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Hanauma Bay, Honolulu

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Hanauma Bay, Honolulu
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Hanauma Bay
Swimming; Snorkeling
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Hanauma Bay: Magnificent snorkeling.
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  • Hanauma Bay Nature Park is one of the more popular recreational swimming, snorkeling and picnicing areas on O`ahu. There are a multitude of tour operators that will "Rip you off" if you book through them though. Most will charge up to US$50.00 for a half day tour. Take my advice and catch "the bus" public transport (http://www.thebus.org) The bus #22 terminates at Hanauma Bay and it only cost around $2.00 each way!! When you get to Hanauma Bay you will pay an entry fee of approx US$3.00 for entry. This means that you can go to Hanauma Bay all day for under US$10.00!!!!!!!!!!

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    Hanauma Bay: SNORKELING NEWCOMERS BEACH
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  • This must see for the first timer snorkeling trip is Hanauma Bay. The parking lot fills up fast, so get there early to make sure you can enjoy the entire day at the bay. The beach has all the facilities you will need, with restrooms, showers, food shack , and snorkeling equipment rental area. The fish are colorful, plentiful, and friendly. The variety is amazing, and even as an oldtimer when it comes to snorkeling, still one of the best areas to snorkle for any level. See the fish on my travelogue on Hanauma Bay.

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  • Directions: Diamond Head side of island out past Hawaii Kai

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    Hanauma Bay: Great Snorkeling Spot!
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  • Hanauma Bay has been a haven for snorkelers for a long time. I can remember going there as a kid in the 1960s and 1970s. It's a former volcano cone and is now a natural cove with a coral reef that teems with aquatic life. The fact that its a cove provides snorkelers with relatively calm conditions in which to view the living reef and the very colorful fish that live there. Snorkeling gear can be rented on the beach for a fee. Upon paying your entrance fee ($5) you are required to view a video presentation on the park with some rules (e.g., don't feed the fish, don't step on the coral) that have been instituted in order to preserve the ecological integrity of the wildlife including the coral. You can then either walk down or take a short tram ride down to the beach area. TIP 1: Parking is at a premium in the small parking lot so plan to arrive early. The park opens at 6am...it's best to get there by 9:30. Alternatively you can park at the Koko Marina Shopping Center and then walk up the hill to the park entrance. TIP 2: Food isn't available for purchase down at the beach area. There is a snack bar with a variety of food options up near the visitor's center, albeit pricey. My suggestion is to bring your own food which is conveniently available at the Foodland at the Koko Marina Shopping Center just before you start up the hill for the park entrance.

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  • Phone: 808.396.4229
  • Directions: The park entrance will be on the right as you get to the top of the hill after passing the Koko Marina Shopping Center (which will be on your left)
  • Website: www.hanaumabayhawaii.org

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    Hanauma Bay: HAUNAMA BAY
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  • THERE AGAIN ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL CRATER FORMED INLET THAT IS OH !!!! SO BEAUTIFUL OF A PLACE TO BE AT... ..Haunama Bay was a mouth of volcano long time ago, when the island of Oahu was formed. It's one of the most visited distination in Hawaii. Visitors can put on their snorkle gear and swim with the fish in the living corals. These coral reefs and tropical fish are protected by the State of Hawaii. Fish feeding is no longer allowed. THE PLACE HAS REALLY CHANGED FROM ONE I HAD LAST BEEN THERE..AS PLACES TO EAT AND A NEW ENTRANCE AND OTHER GOODIES HAVE BEEN ADDED.... THE PRICE TO GET IN IS $5 FOR NON- HAWAII RESIDENTS AND FREE FOR LOCALS WITH PROOF OF ID......

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  • Directions: TAKE THE 22 BUS FROM WAIKIKI

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    Hanauma Bay: Hanauma Bay
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  • Hanauma Bay from the top of the cliff - Honolulu
    Hanauma Bay from the top of
    the cliff
    by Redlats
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    An activity we couldn't get enough of was snorkeling. Basically, snorkeling is donning a mask and mouthpiece, floating along the top of the water and viewing the fish swimming among the coral. You don't need any training, and the activity is fairly inexpensive. With a little perserverance, even the old-timers in the crowd can get used to breathing through their mouths instead of using their noses. For landlubbers, it takes some getting used to salt water as well. Salt water fish are beautiful. All colours of the rainbow. Sizes from 3 inches to 3 feet (no sharks). One of the best places to snorkel is Hanauma Bay - about an hour from Waikiki by The Bus (local transit). Get there early in the morning, and leave before everyone else does because there are more people than bus at closing time. (We had to wait for one bus worth and they only come every 1/2 hour and we had to fight like barracudas to find standing room on the bus). Heed the warnings about watching the sun and wearing t-shirts while snorkeling. The water washes lotions off. We saw quite a few people who looked like lobsters on their backs only. Cost in 2001 is $3 per adult to enter the bay, Approx $7-$9/set to rent snorkel gear (on site). They had two kinds of snorkel gear when we rented - more expensive type had one-way valve so no water came into your mouth. We tried both, preferred the no-salt-water-in-mouth type. After our first experience with snorkelling, we purchased snorkel gear at the Ala Moana shopping centre.

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  • Directions: Diamond Head side of island out past Hawaii Kai

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    Hanauma Bay: Hanauma Bay - my definition of paradise
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  • Hanauma is fabulous, it's like a huge swimming-pool with coral reefs. We went there for snorkeling, and there were millions of fish of every size and color. It's a protected area, where we must pay to get in, and there are heavy fines for those who do harm to the fish. The farther we get from the shore, different sea animals we'll see. Good swimmers can reach a part where we can swim side by side with huge sea turtles.

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  • Directions: Kalaniana'ole Highway (Hwy 72), 10 miles East of Waikiki.
  • Other Contact: We saw an ad on a magazine and h

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    Hanauma Bay: Snorkelling Paradise!
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  • I had so much fun at Hanauma Bay! We got up early in the morning and went for a "snorkelling lesson" at a dive center near the Bay. Basically they scared the living daylights out of me by making me think that if I even thought about touching the coral, a scary eel would come out and bite my hand! I ended up snorkelling for about four hours, starting about 7:30 in the morning (when all the fish are out for breakfast or something). It was amazing to swim in the middle of big schools of fish and to see all the tropical fish. The weather wasn't perfect but that didn't bug me at all. We swam out to the outer edge of the "safety zone" and the water was quite active... we saw some scary looking fish and immediately swam back to shore! Many people in my group saw sea turtles but alas, I did not!

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    Hanauma Bay: Swim with the Fish
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  • When I read in the guidebooks that you could see tropical fish at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, I thought of the wee little creatures you see in aquariums. Imagine my astonishment when I found myself surrounded by big, trout-sized fish! Because they're protected here, they have no fear and will swim right up to you. It's a pretty amazing experience. At the time, visitors were allowed to hand-feed the fish, but I'm not sure if that's permitted now. Hours (CLOSED ALL DAY ON TUESDAYS): Summer - Open daily 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., except Tuesdays. On 2nd and 4th Saturdays, open until 10 p.m. Winter - Open daily 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Tuesdays. On 2nd Saturdays, open until 10 p.m. Visiting Hanauma Bay requires some advance planning, as access to the beach is limited, and hundreds of people want to go there every day. If you're driving, get there early, as parking is limited. You will be turned away if the lot is full. $1 parking fee, plus $5 per person admission. If you want to avoid the parking hassle, TheBus (#22) runs from Kuhio Avenue in Waikiki to Hanauma Bay. You can rent masks, fins, snorkels, and lockers on the beach.

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  • Phone: 808- 396-4229
  • Directions: 10 miles east of Waikiki, off Kalaniana'ole Highway (Route 72)
  • Website: http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/parks/facility/hanaumabay/welcome.htm

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    Hanauma Bay: HAUNAMA BAY PART 2
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  • WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY IT WAS TO GO TO THE BAY!!!! THIS IS A PLACE FOR ANYONE COMING TO HAWAII TO SEE... IT IS FABULOUS !!!!!

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  • Directions: TAKE THE 22 BUS FROM WAIKIKI

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    Hanauma Bay: Snorkel
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  • Snorkeling would be great do do here , unfortunatly , when I decided to go here , it was closed due to rough surf. This is a very rare occasion that doesnt normally occur . It is suposed to be very calm , and the best place to scuba ( for tourists i here ) . Maybe next time i go to hawaii , i will get to use my underwater camere here .


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