Hanauma Bay

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is a bay near Koko Head at the eastern end of Honolulu, formed from craters that built Koko Head, with a beach at its head and a shallow fringing reef just offshore. The City runs the land and the State oversees the water, which is a Marine Life Conservation District. Fish crowd the reef edges, turtles are fairly common, and the sand at the head of the bay shows green streaks of olivine. The preserve is open Wednesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Hawaii residents with valid photo ID get in free without a reservation, while visitors pay an entry fee and are strongly urged to reserve online through the City's system; a limited number of walk-in tickets go out first come, first served. Every visitor must watch the educational video in the theater on each visit. A reservation does not hold a parking stall, parking is paid in cash, and City buses no longer drive into the preserve, though there is a stop above it on Kalanianaʻole Highway. Inside you will find lifeguards, a tram from the top entry down to the beach, snorkel rentals, food concessions, fresh water showers, a Marine Education Center and free beach wheelchairs. Fishing, taking any marine life, sand or coral, feeding fish and operating any watercraft are all prohibited in the bay. The City warns that snorkeling is dangerous and that many incidents here happen in shallow water close to shore, so keep children within reach. Stay off the wave-cut ledges in big surf, avoid Witches' Brew and the Toilet Bowl, especially when the water is rough, and watch for strong rip currents in the channel near the telephone cables. Sharp coral lies close to shore, and the outer bay is for experienced divers.