yrs to adults and we all enjoyed the day.

With the exception of the people that ignore the directions to stay off of the coral, it is amazing and beautiful so many beautiful fish

Simply stunning and well worth a visit. The whole bay is full of amazing sights and smells. The snorkeling is top notch with crystal clear waters, not matter how many people are kicking up sand. Make sure you take snacks and drinks with you though as there is nothing in the bay area and its a slight trek back up to the cafe.

12/6/19 = 4 star = This is my second time here, they need to do some improvements.09/2011 = 5 star = 1st tine here, we love it .

For $7.50 its a good deal for a bit of light snorkeling in a small cove. The walk down to the beach is a small hike. Going down is easy enough, but after a few hours of playing, the uphill climb is trying. They offer a shuttle for $1.25 per person one way.There are restrooms beach side, but they are not well maintained.

Beautiful place, great for snorkeling, but it’s a huge tourist attraction so it can get crowded, parking gets filled early in the morning, so recommend getting there by 8 am.

Easy access to really big fish. Amazing variety of fish for the number of people in the area. Well maintained, lots of space, safe snorkeling. Parking can be difficult. We went after noon when people had left so the parking lot was open again. Well worth the effort, fun for everyone.

Nice. Its paid. Orientation video before entering. Just 30 min to get in. Its not clean. A lot of broken glass.

It was around 11:00 a.m. when we realized that our plane to the mainland wasn’t leaving for another three hours. It was at that moment when we decided to go snorkeling. We were already in Honolulu so we headed over to the Hawaii Kai neighborhood to find some snorkeling gear. We stopped into Koko Beach Rentals. The woman working was kind and informative. After we were equipped with our flippers and snorkel she directed us to Hanauma Bay. After paying 1$ for parking, 7$ for entry, and watching a quick informational video, we proceeded down a hill to the water. The view was amazing. The water was spectacular and the fish! Beautiful!! Plentiful!! This was one of the best decisions we had made! I highly recommend this adventure. Even if you have to board a plane wet and full of sand, it’s well worth it.

The price is a 5 star no brainer, but rental of swimming/ snorkeling gears are very shitty. 12 bucks for renting the gaggle for 1hour.. the rental closes even earlier than beach close so literally have only 1 hour on the beach if coming in or after 3pm

Never gets old! Breathtaking...i was born and raised on Oahu...and this place is a must see and must swim & snorkel beach for anyone and everyone. Safe, clean and sooooo many fish!

Beautiful. Great beach or just wonderful views! $1.00 for parking is totally worth it. Clean restrooms.

Amazing beach. Breathtaking sunrise. Memorable experience snorkeling among the many different sea creatures. The parking lot, which has 300 spaces, fills up by 7:00/7:30am every day. Get there early! If you arrive before the park opens you dont have to pay the $1 parking fee and the $7.50pp park attraction fee. Kids under 12 are free. Gift shop on site at the top of the hill. Snorkeling gear is available for rent by the beach starting at 8:00am.

Great place to snorkel with the family and friends

Aloha, Elvis filmed Blue Hawaii on the beach here.

Amazing as always! Parking is only $1 and snorkel gear you can get for $20 for the whole day. Admission to the park is only $7.50 so its very reasonably priced.The beach is nice and calm by the shore so its perfect for taking small children. Some other beaches in Oahu can have some strong swells and arent really good for small children to swim in. Plus, there are some shallow reef areas that could be good for kids new to snorkeling.Went last year in April and the water was much deeper with more waves farther out on the reef. This year November the water is much more calm. Youre able to see a lot of different fish, and last year we even saw a few sea turtles. The calmer the water the more crowded it is though so keep that in mind. Also, there are some very shallow areas right above the reef that can be hard to navigate through if youre new to reef swimming so be careful.If youre an experiened snorkelor then there are some better areas for seeing some more wildlife that are less crowded on North Shore, but Hanauma is a great day trip with something for everyone.All in all, great beach for swimming, snorkeling, enjoying beautiful views of the water and mountains. Theres something for the whole family. I cannot say enough good things about this place.ALSO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU USE REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN TO HELP PROTECT THE CORAL.

I had never been snokeling before and I was anticipating our visit to Hanauma Bay! The view from the cliff side was stunning, you could see the beautiful ocean and coral even from far away! When we got down to the water we put on our snokeling masks and we were able to see many native fish and coral formations! I will definitely always remember our visit to Hanauma Bay. Its definitely worth getting to see the beauty of Hawaii up close and personal!

Worth visiting if you are in Hawaii, especially for people who love underwater world cause you can explore colorful fish and coral. Be sure not to step on the coral as you can destroy them. If you’re lucky, you can see turtle too.

Great place to snorkel and take in the sun. Can be busy, but you can avoid it by walking further down the beach.

Great place to cool off after the koko head hike. The bay is beautiful and there is easy direct access for snorkelling.

A great place to snorkel. We had an amazing day. The small entrance fee is well worth it and enables them to continue to protect the bay and its wildlife

This place is very beautiful, clean, and fun to snorkel! If you are snorkeling, he have to be a strong swimmer because it can be hard to push through currents, especially when theres coral under you. I dont recommend little kids to go out far for multiple reasons: 1. its easy to lose the person youre with because of the strong currents and sand being pushed everywhere, so the water is a bit foggy; 2. You cant touch or stand on the coral so you have to be able to keep afloat for a while; 3. The water can get shallow which means injuries are more likely to happen if you come in contact with the coral; 4. Theres a lot of unexpected drop-offs! Luckily, there are life guards around.I highly recommend taking food and drinks since there are no food vendors in the bay!The bay is closed on Tuesdays and can randomly close due to weather conditions or other environmental reasons. The bay was closed the first day we were supposed to go due to a bacterial infestation, but was control and reopened the next day.Parking is very limited and fills up quick. There are cheap shuttle buses available if you google Hanauma Bay snorkeling:)I gave it 4-stars because we came through a shuttle service and we were never advised that a 15 min video orientation was required if youve never been to the bay. Drop off was at 1130 and take off was at 1430, so waiting for the video ate up some time...we didnt make it down to the bay until 1230ish:/Active military and kids get in free!

Beautiful inner reef may be bleached but its swarming with life. You hear how its ruined but the inner & outer reef is protected every visitor had to watch 10 minute video on preserving the bay and is history. Beautiful

Must see! Definitely stop by and snorkel.

This was a great place to snorkel. I loved it!!!

Absolutely beautiful nature preserve with spectacular snorkeling!!

Definitely a must do for the first timer, unfortunately the bay has deteriorated considerably over the years. Still worth a look, really nice for a swim or snorkeling.

Its nice if youre in the area. Better places on North shore less crowded than the bay. Clarity of water and crowds detract from fun.

Nice beach, snorkeling is decent. No soap in bathrooms. Pretty tourist heavy.

A little cold and windy today, but always beautiful

$1 parking then $7.50 per person entry to beach. Very gorgeous beach not too many people just charges for almost everything

Pros:Great view of Pacific watersClear waters and aqua lifeWell organized snorkelingSerene way of spending your vacation in HawaiiThe place is well maintained even with so many visitorsThe staff was friendly and helpfulGood medical assistance in case of injuriesA must visit if you go to Hawaii!Cons:Transportation to this place is either by cab (expensive) or by TheBus (less frequent)

Love this place. Been so many times and the view is always worth coming back for. A great place for kids and small children due to light/no wave sets. Snorkeling offers some of the most diverse sealife on island. Highly recommended!

Ok we have all heard about how amazing this place is by now I am sure. Therefore, all icann really add is that it is as beautiful as advertised. I am a beginner snorkeler and I still managed to have a great time. Make sure you show up right at opening time or you probably wont get in! Theres a small parking lot and it fills up quickly.

Great for snorkeling and reef preservation education.

This is a really beautiful beach !One of the best places for snorkeling in Hawaii!Make sure to bring your own gear if you love to dive !Tons of marine creatures and corals to see !There is a entrance fee and also they have shuttle bus service that you can hop on with a certain fee, but I prefer walking though !

This was the best experience I have ever had snorkeling. LOTS of different fish!

The prettiest beach Ive ever seen, and I have seen a few. Nice sand on the dry land and in the water, very few rocks, clear blue water, easy to see ocean life without even having to snorkel. If you go to Oahu and do not go to Hanauma Bay, you wasted your trip. It is that good.

The best place to go snorkeling

Amazingly beautiful bay! This place can get absolutely packed on weekends and warm days so get there early and make a day of it. They close the parking lot when its full but have a weird approach to reopening it, so it may be best to park at the lookout spot and be ready to drive in once they open the lot again. Be aware: there is an entrance fee!

Love going to the bay when family is on Island for great snorkeling and relaxing on the beach. Hanauma Bay is open daily from 6:a.m. until 6:00 p.m. except on Tuesdays. Hanauma Bay is closed on Tuesdays.

Go early or after 2:00pm because parking is limited. Closed on Tuesday. Snorkeling rental $20.

So many tourists. All clambering over rocks and coral. Clueless to the information video you have to watch before entering. It was horrible to watch people ruining this beautiful area.The snorkel hire was stupidly expensive $20 for mask, and flippers? We returned twice as two sets were not working.There’s very little shade here so get early to find a tree or bush.The fish were great but the people were off putting. If things kind of thing bothers you, like it does me...maybe avoid it and find another snorkel spot.

Absolutely fabulous. Elvis loved it here... you will too.

Perfect place for snorkeling, I wish a few more fish had been in view the day I was there. Safety areas marked with buoys, I think there are life guards too. It’s a beautiful park, and great for snorkeling too. And wild mongoose roam the park. Could spend a whole day there.

Great snorkeling area but cost visitors $7.50 to do that. Very busy area with way more visitors than other good snorkeling areas on the island. For advanced swimmers,divers I would go elsewhere. For beginners and families with children this is a great place. Bring your own food and drinks, there is nothing available on the beach and its a tough walk up hill to get items from your car.

Great snorkeling spot. Just be prepared for long car libs and long people lines just to get in, if your not there by 8am. All the available food and merchandise is sold at the top, beside the gate.Make sure to get your waterproof cameras/phone pouches there first before making the long steep climb down the paved walking path (or pay for the shuttle car).Advised to bring your own shade if you need it.Lots of friendly feral cats though.

Beautiful beach! Super fun for snorkeling! I will be back soon!!

This is a beautiful beach to visit during your trip to Hawaii! You can rent snorkeling gear at the beach for $44 for a nice kit. You can see turtles and an assortment of fish in the water. There is a tram that will take people to the bottom and back up for a small fee, otherwise it is a little hike down and back up. If its your first time you will have to watch a 15 minute video about the conservation going on to keep the beach open to the public. Its free for active duty military or else its $7.50 to go down to the beach.

Spectacular views and a beach where kids can enjoy as well. You may have to wait for quite some time for parking if you don’t go early. There is an entry fee for the beach. There are more lagoons which are equally good with out the entrance fee and not so crowded. So, unless you want to put a check mark on your timeline to visit this place I would recommend the other lagoons.

Wear Sunscreen!! All of us burned our skin while there, but it is worth it to see the fish, and marine life. If youre not used to swimming, or snorkeling, they have some easier spots, however, scope it out first.While there, a baby hammerhead shark came around a group of people on the shore, and went back out. Several variety of fish, and lots of space for a spot. The parking lot fills up by about 7/7:30.Rentals available, but we just brought our own.It was so amazing, and would definitely go back.$7.50 for entrance, and you watch an educational video for about 15 minutes before entering the park. So plan accordingly.

Best snorkeling on Oahu. Costs 1$ to park and 7.50$ a person but its well worth the money. Get there at 7a.m. to get a good spot and so the parking lot dont fill up. They wont let you drive in if the lot is full.

Its conservation area, so its organized and commercialize as well ($1 parking + $7.5 per person). The parking is very limited so you have to come before 10 am to have a chance (theres a line just to enter parking area), then line up for almost 1 hour to get ticket. On ticket, there is time slot to watch mandatory video (every half hour), so you could wait another 30 minutes. After finally down, the rest room is so smelly with strong urine, cant breath. You can rent the gear and finally youre ready. The side that has most fish is left side, its the most crowded. The middle side only has fish if you go far near the rock. Right side barely has fish.

The best place in Hawaii

Amazing beach with a protected snorkelling area. Costs $1 to park and $7.50 per person entry. They also have a cute gift shop.

Excellent place for snorkeling. Pretty crowded.

Lots of parking, but it fills up quickly. We actually went there mid-day when the morning crowd was leaving.Expect a mandatory 10 min movie if you are going down to the beach. We actually had to wait 15 min for the movie to begin.Then there is a steep walk down to the beach. Trolleys are available for a small fee. Most people used the trolleys.I did not see any food down by the beach, so take food with you if staying for several hours.The beach is beautiful and snorkeling was amazing as well. Although the waves were rough when we were there. We had a great time.

I would rate this a “must do” if you visit Oahu. It’s like swimming in an aquarium!

They do not call this place Gods Aquarium for no reason. You will see fish. Dont miss out on a opportunity of a lifetime. The beach itself is very clean, and I love how much effort the employees put into educating guests about maintaining the environment.

Awesome snorkeling had a blast much to see

Beautiful area, waves are epic.

Great place but too crowded. The water that is supposed to be crystal clear is stirred murky by huge crowds the turn up everyday. Dont bother to go if you arent a swimmer

This place is wonderful. Been many times and havent been disappointed. Tourist need to be much more respectful of the area. Stay away from any seals or turtles and let them enjoy their habitat. Dont touch the reef! Love this place but seeing people completely forget the video info they just watched is ridiculous.

Overated snorkeling point

Beautiful and a must visit if in Oahu

This place was awesome,phenomenal, and beautiful. You don’t have to go far for beautiful beach shores. This place had it all. If you come to Hawaii definitely spend the 40 dollars on the Uber to get here. Then visit the Kona brewing for a good beer.

Too packed with tourists and people dont respect the coral even though they have to learn about how fragile it is before entering. It really is a shame how much people have wrecked this area.

Gorgeous place. Best to go at high tide - the coral gets pretty close to a persons chest when snorkeling in low tide.

Beautiful and a must see. We spent easily a few hours here just taking in the views.

All of the guide books tell you to go early because the parking lot fills up. You could do that... or you can sleep in, pack a picnic lunch, and show up around 11:30-noon when all of the early birds start leaving and they open up the parking again. Getting from the parking lot to the beach is a bit of a trek, so be prepared. Bring your own snorkel gear because the rental prices are insane

The BEST snorkeling place innthe world! Tons of diff fishes and more than meets the eye!! No.1 spot to visit whenever i come back to Oahu for years =)

Beautiful place just be aware of what youre doing and be mindful of the animals you are coming into contact with so not to hurt them

Sharks cove better for snorkeling if you are a decent swimmer. Go early at Hanauma Bay or you will regret it.

Beautiful. Lifefuards on duty. Very crowded and a bit dirty.

Just gorgeous— can’t go wrong.

Very beautiful locale, one of the nicest in Oahu! Great snorkeling spot, with equipment rentals on site, so you dont need to lug it around all day. Sadly tourists will one day kill all the coral!

Got to snorkel, so much fun, the amount of sea urchins was scary but worth it. I wish I had brought a waterproof camera! There was a decent wait but it was worth it.

Perfect for snorkeling, loads of fish and no waves. bring you waterproof camera! you can rent snorkeling equipment on site.

So much fun!! Best Hawaii experience!!! Def a must do tourist activity while visiting! Everytime you come!!

Great view. Went snorkeling and saw alot of different types of fish. Go earlier less people.

It was as awesome as it was the last time we were there. Great times with family

Crystal clear water . And you get to see variety of fishes

Didnt care for it! Im not a big fan of big crowds. Almost felt like black friday. I had a better experience for free at sharks cove.

Beautiful place, snack bar and clean restrooms. Rangers very nice and helpful

Beautiful bay with a lot of fish to look at when snorkeling.

Well preserved coral reef with many different types of fish. Great experience snorkeling.

Lets preserve the nature! Wonderful

Everyone should expirence this. So many different fish to see. What an amazing expirence to swim with wildlife.

Beautiful place to snorkel, tons of sea life and amazing views.

Came here just for the lookout. Nice view

Hanauma Bay is a tourist trap filled with disrespectful visitors. The intro video is dated and needs to be updated to include BIG RED CROSSES over people standing on the corals! This bay is great to learn snorkeling and to see some fish.

The spot for the selfie.. the spot for the group shot .. in general the spot to get the easiest and some of the best views of Hanauma Area!!

Went there after 4pm on early September, Lots of parking and free entrance after 4. Still lots of people on the beach but the waves are getting rough. Water is a bit muddy bec of the strong waves so did not see any fish. beach closes at 6:00 but was ask to get out of the water at 5:30.

Excellent fish viewing and snorkeling.

Pretty place to go snorkeling

Arriving late and parking lot is full? Consider driving another few hundred yards and parking for free at that Koko Head Shooting complex. Walk back to the park entrance along the road and stop at Lanai Lookout for a great overlook!