Hanauma Bay Travel Guide

  Me and my girls in Hawaiian dress
by joiwatani
 
  • Me and my girls in Hawaiian dress
      Me and my girls in Hawaiian dress
    by joiwatani
  •   Things to Do
    by Mantus
  •   Hanauma Bay
    by joiwatani
  • Enzo & Tanya
      Enzo & Tanya
    by caldarrosta
  • Hanauma Bay Reef
      Hanauma Bay Reef
    by LoriPori
 

Explore Hanauma Bay

Things to Do  

Visit the Iolani Palace

Visit the Iolani Palace, Hanauma Bay

 joiwatani Says:  Check the inside of the Iolani Palace and learn how the old monarch rule Hawaii! It is very impressive how the state of Hawaii preserved the palace! Even the furnitures that the King and Queen used were preserved well. We were told by the guide that most of the furnitures... 

Swim and snorkel at Hanauma Bay

Swim and snorkel at Hanauma Bay, Hanauma Bay

 joiwatani Says:  I went snorkelling at Hanauma Bay in 1990, 2001 and 2002 and 2007.Snorkelling at Hanauma Bay is very nice. The only problem now over there is it gets very, very crowded and touristsy! In the early 1990s, I saw a lot of fish and sometimes turtles. It used to be that you can... 

Take the canoe at the Polynesian Center

Take the canoe at the Polynesian Center, Hanauma Bay

 joiwatani Says:  There are so many things to see in Hawaii but make sure to include going to the Polynesian Center. It's not a complete vacation if you didn't go! It's like going to Seattle without going to the Space Needle. Or visiting New York without going to the Empire State Building.The... 

Swim at Kunia Beach - away from tourists!

Swim at Kunia Beach - away from tourists!, Hanauma Bay

 joiwatani Says:  The beach is beautiful and safe for children to swim. It has a picnic area where local residents barbecue and take their families for a weekend vacation! The picnic area is green with coconut trees around. It has picnic tables and chairs for sitting. It is a very clean and... 

Snorkeling

Snorkeling, Hanauma Bay

 caldarrosta Says:  This is absolutely the best snorkeling spot you can find on Oahu.You have to pay $5 tfor the entrance.Then you have to watch a video, lenght 15 min.The beach is no smoking.Did you know that the cigarette butts kill baby sea turtle?And do you know how to see if a Turtle is... 

Great for Snorkeling

Great for Snorkeling, Hanauma Bay

 nata39 Says:  This was a great place to go on a sunny day... The water was clear and fragrant and warm. Generally the bay is closed on the first Tuesday of every month due to jellyfish, though. All in all a great place for a daytrip when the weather is good! 

Hanauma Bay Toilet Bowl (Before and After)

Hanauma Bay Toilet Bowl (Before and After), Hanauma Bay

 Confucius Says:  There's nothing more enjoyable at Hanauma Bay than getting flushed in the Toilet Bowl! You'll want to do it again and again at this "must see" destination in Hawaii.If you are renting a car then try to get there as early as possible because the parking lot fills up with... 

YOU MUST GO TO THE TOILET

YOU MUST GO TO THE TOILET, Hanauma Bay

 Confucius Says:  The Toilet Bowl is a big natural pool in lava rock, which is connected to the ocean by an underwater channel that allows water to surge into the "bowl" from beneath and then flush back out . You can go into the Toilet Bowl and get flushed up and down as water comes in and... 

Transportation  

HANAUMA BAY TRAM
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LoriPori 3011 reviews
Hanauma bay Tram

Since the walk from the parking lot to the beach area is a steep hill, the HANAUMA BAY TRAM is available. It runs from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The cost down is .50 U.S., up is $1.00 U.S. or $2.00 for an all-day pass. No problem walking down but I did take the tram going back up.

Written Mar 12, 2005

Related to:
 Family Travel

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Local Customs  

Just wear flip-flops and tee-shirts
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joiwatani 1818 reviews

If you want to pass as a local resident, just walk around with a t-shirt and a flip-flop. Might as well, hang loose hah! Da kine, da kine...The local market sellers will probably give you the local price of goods! The tourists are usually buying the Hawaiian shirts and wear them - and have cameras hanging over their necks or shoulders!

(more pictures next time!)

Written May 14, 2007

Related to:
 Diving and Snorkeling
 Family Travel

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What to Pack  

Things to Bring to Haunama Bay
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ambergirl18 2 reviews

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Bring a warm sweater to warm up in after going in the H20. I found it a mite chilly due to the changing cloud cover (went in early May), and actually wound up with a cold for the rest of the night (had to stay in bed...). Wear sturdy shoes for trotting up and down that killer of a hill. Your legs won't feel so perky after a hard morning of paddling.

Photo Equipment: Be sure to pick up an underwater camera at an ABC store. You'll get some great shots of the fish if you are patient enough. Move very quietly in order to not freak out the fish. When using the cheap underwater cameras, try to look through the viewfinder when taking your pic. I kinda just stuck the camera down in the water and pointed it at the fish. Didn't work out too bad. Also, be sure to snap your pic just after the wave moves past you, and the fish have settled. If you snap your shot at the height of the wave, the pic may be distorted/no fish in pic.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Put on your swimsuit before you board your bus (or strip in your car ; ) It saves time!

Miscellaneous: For those of you who have a bit of a gag reflex (bad at holding things in your mouth), skip the snorkel. Instead, pack an air-tight pair of racing goggles (and earplugs, if you need them) and a strong pair of flippers. I got a lot of great pics just by diving and holding my breath.
The big swim masks given out by the snorkeling companies have a tendancy to flood if you don't use the snorkel as well. I enjoyed my Speedo goggles, as the suction is good (allows you to wear contacts!)

Updated May 19, 2005

Related to:
 Family Travel
 National/State Park
 Diving and Snorkeling

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Favorites  

COLORFUL FISH

COLORFUL FISH, Hanauma Bay

 LoriPori Says:  When Pat and I waded into the calm, warm water of the reef, we couldn't believe our eyes when we saw all these fish darting back and forth. I was actually squealing with delight at the sight as I had never seen anything like it before. The fish actually came right up to you... 

HANAUMA BAY - FROM THE AIR

HANAUMA BAY - FROM THE AIR, Hanauma Bay

 LoriPori Says:  As we returned from Maui on Thursday, February 6 we saw this beautiful view of HANAUMA BAY FROM THE AIR. It was breathtaking. You can also see Koko Head crater to the right. Hanauma Bay looks like a horse-shoe from the air. 

HANAUMA BAY --- BEACH

HANAUMA BAY   ---   BEACH, Hanauma Bay

 LoriPori Says:  At beach level there is a snorkelling equipment concession, dressing rooms, restrooms and an information kiosk.There are restrooms and a food concession in the upper level, so you might want to get that bottle of pop or water before you go down to the beach. We brought our... 

HANAUMA BAY NATURE PRESERVE

HANAUMA BAY NATURE PRESERVE, Hanauma Bay

 LoriPori Says:  Situated in the crater of an ancient volcano HANAUMA BAY is a world-class snorkelling and scuba diving spot. The fish are so tame they will eat right from your hand. It is located just past Hawaii Kai. There is an admission fee of $3.00 U.S. and is closed on Tuesdays. Best... 

VIEWS OF HANAUMA BAY

VIEWS OF HANAUMA BAY, Hanauma Bay

 LoriPori Says:  As you walk down the incline, you will be treated to some very beautiful views of Hanauma Bay. The turquoise colours and the coral reef teeming with fish and snorkellers. Awesome. 

THE STEEP INCLINE TO THE BEACH

THE STEEP INCLINE TO THE BEACH, Hanauma Bay

 LoriPori Says:  After leaving the Hanauma Bay Marine Education Center, you can now proceed to the beach. It was a steep incline which took about ten minutes to walk down. The views from the incline were spectacular. You could see the entire coral reef from there and the little specks of... 

HANAUMA BAY MANDATORY FILM

HANAUMA BAY MANDATORY FILM, Hanauma Bay

 LoriPori Says:  The recently opened Hanauma Bay Marine Education Center in the upper area houses interactive exhibits, a gift shop and a small theatre where first-time visitors are required to view a seven-minute educational video that shows Hanauma Bay's marine life and ways to protect and... 

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Map of Hanauma Bay