Frequently mentioned in reviews: days (6) amazing (6) gear (6) Amazing (6) clear (6) rent (6) gate (6) Great (6) line (6) reservation (7) entry (7) nice (7) recommend (7) coral (7) wait (7) reef (7) walk (7) spot (7) tickets (8) experience (8) Hanauma (8) worth (9) park (9) lots (9) Hawaiian (9) bring (10) Hawaii (10) early (11) snorkel (12) people (13) parking (13) time (17) beautiful (18) fish (20) water (20) great (21) snorkeling (30) place (31) beach (33)

5Wilson D. 1 year ago
You have to make a reservation 2 days in advance, the website often says that spots fill up within 5 minutes. It was completely and totally worth it. Never experienced anything like this in my life. Hundreds of fish, bring an underwater camera
5Tom A. 1 year ago
This place should be on everyone's list when visiting Oahu. The trick is to get the entry tickets. You have one 1 minute time frame from 7am to 7:01am daily to book your entrance online with the Hawaii Parks. ALSO , VERY IMPORTANT... the tickets are only sold two days in advance of your entry to the Bay. ALSO, its closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Now. The bay itself is wonderful, great place to snorkel and sit on the beach. When you book your ticket you book a time for a short movie everyone has to watch and then go down to the beach.
5Max F. 1 year ago
This place really is amazing. Don't worry about trying to reserve tickets just get there nice and early and you'll be able to get right in. It was fun to snorkel and I recommend just going to Walmart to buy whatever gear you need. And then you could use it elsewhere on the island. The water is pretty calm for the most part and you can float above the reefs. I was able to see a lot of different fish. Towards the middle part of the morning the water started to get cloudy likely from all the swimmers so I would recommend that you get there as early as you can if you want to have good snorkeling. I also very much recommend the garlic fries and hamburgers at the food place on site it was some of the best food I've eaten, seriously, very delicious!
5Amelia M. 2 years ago
Amazing. Beautiful Bay. The water Crystal clear. Took my 3 kids there. They snorkeled their brains out. So much fun. Lots of fish. The Coral is still recovering from over use. Lots of conservation in place. Please note in order to even get into the park you have to have a 24-hour Advance reservation. Cost is cheap like $3-$5.00 per person. You have to call right at 7 a.m. with Hawaii parks to make the reservation and tickets sell out within minutes. Keep trying until you get an available time slot.
5Caroline M. 1 year ago
So incredible! Really nice people throughout who were super helpful. Definitely worth the effort to get in. Their website was helpful too, so I found a great local dive shop nearby to rent gear too.
5Cyndra K. 1 year ago
Love this bay, try to go early and bring your own beach food. We bring everyone who visit us.. Military gets in free!
5Victor W. 1 year ago
Really awesome place with small waves, not quite crystal clear water but the clearest I’ve experienced out of all the beaches in Oahu. Tons of very large (2-3 ft) parrot fish. Even got to see a school of 100 fish swimming around. Sadly a lot of the coral is dead but there were a couple of live ones but not very colorful like some other tropical destinations. Coral rises from the seabed and there is very little room to float over them in the shallower parts of the bay, be careful not to scrape knees and feet. Entry is a little expensive at $25 per person but it’s well worth the trip at least once. A very picturesque beach and nice grassy areas and the outlook overview point is amazing as well.
5janette p. 1 year ago
It's the best experience of snorkeling . The corals and beautiful fish 🐟 are lovely 😍
5JoLynn I. 1 year ago
Absolutely beautiful place to snorkel. It was smooth from entry to exit. We ended up renting masks and snorkels. You can rent lots of different equipment to get the best experience possible. We'll be returning to this gorgeous area.
5Kim G. 1 year ago
The beach was at capacity, 2 hours til closing when we pulled up and the entry gate was closed. There were TWO birthdays in the car. The front gate gentleman was AMAZING and waited for enough people to leave to allow us to enter, other guy smiled and wished us a great day. I SNORKELED FOR THE FIRST TIME! You CAN SEEEEEEEE EVERYTHING! The waters are tooo clear. It was crazy beautiful. The beach nor the water were crowded and we took the tram back up to the parking lot! Personally had the BEST EXPERIENCE! I wish I got the 2 guys names at the front gate! You da best! Run to Costco, grab a snorkel, body board and BRING A GO PRO
5Daniel L. 3 years ago
Absolutely unforgettable
5Anna S. 3 years ago
Beautiful beach, amazing water, big beautiful fish, corals. Snorkeling was awesome!
5Jose D. 3 years ago
What a beautiful view from the top looking down and across, the marine life is picture eristic, you will love all the different species of fish that can see. Bring your water proof camera, you won't regret it that's for sure.
5Victoria Q. 3 years ago
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.
5Amanda P. 3 years ago
Amazing. This was the most beautiful location I've ever seen. Highly recommend snorkeling it. Can't wait to come back!!
5Jessica T. 3 years ago
Absolutely amazing place for snorkeling !
5Sarah F. 2 years ago
This was a beautiful beach and a great place to go snorkeling. Great price. Though remember to bring your own snorkeling gear as they do not rent them out.
5veronica n. 3 years ago
(Translated by Google) It is a beautiful place (Original) Es un lugar hermoso
5Ric G. 4 years ago
Outstanding, beautiful views and great snorkeling. Gentle waves and plenty of fish to see Tips: Get there early!!! Limited parking. They have all the snorkeling gear to rent if you don’t want to bring or have anything.
5Kersti K. 4 years ago
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.
5Rodrigo F. 3 years ago
Amazing beach! Keep in mind parking is limited so arrive early.
5R. 4 years ago
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 it's a slight trek back up to the cafe.
5Alan M. 1 year ago
This review was written in February of 2022. I had read that the parking lot fills very early in the morning. This may be true in the high season but not in February. Any way, we got there shortly after they opened and way before our reserved time. The people at Hanauma Bay are so nice. They worked us in 2 hours before our reservation. The beach is fantastic. Very family friendly. The water is shallow. The reef knocks the waves down to a ripple. Great place to snorkel. Need to swim out to see the fish. The coral has lost most of its color but it is still a great experience. Highly y.
5Wei L. 1 year ago
Best snorkeling experience! Lots of tropical fish, in shallow water and calm bay. Heard people said they spotted a big sea turtle too, when we were about to leave. We broke our Go Pro camera the other day. But using iPhone with housing worked quite well. Video was even better!
5Kelly L. 1 year ago
MUST BOOK RESERVATION 2 DAYS IN ADVANCE! Go to their website to get all the information. You can book a maximum of 2 days in advance. If you wanna go Friday, booking starts Wednesday at 7 AM HST, and those tickets sell out by 7:30 AM! —Apparently there are also a limited number of walk-in spots available each day, but unless you’re going right at opening time (6:45 AM), probably not worth chancing. Once you get that over with, this place is beautiful! Best snorkeling and I’d say best beach I saw during my stay on Oahu. When you get there you will understand why access is so limited. The place is absolutely gorgeous and it is for sure the best snorkeling around. The beach itself is great to relax on because there are fewer people on it! Little bit of waiting in line prior to getting in (even with tickets) but it is very worth it. I scoured lots of lists of “best things to do in Oahu” on my trip and found lots of hits and misses, but Hanauma Bay I’d say is at the top of mine!
5Lisa K. 9 months ago
As a Hawaii resident, I didn't need to make an advanced reservation to visit. I arrived around 8:30 AM, showed my ID at the entrance, and paid $1 for parking. At 8:30AM on a Wednesday, there was plenty of parking. Once inside, a guide directed me to wait in an unofficial line for Hawaii residents near the ticket counter. The guide then had us join timed-ticket groups at the end of each timed entry. In all, I probably waited 15 minutes. We watched the mandatory video, and then it was about a 4 minute walk down to the bay. I brought my own snorkel gear, rash guard, water socks, and Hawaii approved sunscreen. Pack your own picnic and bring your own water to avoid the snack shack. The reserve is stunning, and there was a Hawaiian monk seal on the beach. Definitely a great way to visit, and less painful as a Hawaii resident! If you've not been since before COVID, it's way less packed and I saw lots of great sea life.
5Alexander Van M. 1 year ago
Great snorkeling for just about anyone. The coral begins right as you enter the water, making the adventure super approachable. There is a huge variety of colorful fish, many of which are quite large. Be sure to make a reservation online a few days in advance or else you may not get in, or be stuck waiting in line for a long period of time. This is a nature reserve so please be sure not to touch any of the coral or fauna. Also make sure you use sunscreen sold in Hawaii. Products bought elsewhere likely have chemicals that will kill the coral.
5Alexander C. 1 year ago
Super nice place for snorkeling, swimming and sightseeing! Still very warm in winter. Masks required. Snorkeling rentals available here. Reservations earlier online to accelerate entrance.
5Sajiv S. 1 year ago
Best place for beginners to try snorkelling. Get here early if you want to avoid muddy waters. That kind of spoils the experience. We did see some wonderful marine life.
5Valery T. 7 months ago
We had such a blast at Hanauma Bay ! Reservation was quite stressful since you must make your reservation two days before at 7:00 AM and the good spots are gone in 1 minute… We were lucky to have the best spot in my opinion… which is the first one of the day at 7:00 AM. It was special to explore this exquisite bay all by ourselves like this ! We saw so many fishes and really were stunned by the beauty of this wonderful fish activity going on underwater! The volunteers at the kiosk are really helpful and are nice to chat with, they helped us out to identify fishes that we encountered during our snorkels! There were so many people at some times but you could easily go snorkel without meeting others in the water. I suggest to go the furthest possible from the drop-off shuttle location and you’ll be sure to have an amazing time ! And if you can, really try to go for the first spot of the day… it’s also the safest way to ensure a parking right in front of the visitor center ;-)
5Kelly Fentress (Kelly R. 6 months ago
Must have reservations! Do NOT be late. Prepare to pay for parking as well. All well worth it! Stunning snorkeling. Strongly suggest bringing a picnic and water. You will be sorry otherwise. The food is at top of cliff and it's time away you don't want to waste. We found the best snorkeling to be all the way to the left (facing water). Beautiful place we will be returning to.
5Kimberly Z. 4 months ago
Beautiful blue waters. Amazing place for snorkeling -- you can see so many fish and even sea turtle (but don't touch them). The sand is soft and the sun feels great. When we went in 2022, you had to get tickets in advance online to enter (and they sold out fast). This is to preserve the nature in the bay. You can bring your own snorkel gear or you can rent at the place. make sure to wear reef safe sunscreen and bring towels!
5D. 3 months ago
In A Nutshell: -Hanauma Bay is a great place to enjoy the great outdoors & beach w/ a spectacular view of blue waves crashing onto the shore. -You will need to purchase a ticket if you want to access the beach. -You won't have to purchase any tickets if you just park & walk around the perimeter overlooking the bay. -It's well worth the stop to check out for pics. -There is a small restaurant & bathrooms to use. Overall, this is a great place to see a lot of natural Hawaiian beauty.
5Alexander P. 2 years ago
Hard to get there because of misleading parking signs, had to wait in line to enter, then to see the mandatory movie, then for the shuttle. Walking down to the beach takes like 5 minutes. But once you there it's a great beach with lots of fish to see
5Ed N. 2 years ago
Loved it here! The snorkeling was fantastic. We kept to the far left and saw tons of fish!
5Bao B. 2 years ago
Love this place...
5A. 2 years ago
Loved this first snorkeling experience!! Read lots of reviews of COVID time experiences and long waits/people being turned away but we didn’t face any challenge! Show up to the gate right as the park is opening at 7:45 and they let all cars in. Highly recommend to be the first group (8:15 time slot) so you get a fairly empty reef for 20 mins! So many different varieties of fish not too far off from shore. Excellent family activity! The staff were so friendly - one person told me where to wait in my car till the park opened, and another volunteer found me a pool floaty cause I was looking for one!
5Jose T. 2 years ago
Great! it was cold though.
5Pat Edwards, M. 2 years ago
This is always a must place to visit and enjoy. The Snorkeling is great here.
5Ana C. 2 years ago
It was beautiful and fabulous had a great time with my family
5Krystyna R. 2 years ago
Best snorkeling hands down on the Island! We got there 30 min before park opening and parked down a side road and walked up. That is the fastest way to get in. We were the 2nd group to be let in (30 people at a time). Went on a Friday and it went fast. Got busier when we were leaving at 1. But definately worth the wait If you have to!!!!
5Adam W. 2 years ago
Pretty great right now if you can get in. Limited to 750 visitors as of 1/9/21, so there's plenty of room for everyone that manages to get in. Best snorkel spot on Oahu, and the beach itself is great. Bring your own snacks, though, as the snack bar is currently closed and the vending machines are broken.
5Sandra N. 2 years ago
Beautiful day and fun snorkeling. They are limiting the amounts of people on the beach but it was no problem getting in.
5Enrico D. 2 years ago
Great place to snorkel and chill but you have to leave early or you will be stuck in line and might not nake it in. Look up more info on line.
5Tina D. 2 years ago
Amazing
5Mike Y. 2 years ago
It's why I live in Hawaii!
5Fidencio R. 2 years ago
Incredible beach to snorkel in. Awesome beach...
5Thomas P. 2 years ago
Awesome place
5Johnny G. 2 years ago
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve closed until December 2, 2020
5Kainoa H. 2 years ago
I heard this is a really good fishing spot might check it out soon
5Bilal K. 2 years ago
Simply beautiful, not too crowded.
5SeFok C. 2 years ago
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.
5Jungho N. 2 years ago
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.
5Minh Hiền T. 2 years ago
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 Earth's 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
5Hyeki P. 3 years ago
(Translated by Google) Because I left good memories (Original) 좋은 추억을 남겼기 때문
5Heather M. 3 years ago
So gorgeous. Really cold when we went though.
5Katherine M. 2 years ago
Great snorkeling close to the beach, though it gets pretty shallow at places. With Covid, they're letting people in at 7:45am and giving everyone an entry time slot. You can't enter before your slot, so arrive early if you want to get in to the bay at the start of the day. They are allowing walk ins as well, though I think walk ins are also assigned an entry time slot. Keep up to date by checking the Hanauma Bay website - their policies change fast and tend to apply starting the day after announced.
5Luciana Solis S. 3 years ago
I'm in love with this place😍
4Jerome Palacios M. 3 years ago
Before 7pm is free. Highly recommend this option not only to save money but also to save energy and aggravation. Perfect for beginners & families. And epic photo opportunities at sunrise!
4Cheryl B. 2 years ago
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 we're 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 can't 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. Didn't leave because we had already paid, otherwise we would have probably have left. I'm glad some of the staff was friendly, and thankful for such a beautiful place to have visited!
4Graeme M. 3 years ago
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 shark's cove. Tip: Put sunscreen on your calves so they don't get burned while snorkeling!
4Joe Z. 2 years ago
Touristy spot. Definitely bring snorkeling gears. Line can be long during Covid. $12 entrance fee for non-local resident, $3 parking. There are more beautiful beaches in the north shore.
4�. 3 years ago
(Translated by Google) The otter was taking a nap. (Original) カワウソが昼寝していた。
4Travis F. 3 years ago
Amazing beach with spectacular views! The snorkeling is decent here.
3Dawn D. 1 year ago
It’s a beautiful beach but with so many restrictions for tourist. You have to book several days in advanced or come as soon as they open to get a ticket. It’s $25 a person if you are not a local. The only reason I’m giving it 3 stars is because there are so many other free beaches and snorkeling area that don’t require a Vaccine card or mask to get in.
3Luis K. 2 years ago
Too much rules to follow, not so much of a beautiful beach, just a standard beach.
3Jerry M. 1 year ago
This is a national park and we shouldn't be charged to swim here. We pay taxes to operate it. Non citizen tourists should pay more than citizens that fund it! Too crowded!
1Madan Mohan Reddy B. 2 years ago
Dead reef
1Beck T. 2 years ago
The staff members at the main gate are very rude. The park closes at 4pm. They closed the gate saying the show is over at 12pm. At 12pm, you should be able to walk in since the parking is at its full capacity. I just want to get in the water, there are still 4 hours left until the park closes, but no, the lady who is guarding the main by the highway acts like as if she she has built this place. Extremely rude. If there is no mentioning of closing the park early other than posted on the sign, how would visitors know that you cannot drive in or walk in?

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Last updated: 2023-03-13

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Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

Popular beach destination for snorkeling Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve - Nature preserve in Honolulu, United States

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5Wilson D. 1 year ago

5Tom A. 1 year ago

5Max F. 1 year ago

5Amelia M. 2 years ago

5Caroline M. 1 year ago

5Cyndra K. 1 year ago

5Victor W. 1 year ago

5janette p. 1 year ago

5JoLynn I. 1 year ago

5Kim G. 1 year ago

5Daniel L. 3 years ago

5Anna S. 3 years ago

5Jose D. 3 years ago

5Victoria Q. 3 years ago

5Amanda P. 3 years ago

5Jessica T. 3 years ago

5Sarah F. 2 years ago

5veronica n. 3 years ago

5Ric G. 4 years ago

5Kersti K. 4 years ago

5Rodrigo F. 3 years ago

5R. 4 years ago

5Alan M. 1 year ago

5Wei L. 1 year ago

5Kelly L. 1 year ago

5Lisa K. 9 months ago

5Alexander Van M. 1 year ago

5Alexander C. 1 year ago

5Sajiv S. 1 year ago

5Valery T. 7 months ago

5Kelly Fentress (Kelly R. 6 months ago

5Kimberly Z. 4 months ago

5D. 3 months ago

5Alexander P. 2 years ago

5Ed N. 2 years ago

5Bao B. 2 years ago

5A. 2 years ago

5Jose T. 2 years ago

5Pat Edwards, M. 2 years ago

5Ana C. 2 years ago

5Krystyna R. 2 years ago

5Adam W. 2 years ago

5Sandra N. 2 years ago

5Enrico D. 2 years ago

5Tina D. 2 years ago

5Mike Y. 2 years ago

5Fidencio R. 2 years ago

5Thomas P. 2 years ago

5Johnny G. 2 years ago

5Kainoa H. 2 years ago

5Bilal K. 2 years ago

5SeFok C. 2 years ago

5Jungho N. 2 years ago

5Minh Hiền T. 2 years ago

5Hyeki P. 3 years ago

5Heather M. 3 years ago

5Katherine M. 2 years ago

5Luciana Solis S. 3 years ago

4Jerome Palacios M. 3 years ago

4Cheryl B. 2 years ago

4Graeme M. 3 years ago

4Joe Z. 2 years ago

4�. 3 years ago

4Travis F. 3 years ago

3Dawn D. 1 year ago

3Luis K. 2 years ago

3Jerry M. 1 year ago

1Madan Mohan Reddy B. 2 years ago