It’s a different time for pristine Hanauma Bay. There are new rules and it is going to cost you more!
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142 thoughts on “Hanauma Bay: New Rules and Limits, Increased Fees, Online Reservations Only”
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It’s a different time for pristine Hanauma Bay. There are new rules and it is going to cost you more!
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Glad I visited there for many years before all the rules that most likely will not bring in a lot of money. It is a lovely and interesting spot but most visitors are not wealthy just saved or charged their trips and look for ways to get as much as possible out of an expensive trip. First time I went we paid $40 per night, it has risen over the years and now usually $350-$400 plus taxes and resort fees. No more 7 nights now 3 or 4 nights. Hanauma Bay was free , $$15 per adult and $10 for those under 18 and under 10 free, then families might be able to afford this Oahu beach.
I feel $25 is way too much. How can a family go there and enjoy themselves. $15 should be the max. I think the locals should help pay. They have cars and know where many good beaches are. The tourists are limited. I like to see Hawaii as a welcoming paradise, not a price gouging state.
Also, for that price why can’t each visitor receive a tube of safe sunscreen?
I am someone who was raised in Hawaii and now live in California. Please make me proud of Hawaii.
Bravo. Price is ridiculous. We paid the piper as they kind of have you over a barrel of you want to go. Do like the limited entry, makes it a little tricky but it will help the preserve
Hanauma Bay charges $25/person for a reservation, but will not guarantee a parking place and is very clear that if you don’t check in 15 minutes before your time slot, you’re out of luck. This is a horrifying and unethical policy that means a certain number of of paying visitors won’t be allowed in. How is that an acceptable policy? At very least, people who are unable to get in because of parking limitations should be given a full refund.
The other reason this is bad is it encourages people to engage in behaviors that make the problem worse: Showing up early to stake out a parking spot when they aren’t even at the beach. Whoever made thise policy….you’re fired.
Very disappointed- your system for making reservations for snorkeling is ridiculous. Too much money paid to come here and have a reservation system closed less than an hour of opening.
We can vacation in better places next time- St Lucia much better and more friendly to visitors.
Will not be back!
Are you able to take an Uber or Lyft there? We’re not renting a car but would love to visit and not sure how to get there with the new rules!
Why non-transferable??? So, if my plans change, I can’t even give the tickets to a friend or family member! This is nothing short of a racket – swindling for financial gain.
Very wrong business practice – whose idea was this?
Hello
which sunscreen is recommended that is good for the ecosystem?
Thank you
Hi Christine.
Here are our suggestions: https://beatofhawaii.com/hawaiian-sunscreen-safety-updates/.
Aloha.
I am looking forward to my upcoming trip to Oahu, especially visiting Hanauma Bay. I understand charging more to visit this very special place, I’m happy to pay more to help preserve this jewel. My question is as we won’t be renting a car & under More Important Rules taxis can’t drop us off, is there a bus we can take? Thank you for your consideration.
Hi Mona.
The nearest bus stop isn’t very close. 1.1 miles. Just Google for it.
Aloha.
Hence all the complaining. Hawaii is viewing visitors as a cash cow…locals can enter for free.
We love Hanauma Bay. I can completely understand their need to reign in the chemicals & vast amounts of people who were desecrating such an amazing site. If people are still willing to abide by the new rules & pay the new fees, that says enough about if it’s a good idea or not. The fact that there is healing taking place is a sign they’re on the right track. People are essentially a plague on this earth & need to be reminded that we don’t have another place to live if we trash this planet.
Nothing like gouging the tourists. The fees will go to “improvements.” Yeah, and the check is in the mail. I realize this is a special and popular place, but I can’t help to think those politicians and policy makers are of a typical mindset where the only possible solution to any problem is increasing fees. For example: the new hotel tax. Let’s also have another rental car tax airport landing fee, restaurant tax, beach and park tax..etc…I have only see the quality of life decrease in my state.
I think the increase in fees and limitations on the number of visitors per day to Hanauma Bay is justified. Why can’t this be done on a larger scale and limit the number of visitors to Hawaii in general? And require a fee of $X for every non-resident who comes to Hawaii? The fee can be added to airfare or the cruise price, depending on how one arrives here. Money raised can help repair roads, plant trees, beach cleanup, wildlife conservation, etc.
That is what state taxes are for. It is the governments fault for choosing to spend it foolishly (ie train to nowhere). More people working, more income therefore more state taxes collected. Kill the cash cow (visitors) equals less visitors, less people buying goods and services and therefore, more unemployment…which is a whole other strain on the state.
Totally fine as long as we get to charge the same fee for any Hawaiian entering California or Nevada.
I find your comment about making non Hawaii residents pay to even set foot in Hawaii both ridiculous and makes you completely ignorant about our laws in this country. Read the constitution and it’s amendments before posting again.
“The first is the right of a citizen to move freely between states, a right venerable for its longevity, but still lacking a clear doctrinal basis.1 The second, expressly addressed by the first sentence of Article IV, provides a citizen of one state who is temporarily visiting another state the Privileges and Immunities of a citizen of the latter state.2 The third is the right of a new arrival to a state, who establishes citizenship in that state, to enjoy the same rights and benefits as other state citizens”
I live in Washington. Any apple, grape, strawberry, etc you eat as a Hawaiian, you must pay me 5 dollars….we are all in the same United States 😳
There are a lot of great things about visiting Hawaii, but it has to be one of the least visitor friendly tourist destinations on the planet. It is 100% about how to extract every last dollar from every visitor.
“all sales are final” let a private business try that and the same govt will be all over them.
Spoke with one of the managers at HBAY, she said the reason they changed to pay online vs pay when you get there was that there were too many no shows. Whether people show up or not, they still have fixed costs to cover every day. All fees collected stays in HBAY (does not go to state’s general funds) for upkeep and maintenance. She said even with $25 and limit of 750 visitors/day, 5 days/week does not cover all the expenses.
First and foremost it is a nature preserve.
I’m sorry, I was there in 1983 and back then it was like snorkeling in a sea of urine with some salt water and a few fish. Shame on the authorities to charge that kind of money for the right to swim around in a cesspool. I am a scuba diver and am overly protective of all sealife as well as the coral but this is overkill as well as tourist gouging. Aloha!
That was back in ’83. As the article states, the nature preserve has been “rejuvenated” because of the pandemic. When you last visited, there was no capacity control during that time. It was literally overrun with humans. And, please do not expect the State to add taxes to the locals. They have been taxed to death!
Perhaps Hawaii should raise their sales tax rate to garner more income. I know I will not pay $25/person to enter. And it makes no sense forbidding taxis to drop people off. If your goal is to deter people from visiting, you’re doing a good job! Everyone should pay the entrance fee if the goal is to restore and preserve the bay. JMHO
Mahalo
It’s great to hear of the conserving and improvement to the bay. Wish them well.
It’s discouraging to see the huge increase in the entry fee at 100%+.
On top of the increase, you have a processing fee of 2.35%, the parking fee, then if you snorkel that cost and then beach time restriction. Possibly the beach time restriction has been in effect always to which I don’t know. So with all this in mind when we come next April, we will not be visiting the bay area. Mahalo everyone Mahalo
Limiting access to a fixed number per day is OK but doubling the admission charge is wrong. I would like to see Disneyland double the admission charge for visitors from Hawaii.
Disneyland is a prime example of greed and commercialism in this country. I don’t view Disney as managing nature preserves.
This is what causes many of the problems between tourists and locals. Incomparable. Disneyland isn’t a nature preserve. People come here thinking Hawaii exists for their vacation and enjoyment…wrong. This is our home. While you’re going 5 mph on a 1 lane road taking photos, you’re making the single mom driving behind you late for 1 of the 3 jobs she works to survive. The same mom you want to charge the same price to if she wants to enjoy what her income tax helps pay for. FYI.
I agree that the Bay needs preserving but charging double while locals can use for free is wrong. Not only does it create an us vs them mentality but it minimizes the impact locals have on the Bay as well. If it truly is to help maintain the Bay then everyone should bare the burden…not just gouge the visitors. And, don’t tell me that locals respect the islands…when I lived there I saw plenty of Islanders trashing it.
As a side t of Hawaii, in my case Maui. I agree that $25/visitor is too high, limiting the number of daily visitors does make sense.
As for locals not paying the same rate, do remember that we do pay taxes here both state and local.
The charges for visiting Haleakala are because it’s a national park. The state does not set rate.
The price for entry into the bay is robbery.
the money with 600 vicotors 5 days a week brings in $3,900,000. per year. Not counting parking fees. Someones going to get fat with that cash.
With the shut down, we saw the bay heal itself. That’s a good thing. So many people think that access to everything should be free. Well someone has to pick up all the trash that is left behind by visitors to the parks. I’ve seen so many beaches just littered with trash and cigarette butts is just a shame. People complain that everything is so expensive, well look around everything everywhere not just Hawaii is expensive.
I believe the bay is overrated anyway. Enjoyed booking a snorkel trip on Oahu much better!! Heck at this rate it will probably be cheaper!!
So, I was born at Tripler Army Hospital, Oahu, Hawaii. I left the islands when I was 5 years old in 1970. I have been back multiple times, but not anymore. They started slowly milking tourists. First, they started Charging to park at the hotels, $35 a day to park in a building that has been there for 40 years, and was always free. WOW. Then they started charging the silly resort fees at the hotels, another $30,$40, $100 a day, depending on where you stay. And now this garbage at the bay? I still remember when there was no silly center on top of the hill to watch the silly video. We used to park and walk down and snorkle all day, but I guess the times are changing, and they are going to continue to milk the tourists. Enjoy your spam and eggs!
I think it’s a bit misguided to conflate fees and charges levied by corporate entities like hotels – the vast majority of which are owned off-island and increasingly by foreign interests – with fees collected to maintain a natural resource like Haunama Bay (and Ke’e and Haleakala and other places that suffer huge environmental impacts from overuse). Those park fees directly support conservation of the public site for the benefit of all, unlike parking and resort fees, which are private profit.
I commented earlier about the bay but after reading about complaints on how hawaii is so expensive to visit. Hawaii has always been special and commensurates a price. Just because airlines are whoring their airfares doesn’t mean hotels and local exhibitions will do the same. Hawaii wants to attract a higher dollar clientele like they did in the 70’s & 80’s not the low end people. Face it, low end people don’t spend money. High end clientele do spend money. Sorry if this rubs folks the wrong way but it’s pretty much true. Tourists that say they won’t come back – we will never run out of tourists coming to Hawaii, so if you don’t, that’s ok too.
Yeah, keep those “low-end” people away from the islands. By the low end, I guess you mean those folks that change the oil on your car, tow it when it broke down, or install a new roof on your”high end” house. Low-end people are what make the world go round. They deserve vacations in Hawaii too.
Mic drop…spot on dude!
Limiting the amount of people is a good start and the admission fee is reasonable. Perhaps dedicate a Saturday or Sunday to locals – no tourist integration. Locals work all week, tourists here on vacation they can go any day. Just know any decision, people will always complain because it’s self motivated – do the right thing for the park and secondly the residents. Maybe your example of taking the high road will lead others to do the same thing.
If we arrive at 6 am, are we able to park and walk to the bay? It used to be you could do so. Thank you
Hi Windy.
We don’t know but don’t think so. Perhaps someone will give us a hand.
Aloha.
Will not visit. Out of control Thanks but no thanks.
I will not be supporting the overcharging in Hawaii! I love the people of Hawaii but not the politicians who support visitors and locals on going price gouging. My family will not be returning to the islands until things like this stop. I wish you all the best and hope Hawaiian citizens stand up to government over reach. Aloha
Hawaii continues to shoot itself in the foot. They whine and complain about everything from no tourists, to too many tourists. Now they are implementing outrageous fees on tourists, the very people which allow them to stay in business. Coconut Willy is right, what visiting family of 4 is going to pay $100 just to snorkel at Haunauma Bay, and possibly another $80 to rent snorkel gear for THE DAY? There are lots of other places that tourists can go to snorkel that don’t require ANY fees. Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island are just as ridiculous with their fees to go to Haena & Ke’e Beach, Haleakala, and Volcanoes National Park. They are too stupid to realize that they are destroying their bread & butter – tourism.
No, overuse is “during the bread and butter:” the natural beauty and resources of the island that made tourism a no-brainer industry in the first place.
I so agree with Nancy M and Jeanne F. and a few others on here. I can remember back in the day when Hawaii sat on my bucket list and thrilled to say it’s now my reality. My daughter purchased a home here and I visit at least 2-3 times a year since 2014 and will continue to do so. With that said, I’ve always known Hawaii to be expensive (hence that bucket list for so long),I do find myself questioning what it is that Hawaiians really want because what is happening seems to be sending the wrong message. Would it be safe to say that tourism is Hawaii’s biggest industry? Leading me to the question, “Why”? If you continue on this path making it so people really can’t afford to visit your beautiful state, your local businesses won’t thrive, your homeless population/tent cities will continue to grow, and Hawaiian’s will be so stressed that the Aloha friendliness will no longer exist. Though I have my own personal thoughts on this whole COVID hysteria, I understand safety first, and Hawaii wanting to continue with the vaccines, testing and mask wearing…however, it’s gone beyond that with car rentals out of control,I’m sure hotels and restaurants the same, and now increased visitor rates? During this whole pandemic, we’ve seen so many local businesses shut down, never to reopen, we’ve eaten at popular restaurants where my husband and I were practically the only customers, tipping the poor waitress 100.00 because we realized that was probably one of the few tips she’d get that day, and watched as the hub of Waikiki became eerily deserted and ghost like. There’s a phrase, “If you build it, they will come”…and my own phrase, “If you keep raising your prices, they won’t be able to afford to come”…. I can only say this Hawaii …Don’t cut your nose off to spite your face…
When an unexpected, uncontrollable event like Covid 19 occurs… with it’s miraculous impact on natural places such as Hanauma Bay (does not okay the human toll exacted by the pandemic), we need to take our wins, where we may. Saving a place as incomparable as Hanauma Bay with increased entry charges, seems a small price to pay to continue the restoration; limiting human damage is a positive and proven method. Whatever it takes?
Thanks
Hawaii is becoming too expensive in many ways I used to be able to go once or twice a year and travel thrifty now I can barely manage once a year. I would not take my family to this beautiful public park and pay $25 per person or $125 just to get in. Covid has harmed many of us financially and either Hawaii wants visitors or it doesn’t. We can always watch videos and just swim at the hotel pool that has all kinds of fees too.
We will not be renting a car when we go in June of 2022. How do we get there if relying on Uber, taxi or busses. Are they not allowing drop offs and pick-ups?
Thanks for all the information you provide – it is always so useful. Trying to balance the fee against the effort to protect the reef is a huge task I’m sure. The problem I see is that Hawaii is asking only visitors to carry the burden. And that sends a negative message to tourists. Every visitor to the location has an impact so if the fee is only to sustain the natural resource then everyone should be willing to help. Of course residents should be given a discount. But a more than 100% increase levied only upon visitors is sending the wrong message – or is it??
Hi Sue.
Thanks. Yes, messaging certainly is critical, maybe as much so as costs.
Thanks.
Aloha to all whom read this website, and a special Aloha to all those whom monitor and operate this website! Mahalo for all the information you provide. 🙂 Now, personally the new ‘visitor fee’ rate being doubled is a bit much and could, I said could and not should, be lowered to $18.00 as a way to control access while still generating revenue. With that said, and I shall contradict my previous comment, I am all for the strict preservation of the Hanauma Bay region, and especially the new sunscreen ban. I say this because I do remember Hanauma Bay from my time on Oahu (1979 to 1981) years ago and how beautiful the water was, yet was over crowded by people whom did not understand natural fish habitats. Please continue to see this beautiful location return to as natural a state as possible, while continuing to share its beauty with those inclined to enjoy it. Again, Mahalo to all! Aloha to all! Be safe everyone!
Hi Mark.
Thanks for your first time comment. Hope to see you again.
Aloha.
For a State that relies heavily on tourism it sure seems like everything is being done to discourage tourist from visiting.
I agree with fees for these very unique and special places in Hawaii. I also agree with fees for parking. I think residents should also have to pay,parking included. Many residents take these very beautiful special places for granted. As I compose this I am sitting in a beach chair on a beautiful but not well known beach on Kauai looking at abandoned cars.
Residents too leave a carbon footprint,and for too long many have had a disregard ,and sense of entitlement to these places.
It seems more and more that Hawaii is discouraging tourists from visiting your beautiful islands. As someone who has visited 20+ times to enjoy the beauty and culture of your islands, I have to say that I don’t feel welcome to visit anytime in the near future.
Sadly, it seems like every other article is about a new “tourist tax”. Kauai is proposing charging only tourists for some beach parking, with penalties of $100 for the first violation and a whopping $500 for the second!
Pretty soon tourists will be prevented from going to most of the scenic locations because they missed the ticket lottery, are sent away because too many people are there already, or like this article says, can’t necessarily afford an unplanned $100 for a family of four. Tourists are probably going to decide to go elsewhere and that will impact an economy that relies on billions (with a b) of tourist dollars.
First it was the pool use fee, then the air conditioning fee, that all turned into the resort fee which almost all resorts charge but you don’t find out until you get ready to check out surprise surprise surprise, then the $100 visitor fee and a beach use fee. When will it stop
Good for Hunama Bay! Its not about gouging visitors, it’s about protecting the fish and coral. I wish DLNR would do the same at Ahihi Reserve on Maui.
Betty you’re WRONG and that is why a lot of us visitors are upset. Your politicians don’t give a flying rat fart about the fish or coral!If they did we’d understand however, in their own words it’s all about making money!
The city said that it is “looking at different ways to have revenue come in and one of the big things with Hanauma Bay is it’s free for locals and we charge the non-local residents to enter the bay.” The city plans to use this “visitors pay” but “locals do not” concept at other facilities soon.
Wondering how Hawaii residents would react to special fees for visiting and parking at mainland or Alaskan destinations, charged only to Hawaii residents?
Maybe special charges wouldn’t be so appealing.
Maybe they should implement these extra charges only on foreign visitors. People from the mainland should be allowed the same priviledges as Hawaii residents because we are all of the same country. Mahalo for your wonderful information.
Hi Mike.
Thanks for your feedback on visitor fees and for your other comments as well.
Aloha.
We don’t discriminate, whether you are from Alabama or Alaska, you pay the same rate.
Why just Hawaii residents? Hawaii isnt saying just California or specific states…its saying non residents. If Alaska or any state for that matter, has a natural wonder or scenic spot that requires monitoring and preservation and they allowed State residents free access but charged visitors…Hawaii locals wouldnt complain. No one should.The Residents income and daily taxes already help support these things. Plus they live there. Its wrong to put things out there like just Hawaii residents
Must be a resident.
Hotel resort fees are widespread, not just in Hawaii. I go to Las Vegas every year and have been charged that same fee for at least the last 5 years. I have also seen that fee in California, New Jersey, Mexico and the Bahamas. Go to any touristy location and be expected to pay higher for everything, if you’re going to be all bummed about what a vacation is costing you, stay home!