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We finally visited Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve in Oahu. It’s a beautiful place on the island, and we had a great time here.
It’s also a very popular place, and we needed a reservation to go. So, we finally got lucky, and I’ll tell you more about that.
I’ll tell you about our experience, what to know and expect, and share photos from our trip. You might want to see it for yourself!
Getting There
The bay was about 10 miles from where we were staying in Waikiki. We drove on the HI-72, and it took 30 minutes to get to the bay.
If you have no car, the Oahu public transportation and tour companies have buses that go there.
And if you’re up for a workout, there is a hiking trail, but that would take you 2 hours to get there.
Visiting Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
The bay is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, allowing sea life to rest. It is also closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Visitors can enter between 6:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The beach gets cleared by 3 p.m.
You should make a reservation before going. They accept walk-ins, but I’m not sure how great your chances will be.
What to Bring
We filled our bags with towels, swim and snorkel gear, and snacks. Other people brought wagons, umbrellas, beach chairs, tarps, and tents.
You can bring the above items along with a small cooler with food. Make sure your sunscreen is reef-safe.
I brought extra clothes to change into, along with my favorite pair of handmade shorts. Yeah, I made them, and they have pockets!
Checking In
Our reservation was on a Thursday at 10:30 a.m., and the email said to arrive 15 minutes early. So we arrived 30 minutes early to find parking.
We paid $3 for parking, and luckily we found a spot. The lot holds 300 vehicles and is first-come, first-serve.
Then we stood in line as the staff checked my ID and reservation.
By the way, we paid an entry fee of $25 per person. I paid this when making the reservation online.
Oahu residents, active duty military stationed in Hawaii, and children under age 12 do not need to pay the fee.
Orientation
After standing in line for a few minutes, a volunteer moved the large group into the education center. She talked about preserving the marine life in the bay.
I looked around at the displays and read more about the wildlife at the bay. They had a classroom off to the side for learning.
When visiting Hanauma Bay, you’ll watch a short video in the theater. It lasted a few minutes, but was full of information.
It covered the bay’s history and safety, such as heeding the coral reefs and strong currents. You’ll want to swim with a buddy here as the waters are not calm.
Getting to the Lower Level
From this point, you’ll need to go down to the lower level. You can take the tram or walk downhill to the bay. It’s not too far.
I wish I had worn my sneakers for the walk, though. It was a little tricky in flip-flops, and if you do wear them, you’ll want to get some that are comfy to walk in.
We took pictures of the blue water glistening under the sun. The soft breeze cooled the sting of the Pacific sun.
What a gorgeous view along the way!
Once we reached the bay, the waves crashed on the shore as people swam. It did not seem as crowded as it looked from above.
Amenities at the Bay
Luckily, we found shade under a palm tree and dropped our stuff on the ground. Other people put their things near us.
Many people searched for shaded spots too. The sun in Hawaii is very intense, so you might need a tarp or beach umbrella.
We rented lockers to stow our wallets and phones. You can also rent snorkel gear, life vests, and beach chairs.
There are bathrooms and outdoor showers. They have a snack bar on the upper level if you get hungry.
Swimming in the Ocean
After kicking off my slippas, I stepped into the ocean. The bay’s cool water cooled me off.
I consider myself a great swimmer, but I don’t swim in the ocean often. As I waded out, the water remained waist-deep for a long stretch.
This wasn’t calm water. The waves dragged me around like seaweed. Some rocks beneath my feet felt hard and jarring.
The people in my group who went snorkeling said they saw many unique fish. I didn’t see any fish in my area.
We swam in the water and relaxed under the tree for two hours. Then we got hungry and decided to leave.
We rode the tram up to the parking lot and left the beautiful bay. Getting reservations was worth it!
Getting Reservations
Before visiting, you’ll want to make a reservation. Or you can arrive when they open and see if they’re taking walk-ins.
They limit the number of people who come, and people flood the website to grab slots. According to the Department of Parks and Recreation, tickets can sell out within 5 minutes.
This is no joke! This happened to me, and I had tried for several days to get a reservation.
So I’d recommend logging on early. Get yourself on that website no later than 6:59 a.m. Hit refresh at exactly 7 a.m. and hope for the best.
Make sure all the names match up. When I entered my information and put in my credit card, the system would not let me through. The credit card information didn’t match the name I registered under.
The system gave me a few minutes to pay. It rejected four different credit cards. The only one that worked was my Visa card, and I barely made the countdown.
Travel Notes
When we visited, it wasn’t too crowded. They do a good job of limiting the number of people in the bay.
I would still make sure you get there early for parking. We easily found some, but I’m not sure if it’s like this all the time.
While at the bay, I didn’t see any turtles swimming around, but one of the locals told us he sees them all the time. We did see them when we went on a catamaran tour.
I’m glad I had a big ol’ straw sun hat when hanging out at the beach. You might want one too, as shade might be limited. This is the type of sun hat I like to wear in Hawaii.
Final Thoughts
After traveling to Hawaii so many times, we’re glad to finally visit Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. It’s just as beautiful as I imagined it to be.
I’d definitely return to relax by the ocean again. Maybe next time I’ll see some sea turtles!
More Travel Adventures
I have many related posts on my blog. You’ll want to check them out.
- In the Northern Oahu area, we hiked Diamond Head Crater, and it was a great experience.
- The Makapu’u Lighthouse Hike is also on the north side of Oahu, where we saw breathtaking views.
- For more in the Honolulu area, I have a post on things to do in Honolulu.
- If you want to explore outside of Honolulu, I wrote about things to do in Oahu.
- If you’re staying around Waikiki, you’ll want to check out what to do over there.
I’d love to hear about your travel adventures!
Originally published: October 31, 2024
