Hanauma BayOʻahu, HI

Visibility is an estimate — wind, rain, tide & water alerts.

Getting in

Shore access, walk in off the sand

Depth

1 to 10 ft

Snorkeling

Snorkelable from the beach

Best conditions

Clarity is best early and around low tide. Later in the day snorkeller traffic lifts sediment into the water.

Getting through the gate

You cannot simply turn up. Non-residents 13 and over pay $25 plus an online fee and book through the city PROS system, which opens two days ahead at 7 a.m. Hawaii time. Hawaii residents with photo ID, children 12 and under, and US military with ID enter free. Closed every Monday and Tuesday, plus Christmas and New Year's Day. Entry runs 6:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and everyone is out by 4 p.m. Watching the education video in the theatre is required on every visit.

Parking

Paid lot at the entrance, cash only. $3 for non-residents, $1 for Hawaii residents.

Protection

Hawaii's first Marine Life Conservation District, designated in 1967. Taking or injuring marine life is prohibited, as is taking or altering sand or coral. Feeding fish and running watercraft in the bay are also prohibited.

On site

restrooms, rinse showers, lifeguard on duty, parking lot, gear rentals nearby

Watch for

Witches' Brew on the right side of the bay and the Toilet Bowl around the left point, both to be avoided in rough water, Strong rip in the dredged telephone-cable channel near the middle of the bay, worst on an ebb tide, The Molokaʻi Express current near the left side of the bay mouth, dangerous on ebb tides

Checked 2026-07-19. Sources: City and County of Honolulu Parks and Recreation, Hawaii DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources.