Such a beautiful place!! Nice beach, pretty water, and great for snorkeling! Saw lots of fish and a turtle too!! We are going to try to go back again while on our trip!Lost a star for some of your rude people that worked there. The security people at the parking lots were funny and nice. Most of the other staff had aloha spirit as well... But a few bad apples that almost ruined it. After we paid we had to wait to go down to the beach. We were yelled and ran at for walking the wrong way (no clear signs posted), and were told we cant take a picture there, and that they were going to call the deputies on us for taking to long for everyone to get a mask on.Didnt leave because we had already paid, otherwise we would have probably have left.Im glad some of the staff was friendly, and thankful for such a beautiful place to have visited!

This was still a great experience even though we can see that the corral has suffered from exposure to humans. A better experience was had at sharks cove. Tip: Put sunscreen on your calves so they dont get burned while snorkeling!

Hanauma (/ˌhɑːnəˈuːmə/; Hawaiian: [həˈnɔumə]) is a marine embayment formed within a tuff ring and located along the southeast coast of the Island of Oʻahu in the Hawaii Kai neighborhood of East Honolulu, in the Hawaiian Islands.Hanauma is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Island and has suffered somewhat from overuse. At one time, this popular tourist destination accommodated over three million visitors per year. In 1956, dynamite was used to clear portions of the reef to make room for telephone cables linking Hawaii to the west coast of the US.The prefix hana means bay in the Hawaiian language (the usual addition of bay in its name is thus redundant). There are two etymological interpretations of the second part of its name. One interpretation derives it from the Hawaiian word for curve, referring to either the shape of the feature or to the shape of the indigenous canoes that were launched there. Another stems from the indigenous hand-wrestling game known as Uma.The Hawaiian Islands are a group of volcanoes that have risen up over a hot spot, which is a section of the Earths surface that has exhibited volcanism for an extended period of time. Volcanic chains such as the Hawaiian Islands form as a result of the movement of a tectonic plate across fixed hot spot beneath the surface. In the case of the Hawaiian Islands, the Pacific plate has moved slowly northwestward over such a hotspot - Wikipedia

Beautiful beach. Crystal clear water but the coral was almost dead. To many tourists. Worth a visit for the scenery and gorgeous beach but dont expect exceptional snorkleling.

My family really enjoyed our day here. The sand is soft and the water is gorgeous. My husband snorkeled with my visiting sister and they loved it. I really appreciated the shuttle back up and thought it was decently priced, especially since we got in for free because of the military discount. There is a place to shower off too!

This beach is absolutely beautiful! $1 per car to park then $7.50 to enter and enjoy, after a 10 minute safety video. It tells you a little about the park, to leave any and all wildlife in and out of the water alone, period, and to stay off the coral. There is a capacity limit to the park so get there early, about 8AM, because if the lot is full you will be turned away. There are rentals for snorkeling gear and small lockers for personal belongings as well as a food stand. Be sure to get a stamp on your hand to reenter the park when getting food as the stand is outside the main entrance, but still close. Because of the occupancy limits the beach is never over crowded. There are plenty of restrooms, outdoor showers, and a shuttle to get you down to the beach ($1.25 each way) or back up to the car. Still, this place is amazing! Lots of marine life to see, clean beaches, and lifeguards on duty. Definitely a must if youre in the Honolulu/ Waikiki area.

I absolutely love Hanauma Bay! It’s a great place to pack a lunch and spend the afternoon. If you do decide to enjoy the bay, please wear coral reef safe sunscreen and pay attention to the educational video. If we want this beautiful place to thrive we must do our part.

Absolutely beautiful area! Lots of wildlife we saw at least 6 mongeese running around, a Hawaiian monk seal sleeping on the beach, crabs in the rocks and tons of fish in the reefs.

Beautiful..lots of parking..(only $1.00) friendly people. They say its the best snorkeling on the island. Im going to check that statement out this week.

The bay is filled with beaautiful coral and marine life of all shapes and sizes. The fish are like a painting of a rainbow in real life. Hanauma Bay is a must-do in Hawaii. Hanauma is also a nature preserve, so you must be cautious if you go snorkeling, so you dont touch the coral. But dont worry if you forget about the bay being a nature preserve! Before you are allowed into the bay area, you are required to watch a video of what you can do and what you cant do. Hope you all become interested in coming to Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve!FYI :-HANAUMA BAY IS CLOSED ON TUESDAYS SO THE MARINE LIFE CAN HAVE A BREAK FROM ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO VISIT-HANAUMA BAY IS OPEN FROM 6AM TO 6PM UNTIL MAY 20TH. FROM MAY 20TH, THE BAY IS OPEN FROM 6AM TO 7PM.-YOU CAN RENT SNORKELING EQUIPMENT!STANDARD SET : $20.00PREMIUM SET : $40.00Hope you have a blast!

What a amazing place this is, a crater which is weathered away and created this beautiful natural wonder.My family snorkeled,and said it was amazing.The only regret we had that we should have arrived around 7:30 am instead of 9:00 am,as the natural marine life would be more abundant

I heard this is a really good fishing spot might check it out soon

Wow. Just wow. We booked a snorkeling excursion to Hanauma and it did not disappoint. This wasnt like a boat ride snorkeling deal where they drop you off in the middle of the bay and you snorkel for 10 minutes. Its a quick tutorial and then you get full access to the beach. You can snorkel or lay out on the beach. I was literally inches away from some of the most beautiful fish I have ever seen.

Awesome place. Most of the coral is gone from foot traffic but tons of fish to see and pockets to explore. Beach itself is nice and if you arrive before 7AM no fees at all! Do this as a morning trip and you cant go wrong. Coming from Waikiki on left just before you get there some good eats for on the way back. Poke bowls and burger places.

Utterly stunning, a must visit when you are in Hawaii, one of the most beautiful beaches Ive ever stepped foot on. The staff are very friendly and helpful, the pre video is extremely informative and I love that they close on Tuesdays so all the sea life can have a break from the public!

This place is drop dead gorgeous, I have never seen anywhere else like it! Definitely invest in a solid snorkeling set before going out here, you wont want to miss a thing on the reefs!Also, just as a warning, be sure to treat the beach and reef with respect. I saw them remove some older kids from the park for jumping off the reef and damaging things. The bay is a really cool natural wonder, and we need to work together to ensure that future folks can appreciate it.

Very pretty must see location during your Oahu trip. Parking cost a dollar but you can get amazing views without paying to go down to the beach. I recommend paying that price and snorkeling around the reefs as they are some of the best on the island

Beautiful place to go snorkel! There are a lot of people and at times going around the reef can be shallow but we found some great spots and saw lots of fish! Because of all the people the sand gets kicked up so not very clear in some places but if you go deeper it’s great.

A famous and a marine life conservation beach to visit. Parking is $1 and to enter for each person over 12 is $7.50. Even though it costs money to visit this conversation beach, the water and amount of activities is worth it. Great viesw and you can cool off enjoying this beautiful beach. Just remember to keep this place clean and respect the coral reefs and wild life.

Arrive early!!! They say its the best spot to snorkel and it honestly is. Stunning, absolutely stunning. So many fish. What a lovely morning.

Get there early. Sun is hot. Incredible views

Beautiful beach and park! We enjoyed snorkeling and seeing some tropical fish, although the water was still very cold in 84° weather. ( I knew this, but it still shocks you! )The food stand was nice and convenient and the garlic fries were fried just right and delicious!! Do not miss this gem!!

This place is amazing. Visited in November and it was incredible to lay on the beach and go into the water. We were able to find a shaded spot on the grass to set up camp with our infant to take turns snorkeling. You can rent flippers, a mask, and a snorkel on the beach for $20.

This beach was very clean and organized. The presentation they require you sit through prior to coming into the beach was very nicely thought out.We went snorkeling and the equipment was affordable to rent and no wait time.We saw lots of tropical fishes and didn’t have to swim out too far.Very fun thing to do with your spouse/family.

Stunning bay with plentiful wildlife—just be prepared to pay to enter, parking chaos, and hoards of people.

Wonderful beach. super clean and well managed environment.It is really lovely place. if you can, it’s better to bring some water. snack bar is too far from beach and 2-3times expensive than normal price.

Hanauma Bay is an incredible place to view aquatic wildlife. There’s a price for parking until you arrive by two wheels. There’s also a charge to get to the bay but it’s definitely worth it.Before heading to the bay you’ll view a brief 10min video about the bays history and things you can do to protect it during your visit. Non-smoking/Alcohol allowed.There are snorkel gear rentals, lockers as well as changing rooms and showers.You will see wildlife!

Beautiful bay to hang out! Not as crowded as the famous Waikiki beach. All new visitors are required to watch a quick 7 minute video about Hanauma before going to the bay. We were able to find a spot right away. The snacks bar closes their kitchen after 4pm. To get down to the Bay, you have to walk downhill, and to get back, up a hill. For a small fee, theres a trolley thatll take you down and back up if you prefer.

Beautiful! They offer free entry for military, so that alone is a 5 star. They make you watch a video, but for a good reason. Didnt snorkel, but will go back to do so!

The views are spectacular. Excellent place to float with the best Zero Gravity flotation. It will keep you about and away from the rocks. Text to 44222 the word TheThang (discount code) @floatnthang

Great place to visit for a few hours - beautiful beach and clear waters, hundreds of fish.We arrived about 3:40, there was plenty of parking available.Scuba equipment was due for return at 4:45, so by the time we did the induction and walked down the hill we only had about 40 minutes of snorkelling, but that was actually plenty of time. Only tricky part was that the tide was going out so it make some areas difficult to access.

A top tourist destination in Honolulu, Hanauma Bay is the remnant of a volcanic crater. It is a beautiful half moon shaped beach with a coral reef a few feet below the water. It is a great place for snorkeling or diving. You can just walk out into the water and see all sorts of fish. The parking lot get filled up quickly in the morning, so go early.

Amazing snorkeling for both locals and tourists alike. Parking gets filled up quickly so I like to get in before 7 AM. For the strong swimmers, I recommend snorkeling outside the reef past the channels.There are some spectacular things you can see in the water. Always remember to go with a buddy. Stay safe and enjoy!

WOW! What a place to visit, this place was breathtaking and worth the drive. This place was one of the biggest highlights of my familys visit. There was so many fish to see while snorkeling early when they opened. We even made a friend with a sea lion from a distance. Read up on the praks instructions to save you some time of going to their web page the Park instructions recommend the following “Getting out to Hanauma Bay You can drive out on your own & it’s only $1.00 to park • There are only 300 parking stalls – arrive EARLY The parking lot fills up early, around 7:00 or 7:30 am and guarded by security for your protection. If you drive out on your own you can rent snorkel gear at the bottom ( beach level) for $20 A taxi will run about $40 to $50 one way • The #22 Bus cost $2.50 one way and takes about 45 minutes.” The only complaint that I had were standing on the reef, PLEASE make sure to speak up when you see any one standing up or doing anything that could potentially harm the reef. This place was sooo beautiful and an experience with the sea life thats why we need to protect it, so that the visitors such as myself can enjoy visiting and seeing these natural place’s. I would highly recommend visiting this place.

Amazing place. Few things to know if you plan to visit: 1. closed on Tuesday 2. opens 6am -6pm 3. you need to be there at least before 4pm to get in as special safety+ecosystem+history class required 4. After 2pm there is more parking than in the morning. 5. Snorkeling gears available on site for rent up to 5pm. 6. Some sun screens can damage ecosystem please check in advance. 7. Theres small bus going up and down the bay or you can walk takes 10min.

Good place to kick it! Afternoons are better high tide is best. More shade in the afternoon.

This place is beautiful and to me it is a must-see if you visit Oahu! The number of fish you see and the great variety of sea life is so fun! A monk seal swim up to the shore and took a nap on the beach during our last visit. The staff had a safe area around him roped off and taught a little class about them and answered questions, which was great! It tends to get very crowded, so it is definitely best to arrive early in the morning to get a parking spot. It is well run and looks great, but I do wish that people would be more careful not to step on the coral, especially after being educated by the video!

Hanauma Bay is the best place to go for snorkeling while visiting Oahu. The natural bay and living coral make it a haven for many species of fish. Hanauma Bay is Im about 25 miles away from downtown Waikiki. If youre going to drive there, I would recommend getting there super early because the parking spaces fill up fast. If you dont want to drive, you can take a bus from Waikiki for about $10. Admission to Hanauma Bay is only $7.50.

Took some pictures underwater using the phone case protector. Can buy those at the gift shop before the beach and it fits my Pixel 3 XL perfectly.

Amazing beach and nature preserve !! The aloha state of mind is booming here with all of the lands respect and giving all of those the orientation to continue respecting the land. 8 min video gives all of the protection tips and then youre free to enjoy one of the most beautiful bays in Hawaii! P.s. 1$ to park !

Most beautiful place I have seen so far in Hawaii if you cmvisit it is a must that you go here and swim and see this beautiful place... Just beware the walk back up to your car is very tuff on you if your not in shape but if you cant make it they do have a service where they take you by cart so yeah go visit and see the amazing crystal blue waters and fish and reef.

This place is deserving of five stars easy. The park is a phenomenal way to explore some of Oahus calmer waters and view some fantastic marine life. The bay has a large coral reef very close to shore that holds an abundant amount of life. The bad thing is the tourists. If you drive to the park it costs one dollar to park. Entry fees are $7.50 per person. You have to view a film that explains what to do and not to do, like dont touch the sea life, dont walk or stand on the coral, and be cautious by the tip current areas marked with bouys. Of course, all the tourists from all over the world do what youre told not to, the biggest being standing on the reef. The video is in six languages, so its not as if that was not s consideration. People are just not considerate. And sadly, the park employees cant enforce this rule. The beach is nice, not really a place to go learn how to swim or hang out for a day Id say. Its more for snorkeling and viewing. There are a few life guards on duty. There is even a tram that takes people whom are lazy or out of shape down to the beach area for a fee. They even have a gift shop dedicated to the preserve. Id say if you want to snorkel and see some cool ocean life, check it out. Dont come here to hang out on the beach or teach your kids how to swim. There are other less-crowded beaches for that. Leave thid place to the people that want to snorkel respectfully.

Dont miss this if you visit Oahu. It gets crowded, so plan an early visit. This was a great spending experience in a large bay. The care for the environment in the introduction video was appreciated, too.

Over Hyped, not that much fish. Too much people people not listening and stepping on coral and being disrespectful. They need to have way more restrictions, close it for a year let the ecosystem rebuild itself. Reopen it for a more limited time maybe twice a week for a higher price. Other than that cool place.

Most of people staying in Waikiki stay in Waikiki, and thats a shame! It takes just 20-30 minutes by bus to get to one of the most stunning places I have ever seen. This place became more commercial in the last years and you need to pay a fee to enter, but its totally worth it. In fact, Hanauma Bay still preserves the essence of Hawaii. You can get into pristine crystalline waters and swim among tropical fishes and corals. Its a snorkeling paradise. Totally recommended!

This is definitely worth a visit! The view from the park entrance at the top is amazing and the beach area is big and soft sand. The snorkeling is good for all skills levels and best spot is along the shore to the left. The little fish like to eat on the rocks in the shallows. Get there EARLY though. They open at 6am and if you are the first group in they dont charge you so youll save some $! Bring your own snorkel gear cause the rentals are around $40. It gets crowded by 9am. Enjoy!

Yet another beautiful place... Short video before entering, but explains how the bay was formed. Went snorkeling and saw lots of pretty fish and coral.

An absolutely AMAZING place to snorkel!!! We saw tons of fish, close to the shore, and saw several HUGE parrotfish munching on coral!!! Visibility was great, waves werent huge, and the sand was incredibly soft. Parking cost $1.00 (and they only take cash fyi!!!!!!), entry was $7.50, and we rented a locker for $10.00. They have you watch a nine minute video before you go down to the snorkeling area, which is good for reminding people to respect the reef!!! I have scuba dived and snorkeled all over the world, including the Great Barrier Reef, and this place had amazing fish!!! I highly recommend it!!!

I saw so many beautiful fish while snorkeling it was the best part of my entire trip! If you have an underwater cover for your phone bring it, if not buy one! It’s worth every penny. The view of this Bay is STUNNING, the snorkeling is awesome and I highly highly recommend for snorkeling! Not sure on cost because we had a bus that took us and it was included in the cost, but it’s worth whatever it costs!

Has to be one of the best views Ive seen since I’ve been to the island.Enjoy views, chickens running around, a big feel to take in and a very chill environment. The overlook gets pretty crowded and the guard is a tad snappy but take 15 minutes and enjoy this slice of heaven

Must visit. Only $7.50 USD per person. Bring your own snorkeling gear or rent on the beach. Plenty of coral reefs and tropical fish to see. Remember the sun tan lotion.

A beautiful place for snorkling and hanving fun.

Super nice place for snorkling! Please protect the coral reef!

I praise the Hawaiian for the effort they take to preserve this place. It is a truly beautiful bay. The snorkeling was amazing and I also saw some divers. The beach is closed at 18:00 daily and on Tuesdays they remain closed the whole day. The sun sets in the opposite direction, so around 17:00 the bay is already shaded. Entry fee per adult (non-resident) is $7.50, it is free for kids under 12. You only pay $1 for a parking spot. Bring along your snorkeling kit, it is expensive to rent from the kiosk on the beach. This place is a must when visiting Oahu.

The water here is amazing! It is sooo fun to snorkel. Definitely a must see!

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve closed until December 2, 2020

If you love the nature and the sea, you must come here.

My sister and BIL (who live in Hawaii), and all of the reviews advised that you should get to Hanauma Bay at 7 if you want a spot. Parking is only $1, but the lot is small and fills up quickly. Once its full, they close off the lot and theres really nowhere else to park (we went through a whole ordeal when we first visited 8 years ago). This time, we aimed to leave by 6 since Google maps said it would take us 40 minutes to drive from the south side of the island. We ended up leaving at 6:30 so we got caught in the rush hour traffic. It took us about an hour and a half to get there. We arrived at almost 8 and the lot was almost full. Luckily, we were able to nab one of the last spots.The entry fee is $7.50 per adult but if you are kama’aina, it’s free. You have to watch a 15 minute video before you’re permitted to head down to the snorkel area. If you plan to return within the year, you can add your name to a list so that you don’t have to watch the video again. Once you’re done, there’s a sloped pathway to walk down (which means it’s a hike back up) but if you’re not up for walking, you can ride the tram for a few bucks.When you get down there, they have lockers available to rent - I believe it’s $10 for a small and $14 for a large. We ended up getting a small one to keep our wallets/keys in, just for peace of mind. You can also rent snorkel masks or fins.After we were all settled, it was already 9 when we started snorkeling. So if you want to start snorkeling at 7, you should really aim to get there by 6. Note, that the tide starts rising around 10 so after that, visibility gets lower and lower, and the waves get a bit rougher.Hanauma Bay is definitely for tourists but it’s a nice visit if you’ve never been. Again, just make sure you go EARLY to get the best experience.

Great bay and nature preserve for snorkeling, swimming, and hanging out on the beach. Costs $7.50 for most people. Free for Hawaii residents and active military personnel. Everyone has to watch an introduction video (~10 minutes) once a year before entering the preserve.Bring your own snorkel gear or rent some on the beach. Food is available at the top of the hill above the beach until 4:30pm. Bring your own food down the beach for a nice picnic under the palm trees.On the beach enjoy freshwater showers and restrooms for free, as well as drinking fountains. Lifeguards patrol the shore and waters during the day. Be sure to ask them for advice if you have questions. Do not swim out really far if you are not a great swimmer, they will call you back in due to currents and rocks in the area.You can see a variety of sea creatures here including sea turtles, eels, and tropical fish. See the display boards on the beach for names of animals and more information. There is a knowledgeable person there at a booth to answer any questions about the nature preserve.

7.50 entrance fee? Worth it. This place is lovely and this has to be the highlight of my really short Hawaii trip. I should have come here as soon as I got here since I love sea life very much. You dont even need to swim far to be able to see beautiful fishes and corals. Your kids will definitely enjoy. I was smiling all the way home and Im a 26 year old grown woman. The place was so clean and well kept and I hope WE do our part to keep it this way. Noticed some people leaving their trash. Anyway this was really fun and interesting! Very fun swim. My parents didnt swim but they enjoyed people watching and just enjoyed the sight of the place. They got a good nap and picnic, too.I hope you take the time to read this before visiting this place:BRING YOUR OWN GEARRenting a snorkel with goggles and fins will be around 20.Goggles and a snorkel alone is around 12.You can buy a COMPLETE and new set at Walmart for the same price or less, so might as well do that before coming here.

I took the best photos of the wildlife at this gorgeous nature preserve. It was my familys first time. Snorkeling rental $20 per person. Bring your own food & a umbrella.

Amazing snorkelling. Take the 22 bus from Waikiki instead of driving, because parking will always be an issue. Thats only $2.75 or $5.00 return. Its going to cost $7.50 to enter the park( and you can return for a snack and then go back down), and you watch a mandatory video ( about 10 minutes) to introduce the bay. The trolley to the beach is 1.75 or 2.50 return. Or you can walk the way down.You can rent snorkelling gear if you have not brought your own, or rent flippers if you have the rest. I recommend flippers at least, as the currents in the most interesting places will tire you out if you arent used to it.The fish are abundant, and not really afraid of humans. There are many areas to explore.Its always busy, so you wont get away from people, but theres a lot of room.At the top of the bay there is a gift shop and snack shop, but I strongly recommend taking plenty of fluids and something to eat while you are down at the beach.

Definitely my favourite of the four beaches I have visited here during my vacation. This beach offers many ammenities that the others didnt. It cares deeply for the beach, the marine life and its preservation. You must watch a very quick video explaining the beach, its history, past, current and future efforts to ensure its survival. This also educates the visitors on the dos and donts. There is a gift shop and ability to buy food and drinks onsite. It is a small hike down the slope to the beach itself. Very beautiful and scenic to walk up or down. They do provide a small car shuttle service for a small fee so you dont have to walk. There are two life guard towers on the beach. They are good at anmouncing when the tides change or the conditions call for more care in the waters... this was comforting. The beach itself is extremely beautiful and scenic compared to other beaches. Very busy beach and family oriented. The snorkeling here was so much fun. We saw a much larger number and diversity of fish of all sizes. That was exciting. The parking was busy though we found a spot quickly. There is a large parking area compared to other beaches. Highly recommend this beach!!

A must for snorkel on Oahu! Yes, it does cost $7 (2018) per person and $1 for parking but you are contributing to preserving the reef. Small price to pay to keep Hawaii beautiful. Remember they are closed Tuesdays(Again 2018) and remember to take reef safe sunscreen or buy on site. Also note that if there is a big swell coming in water visibility will be affected. The day we went surf was coming in and it wasn’t worth putting on snorkel however still worth seeing as there is not another bay quite like Hanauma. So so beautiful!

Amazing place where you can see the beauty of Hawaii even if its a little bit touristy. Snorkeling was awesome there.

A must see if you visit Oahu. The views are stunning and it feels so much calmer than the busy streets of Waikiki. I would definitely recommend checking out a tour/shuttle option or taking the bus as we saw a line to enter the parking lot even on a Monday. The park, tram service, and rental equipment vendor all take cash and card which was nice. Be careful out in the water since the bay has currents that can push and pull right over the sharp coral.

Great snorkeling and beach. Perfect family fun. Bring a sun umbrella for shade. Snack bar is located at the top of the hill, though you can bring food in. Buy your lunch and bring it in to avoid a trip back up and down again.

Loved it. Very beautiful place. Workers were awesom highly recommend this place

I first came here in 1986. It is so popular that it is closed one day a week. It is well run and still worth a visit but I think perhaps they need to put further restrictions on visitor numbers. The difference is quite notable with regard to the water clarity and fish close in shore

Unforgettable experience! Extensive coral reef in an extinct volcano crater, maintained as a nature preserve by the University of Hawaii. Plan on spending the day to fully explore the many coral formations abundantly populated by numerous tropical fish species.

A very nice place. I visit here every time when I visit Hawaii. If you dont arrive early in the morning, there will be no parking and there will be a long queue to enter.Please note that Christmas Day and January 1 are closed

Beautiful beach, amazing water, big beautiful fish, corals. Snorkeling was awesome!

Absolutely beautiful. The story behind the bay makes it even better. The staff does a great job keeping this place looking in great condition and there is a lot of fish in the bay you can see while snorkeling. Highly recommend if you visit Oahu.

Absolutely stunning!Parking was $1, arrive early to get a spot. Theres an admission fee as well and an orientation video to watch. It was helpful. You can rent snorkel gear there as well. We stayed there all day as my friend couldnt get over the snorkeling.

Was awesome until it closed due to the box jelly fish..

One of the most beautiful places on this Earth. Its is a must do. Sit on the beach. Snorkel on the reef. Absolutely stunning.

Parking wasnt bad at all around noon on a Friday. Beautiful place but very crowded. Be careful when swimming in shallow reef areas.

This place is a must see for anybody visiting Oahu. It offers beautiful view of the ocean as well as the coral reef. This makes it one of the best place to snorkel, especially it is on a bay protected by surrounding mountains so you don’t see huge waves here. There are also life guard on the beach in case of emergency.You have to watch an educational video before entering the beach. I think this is a very good idea and I highly encourage everybody to watch it and learn how we can protect our beautiful natural reserve.Trek carefully, enjoy the snorkeling and swim with tropical fishes.

Very beautiful and a must visit! Be prepared to come early to get good parking if you’re not taking a bus. If you come between 6-7am, parking and admission is free.

If I could go back right now I would. Definitely better early in the morning because there are less people. I would recommend buying your own fins and snorkel or bringing them beforehand. Dont pay for the tours theyre not worth it! You can catch the bus for 5$ for the whole day and just pay entrance. I paid 20$ for the day compared to some of the travel tours costing upwards of 100$ for the same thing. Theyre all scams, hanauma bay is definitely one of the easiest places to access and is a great way to spend the day.

SNORKELING WITH FISH IN A SUPER COMFORTABLE BEACH (TIPS BELOW)Finding parking ️ ($1 per vehicle) close to the entrance might be the hardest task, they made everything here SO EASY for everyone to come and see the fish in their natural habitat while spending a day at the beach. Park is free for Hawai’i residents ($7.50 for non-residents 13 years and older) and due to this, parking will be full by 9:00am (Open 6:00am-7:00pm).There is a souvenir and snack store at the entrance level, before you go down to the beach either walking or via the tram ($1 per ride, $2.50 all-day service), where you can rent a small locker, use small changing rooms and rent snorkeling gear ($12 for the basic goggles and breathing device, $20 for the “advanced” that includes flippers) TIPS:- Plan and prepare to spend a nice day, it’s worth it. TIP: Look up the weather in advance, bring chairs, umbrellas, towels as they don’t rent them there.- TIP: Find ️ parking arriving before 8:00am or after 2:00pm- TIP: Pay the $2.50 for the whole-day tram service, it’s worth it.- TIP: Rent the flippers, you don’t want to get hurt with coral.- TIP: Avoid a $500 fine : The list of prohibited items is this: Alcoholic beverages, Animals, Camping, Vehicles on Grass, Golfing, Littering, Open Fire, Feeding of Animals, Ball Playing, Tents ️, Smoking .- TIP: Write down your name after watching the instructional video, you may come back sooner than expected. #ruizmedina️

Wow wow wow. If you get to thw island make thia your firststop

Had the afternoon to kill and only 30 minutes outside the city. Kids under 12 get in free. The fish were amazing. If you are going to snorkel get the fins. It makes all the difference. Twins loved meeting this little guy too!

Super well organized and maintained. Parking is $1.00 per vehicle and admission is $7.50 per person. Youll need to sit through a 10 minute video if you havent been in the last year. There is a shuttle available for $2.50 roundtrip, and its worth it if you are tired or have trouble walking. The path is very steep.

This place is beautiful! There were a lot of people and if you dont like crowds then you wont like this place. It was worth it for me and my wife but it just depends on the person.

Very nice place to visit. If your are driving there, you must get here before 9AM or you will be turn away due to parking. Only tour buses an scooter are allowed in when the lot is full. Bring food and water, they do not sale food here. Beach umbrella is highly recommended to bring, youll thanks me later. Bring water proof camera if you have one. This is my 3rd visit here, still enjoy it every time.

This is the must go place for people love snorkeling. You need to pay for entrance. The park gives you education about swimming and how to keep ocean eco systems.

Great snorkeling experience, try to get there super early to get the parking and when there is less of a crowd. Unlike other snorkeling places around the island, there is an admission fee, but it is well worth it. They also make you watch a short film about how to protect the preserve (e.g. not standing on the coral). Even so, we unfortunately saw many people standing on the coral. The best thing to do is find a pathway to the deeper end of the preserve, closer out towards the ocean. The water is a lot clearer the farther out you go and there are less people you have to swim around. You are better able to see all the fishes and coral the further out. Also you might run into other more species such as sea turtles, who you wont get to see when you stay near the beach. One last thing, several days after a full moon, the jellyfish come out. Make sure to check the calendar and dont go snorkeling when this event comes up.

What a great place to see some fish. The facilities are very well maintained. We bring our own gear and we get there super early. This year there were ten times the fish as last year. We had a great time. Even with as popular as this place is there is plenty of room for everyone.

Absolutely beautiful!! Water is gorgeous. Great snorkeling. Bring everything you need. Be ready to walk down and up or pay tram $1.75 each person/way. Hard on little kids and seniors.

A must visit on Oahu. There is usually a lot of people and traffic getting here but it is worth it. Free for military. They have a shuttle taking people up and down the hill to and from the beach. There is a small fee to enter however military are free.

Idyllic place to snorkel. If you are a strong ocean swimmer be sure to swim down the channel past the reef. We saw three baby honu (sea turtles) in the water out there. Its a good idea to snorkel with a buddy.This is a popular place so arrive to Hanauma Bay early (7am) to avoid the crowds. Parking may be difficult to find if you come late.Bring reef safe sunscreen or wear sun protective swim clothes/wetsuit.The sand here is beautiful--it sparkles.The Bay is scenic with many great photo opportunities!

Really great hike up to the waterfall. Pretty crowded, a little pricey, but well worth it.

Very touristy, but amazing! They do limit the number of visitors per time block. There is space for many. You will see fish, and a lot of them. Easy snorkeling even when water around the rest of the island was quite rough (March).

Used a tour group just keep googling to find the best price. Paid the 7.50 saw the short video and then has the time of our life. It was just me and my 15 year old daughter we spend 3 hours out there mostly in the water we saw so many fish the coral is so close to the beach you dont have to swim out far but we did we went all the way out and just had an amazing time. Bring a small lunch or snack and a drink we brought a small lunch box. Froze a water bottle at hotel and bought sandwiches at the local abc store . We will have stories of swimming here for a lifetime.

Probably the best snorkelling experience I had in my life! The water was crystal clear and the reefs are populated with thousands of fishes!! It is amazing! I spent 3 hours in the water and wouldn’t get out! Current is real smooth and the reef is profound enough so you don’t touch it. Places not to go are clearly marked so it’s perfect if you are a beginner.And after a long day what could be better than shave ice! They sell some after you climbed your way up the little hill.

This beautiful beach is well worth the $7.50 to get in. Dont get upset because once you set your eyes on this beautiful Nature Preserve you will Thank God for this creation. The parking cost $1 but if you leave within the Hour your money is refunded. You can walk around and take pictures of the lagoon without paying up top but if you want to walk down and experience this gem, you will have to pay $7.50 per persin 12 and under are free. If you have a fear of mongoose, ferrets or cats, this is not the place for you as there are hundreds running around. The showers are behind the bathrooms kind of hidden but you cannot use any type of soap. There is some construction in the lagoon but it isnt bothersome.

We tried to go on a Friday at 8am and the parking lot was full. Now, Im a firm believer in fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me so I was not about to be denied parking at this glorious beach again and the next day I got there at opening time (6am) and was able to choose from any parking spot I wanted in the empty lot. In addition to that, we got there so early that the park attendants didnt charge us for either parking or the park entry fee (saved us $16). Anyways, the beach is magical. Fish everywhere. I saw a humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa that was easily almost 2 feet long. Bring a snorkel or youll want to pay to rent one ($12) but other that that everything else is covered (restrooms, showers, grassy area to eat a sandwich). Just remember to respect the aina so our childrens children have somewhere cool to swim around and look at fish (dont be that guy who touches all the coral and tries to feed the fish beef jerky).

Great place to go with the family. Beautiful beach. $20 snorkeling rental and entrance fee plus you have to view their movie. It was worth it. If you cant walk down hill, you can take the tram for $1

Must do if you are in the area, admission is definitely worth the 7.50 and snorkel rentals (various packages) are available. Super easy to get some awesome pictures. There is a bit of a trek to get down to the bay, but there is a tram available for additional cost. Gift shop and food is available.