A small bay in a beautiful setting with no skyscrapers behind and an extremely rich underwater life is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.

It is an ideal place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the big city and for beginners to go snorkelling in calm waters.

Find the cheapest hotels in Honolulu

Hanauma Bay beach can be combined with a hike up the nearby volcanic crater Koko Head.

Swimming and beach facilities

The beach at Hanauma Bay is covered with very fine, light sand, bordered by palm groves providing pleasant shade. The bottom drops only very gently from the shore and the enclosed bay makes the sea very calm, so swimming at Hanauma Bay is ideal for children or less fit swimmers.

The beach facilities consist only of a lifeguard, free toilets and snorkelling equipment hire, you won't find sunbed and umbrella hire here.

A bar and restaurant is located by the car park about 100 metres from the beach, but prices are very inflated, so bring plenty of your own supplies to the beach.

Entrance fees and beach opening hours

To prevent overcrowding in Hanauma Bay and the destruction of the local environment, beach access is heavily regulated and charged.

Opening hours - is between 7:00 a.m. and 1:20 p.m.
Ticket price - 25 usd (when paying with Visa, Mastercard and JCB + 2.35% fee)
Parking price - 3 usd (can only be paid in cash)

Beach admission must now be booked online at the official City of Honolulu website. Tickets can only be reserved for 2 consecutive days at a time, the reservation system starts at 7:00am Hawaii time each day. Tickets tend to sell out within 5 minutes!

Snorkeling in Hanauma Bay

Hanauma Bay is one of the best snorkeling spots not only in Honolulu, but in the entire Hawaiian Islands. The shallow waters hide coral reefs with hundreds of species of colorful fish and other marine life. The environment of Hanauma Bay is peaceful and suitable for beginners.

Renting a snorkel set right on the beach costs about 20 to 25 usd, and it's cheaper to get snorkel sets in downtown Honolulu, such as at Snorkel Bob's.

How to get there

The easiest way to get to Hanauma Bay is by car on Highway 72. Downtown Honolulu is 20 miles away, and depending on traffic, it takes about 35 minutes to get here by car. The signage is clear and will lead you to the official parking lot about 100 meters from the beach.

There is a parking fee 3 usd, which can only be paid in cash. The principle of parking is on a first-come, first-served basis, regardless of whether you have a reservation for Hanauma Bay online or not.

If you decide to leave the parking lot within 15 minutes (for example, due to overcrowding on the beach), your $3 will be refunded at the exit.

Book a car at Honolulu Airport

An alternative method is the number 22 bus line running from downtown Honolulu, Waikiki Beach or Sea Life Park. However, the bus only runs once an hour, stopping right in the parking lot.