Since Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve reopened just last month, the rules have been changing. Last week, the county banned walk-in visitors due to a safety concern along the Kalanianaole Highway. Starting today, however, the iconic bay will again be allowing walk-in entry. We are still awaiting an online reservation system as well, which has thus far not been launched. Starting December 13, 2020, TheBus added a stop at Hanauma Bay on Route 22.
As for the latest change, here’s what the county just said. “Providing a safe & enjoyable experience for bay visitors, while keeping the preserve’s conservation and fiscal sustainability objectives in mind, continues to be our ultimate goals…The ticketing system and increased access to the preserve’s parking lot proved to be the solutions we needed… We appreciate the patience and flexibility of the public while we make these adjustments to our Hanauma Bay operations during this pilot program period. ” –DPR Director-Designate Laura H. Thielen.
Once you arrive at the park entrance, visitors are being directed to the parking area where tickets for specific entry times and mandatory educational video viewing are obtained. Visitors can then either leave and return 15 minutes before their appointed time or have the option to remain in the parking lot and upper area of the preserve while they await their time. The county said that “Over the weekend, many visitors were seen enjoying the upper areas of the preserve, including picnicking on the upper lawn areas or enjoying the scenic views. This is encouraged.”
New regulations created long waiting lines: 720 visitors per day allowed and 120 per hour.
Access to the parking lot is limited to 30 cars at one time and access to the bay is limited to 30 people every 15 minutes. Waiting times have been as much as 2 hours and more. What’s needed, and will soon be coming, is an online reservation system. Something like Kauai implemented with timed access to Kee and Haena Beaches.
There is also an educational video in the theater that is now mandatory. Face masks are required at Hanauma Bay.
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve was closed for 9 months due to COVID.
Hanauma is the spectacular cove located inside a volcanic crater that is packed with fish and is just a 25-minute drive from Waikiki Beach. It is always one of the state’s primary snorkeling attractions for both visitors and residents. In the past, throngs came there to see the beauty both above and below the water that appeared to outnumber the marine creatures.
Hanauma is the first Marine Life Conservation District in Hawaii and is considered one of Hawaii’s most breathtaking natural resources. Now you can be part of preserving and protecting one of the state’s rarest locations. The bay features both a deep outer reef and a shallow inner reef for protection, which results in calm, sparkling-clear waters.
Tip: Be aware that there is an unofficial website that looks official which is hanaumabaystatepark.com. We won’t link to that one. Here is the official state website for Hanauma Bay.
Visitors and locals previously imperiled Hanauma Bay.
Before COVID, Hanauma Bay saw up to 6,000 visitors per day, but will now be limited to 720 per day. Prior to the first efforts to limit visitors, it saw many times more. After it was closed due to COVID in March, the bay started to heal following decades of abuse. Water quality and clarity improved without the visitors, their sunscreen, and the bread and other food they fed the fish.
The marine ecosystem and its plethora of colorful coral and fish have since clearly begun to restore. Endangered species found there including sea turtles and monk seals have been seen in greater numbers.
Friends of Hanauma Bay.
That is the not for profit organization that closely monitors everything happening within the bay. Their president, Lisa Bishop, said that water visibility has improved 64% since before the shutdown. She also noted that it is the first time in four decades that dangerous sunscreen chemicals have not been in the water.
Since the closure, larger species and an abundance of tropical fish have returned making it worth the wait to enter.
Pristine ecosystems in recovery
More than a decade ago, new efforts got underway to restore Hanauma Bay. Due to long-term abuse and overuse, with millions of annual visitors, 30 years ago Honolulu unveiled a plan to restore the bay by implementing restrictions including visitor counts, and the creation of educational programs. Then in 2002, the Hanauma Bay Marine Education Center opened. It is there that visitors watch a short video supporting efforts to restore this special place when we visit. Further back, in 1967, Hawaii first designated the 100 acre Marine Life Conservation District.
New opening hours (Closed Monday and Tuesday).
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is now open from Wednesday through Sunday. Entrance is permitted from 8am to 2pm, and the preserve closes at 4 pm. Check online for changes or call them at (808) 768-6861.
Updated entrance and parking fees.
The cost of admissions is $12 per person for those 13 years and above, while it is free for those up to age 12. Hawaii residents are offered free admission with proper identification. Parking is $3 for visitors and $1 for residents.
There are no commercial activities at Hanauma Bay, which means that commercial vehicles, taxis, and tour groups cannot enter.
Bring your own snorkeling equipment and food.
At this time, the food concessions, gift shop, education center, snorkeling vendor, and lockers remain closed. Those wanting to snorkel must bring their own equipment with them.
Bathrooms and showers are open.
These facilities remain operational.
Online reservation may be next.
Very long lines have been ongoing with people trying to get into the park. It has been suggested that in addition to greatly limiting visitors to the bay, an online system be implemented to help both the bay and its visitors in planning.
Sunscreen at Hanauma Bay.
Starting next month, Hawaii will ban sunscreens deemed unsafe. There will be a prohibition on the sale and distribution of sunscreens which contain oxybenzone and octinoxate. These are chemicals that are found in thousands of sunscreens. This new law becomes effective on January 1, 2021.
“Our natural environment is fragile, and our own interaction with the earth can have lasting impacts…. This new law is just one step toward protecting the health and resiliency of Hawaii’s coral reefs.” — Governor David Ige.
Revised 1/13/21.
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Lyn says
I read your emails regularly. It would be fantastic if you highlighted which island you were specifically speaking about in your opening article. Hanuama Bay article is well written, but until I read the comments I had know clue which island it was on. Sorry, new to the geographic areas of Hawaii.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Lyn.
Thanks for your first-time comment. Good suggestion and we’ll try to do that.
Aloha.
Andy M says
On our first trip to Waikiki some 24 years ago, we spent time in beautiful Hanauma Bay marveling at the fish and the crystal clear water. Fast forward to 6 years ago when were back in Honolulu for a wedding and we couldn’t believe the changes. Almost no fish, cloudy water and tourists that didn’t care that they were walking all over the coral reef. It’s unfortunate that its taken a pandemic to help restore Hanauma Bay. Now being a resident of Hawaii, I am encouraged that the state is doing what it can to control access and keep Hanauma Bay looking beautiful and maintaining this fragile ecosystem.
DeeDee says
I love that there is such a positive side to Covid with Earth’s chance to purge and cleanse itself! And the banning of toxic sunscreens is great to see!
Chris says
I took a friend there last week. We walked up as they did not have a good system yet for getting people in (they were alternating cars and walk ups) we did not have a very long wait to get in. The video is viewed indoors while standing 6 feet apart. The beach was not crowded and the fish were abundant. Lots of sea cucumbers too! The new system sounds pretty good since there was plenty of empty parking spaces when we were.
Jim R. says
Aloha Rob/Jeff!
Hanauma Bay was my favorite place to go as a kid. I would snorkel the entire day, which was more like 4 hours or so, because we were “forced” to come out of the water to eat lunch and rest afterward. That was when it was no where near as crowded, and you would stay from around 9-10 am until around 3-4, which was long before there was barely room on the beach to sit. I would literally have a two-tone tan, at day’s end, darker on my backside! 😂 Oh, the good times we had in the mid 70’s to early 80’s!
The last time I was there a few years ago (the first time in at least 20 years), I took my wife for her first time. It was extremely overcrowded. The water was horribly cloudy, and there were very few fish, because there were far too many people swimming and splashing, as well as snorkelers running into each other at times, and (if that wasn’t bad enough) it was miserably hot! There were more feral cats than mongoose, who were all apparently buddies, which wasn’t supposed to be the case, and the only picturesque view was from the top before you paid for beach access.
Sadly, it was absolutely the worst beach experience we had on that trip, and after I bragged to her about the beauty and how great the snorkeling was. Yeah, it was beautiful…from afar, but that was it.
It was a huge letdown for me, because it wasn’t that bad 20 years ago, and also for her, because it didn’t live up to expectations, based on how I “talked it up”. The only saving grace was the final view and picture taken of us at the top (bay and beach in the background), when we swapped taking pics with another couple, as we left.
I’m happy to see/hear that closing the beach for nine months has started restoring the marine ecosystem, and that they’re further limiting people and banning bad sunscreen. We decided we would never go back, but if it continues improving, maybe we’ll give it one more go, and have the experience I/we expected.
Mahalo for this encouraging news, Guys! 😃
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Jim.
Thanks for sharing your Hanauma Bay childhood experiences. We concur that it would be nice to return again now that things have improved, and hopefully, they will continue to get better.
Aloha.
Jeanne F says
Now is the time for visitors and residents to rediscover Waikiki,Hanaums Bay,Oahu-in my mind it’s the most beautiful,diverse,welcoming island.
Eddie L. says
When I was scuba diving I would make my own 1/4 inch wet suits snd my weight belts too. One day I went to Hanauma Bay to check out a new suit and weight belt I had made. I walked out to the edge of the reef where the depth suddenly drops to about 60 feet. All went well until I plunged into the deep water. I dropped like a rock! But that was not the problem. The problem was I forgot to purge my regulater, lol. I quickly released my weithts and up I went, rather fast I might add. Anyway, after all the fixes were made I would go in the waters to poke fish. and there were plenty of ’em. All the fish I poked was for eating as I was poor and fish was always in our diet. But after a while, the fish got smart and started to abandon the Bay. Many years later, I became a cop with HPD. (after graduating from UH Manoa. I loved to cite cars that would drive down and park cause the driver or owner was to lazy to walk up the road. Now that the Bay has been closed for about 9 months and with all its restrictions, it’s good to see it going back to its former self. Thank you for reading my rather long story.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Eddie.
Thanks for sharing your story and for your many comments.
Aloha.
George S says
We have been on Maui since 11/28. Last week we heard the 3 employees of Leilants near Whaler tested positive causing closure for several days.
Our daughter just heard the an employee at Merimans Napili area tested pos.
Has anyone heard more on this?
Sorry to post here but unclear where else to post.
Bridgett L. says
Met my husband 31 years ago there, we snorked in April 1989 and I saw almost no fish. Fully support the efforts to limit visitors and banning the sunscreen with chemicals.
Barbara M says
The best sunscreen we have ever used is Blue Lizard. After having used SunBum once when I didn’t allow enough time to order my Blue Lizard (and on line was the only way you could get it at that time), I developed a skin cancer. Blue Lizard was recommended to us by three different dermatologists in three separate practices. As of two years ago, Blue Lizard carries a red circular “Reef Safe” logo which states specifically it does not have the two offensive ingredients. You can usually find it at Walmart but we haven’t looked elsewhere because we just order on line. It’s a bit more $$$ than the drug store stuff but it spreads extremely well. (Remember – spray on sunscreens aren’t worth the $$$ you spend!)
Eddie L. says
Barbara, I never use sunscreens (not required on dark skinned people, lol) But when I did buy for family I would get No Ad. I heard it was ideal to use while on a beach. And cheap too! But I don’t know if it has those dangerous sunscreen chemicals.