Hanauma Bay State Park is a protected cove on the Island of Oahu. This cove creates a shallow reef area, teeming with fish and sea life. With the calm waters and abundance of fish, the snorkeling here is phenomenal. However, it is a state-owned park you pay to enter.
As a college student, I lived on Oahu for a couple of months and heard all about the great snorkeling at the bay. At the time I was a poor and found that I had plenty of great snorkeling for free (and free rides if I hitchhiked!) There are usually 3,000 visitors a day which means it can be very busy. So why should I pay for entry to Hanauma Bay?
However, years later I had the opportunity to explore Oahu with my children. We had to experience all the top tourist sites, so we headed to Hanauma Bay. The snorkeling at Haunama bay was incredible. Colorful fish, the reef just under the surface and turtles just beyond the first reef. The water is very calm and easy. It is very crowded. With fish AND people. That being said, it is definitely worth going with your children!
I do recommend going with your kids but before you go, there is important information you should know. Read more information about what to expect and how to be prepared to have the best experience.
How to prepare for your trip to Hanauma Bay
The first thing to know is Haunama Bay is closed on Tuesdays. Plan accordingly.
Cost: $7.50 per person. Kids under 12 are FREE. Plus $1 for parking and $1.25 for each tram ride up and down the steep hill (optional).
What to bring: Renting a Snorkel set is $20. And if you want to rent a locker that is extra as well. My recommendation is to bring your own snorkel gear. We have snorkel sets own. Or you can rent from a cheaper venue outside of the park.
Bring your own towels, life jackets, and beach gear. We needed our jogging stroller to get all of our stuff out to the beach.
Food: There is a small (and expensive) snack shop. A small cooler of food is allowed. We always have snacks and food on hand for our kids.
The Welcome Center
The park opens at 6 am, and by 7:30 the 300 stall parking lot is full. Then any newly arriving tourists will wait in a line of cars for stalls to open up. We went later in the day around 3 pm and didn’t have to wait long.
From the parking lot, there’s a bit of a walk to the welcome center. Upon entering the Welcome center, you will pay for your group. You will be corralled into a group of people waiting to be taught the rules and procedures for entering the bay. Luckily, there are exhibits and pictures to look at during your waiting period. We loved pointing out different types of fish to our children to get them excited to snorkel.
Everyone is required to watch a short movie about protecting the reef and snorkeling protocol before you can head to the beach. The movie portion was a bit difficult for our 5, 3 and 1-year-old to sit through, but we just stood at the side with them and made it through. You sign your life away and only then are you free to head to the beach.
Getting to and from the beach
I was not expecting the walk to the beach. There is a tram if you are willing to pay for it, wait in lines and be with slow movers. We are impatient, so didn’t wait. However, shuttling all our gear, 3 kids, and a stroller down a very steep hill in beach shoes was more difficult than anticipated.
Once at the crowded beach, you can stay as long as you like.
Lugging all our things up the steep hill out of the Bay was quite the ordeal. After a long day on the beach, the hike up was exhausting and the kids were not pleased. Luckily, a double stroller can hold 2 kids and a bunch of ‘stuff’!
Snorkeling with kids
If you are taking your children snorkeling, be sure to practice in a pool as much as possible before entering the ocean. The slight ups and downs, the fish all around, and the salt water really throw my kids for a loop. Being really comfortable with snorkeling in a clear pool makes it possible to try to snorkel in the ocean.
Here is our favorite snorkel set. We’ve used it for 5 years and 3 kids.
I didn’t anticipate the beach being as amazing as it was. Just playing in the sand and watching the people in the water was heavenly.
Due to having young children, we had to take turns snorkeling and taking our kids out separately.
Who is going to set up a beach babysitting service? I’d sign up!
For all the good and the bad, I would say that Haunama Bay is a must-see. Yes, you can get fantastic snorkeling for free in other locations. However, the quality of the water along with the variety and quantity of fish at Hanauma Bay is worth the extra cost. This is a perfect spot for beginner kids to learn to snorkel without fear of fish.
Go to the official Hanauma Bay State Park website for more details.
Read about going around Kauai with kids here.
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3 Comments
Thanks for sharing this good information
Okay perfect! I’m so glad you just posted this. We are planning to go here on our trip to Oahuo in May and I had no idea what it involved! Glad to have all the info ahead of time. Also I hadn’t thought to have my children practice snorkeling in a pool but now I’m going to do it.
yay! So glad this is helping someone! This is why I am wanting to blog, but I need people who TRAVEL to read it! lol! I’m planning on writing a bunch of Oahu posts for another friend who is traveling there. So keep checking back!