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I finally visited Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve in Oahu! It’s a beautiful place on the island, and I’ve been wanting to go for a long time.
The reason is that reservations are needed, and it’s also a very popular place. It wasn’t very easy to get tickets, but I’ll tell you more about that.
I’ll share what to know when visiting, information on spending the day there, getting reservations, and tips.
Getting to Hanauma Bay
The bay was about 10 miles from where I stayed in Waikiki. Taking the HI-72, it takes about 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
Things to bring include towels, swim and snorkel gear, and snacks. I saw people with 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
I made a reservation for Thursday at 10:30 a.m., and the email said to arrive 15 minutes early. It’s even better to come 30 minutes early to find parking.
It was $3 for parking. The lot holds 300 vehicles and is first-come, first-serve.
The staff checked my ID and reservation before getting in line.
By the way, it’s 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.
You’ll see 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.
The blue water glistened under the sun. The soft breeze cooled the sting of the Pacific sun.
What a gorgeous view along the way!
At 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, there was shade under a palm tree. I put my stuff on the ground.
Many people searched for shaded spots too. The sun in Hawaii is very intense, so you might need a tarp or beach umbrella.
You can rent lockers to stow your valuables. 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.
Some people who went snorkeling said they saw many unique fish. I didn’t see any fish in my area.
I swam in the water and relaxed under the tree for two hours. This time I rode the tram up to the parking lot and left. Getting reservations was worth it!
Getting Reservations
Okay, here’s the part about booking ahead. You could arrive when they open and see if they’re taking walk-ins.
But you could be turned away. So I’d make a reservation.
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.
That’s because the name on the card didn’t match the name I registered under.
The system gave me a few minutes to pay. It rejected four of my credit cards!
The only one that worked was my Visa card, and I barely made the countdown.
Notes
It wasn’t too crowded when I visited. 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. There were spots available, 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 said he sees them all the time.
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.
Overall
I’m glad I finally got to see Hanauma Bay. It’s just as beautiful as I imagined it to be.
It’s a hassle, but you’ll want to plan ahead and make your reservations! What a joy to relax by the ocean at a peaceful nature preserve.
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