Tell me about Snorkeling in Hanauma Bay...
 

~Do they rent snorkeling equipment nearby?

~Is there a day of the week that is better to go? (or days to avoid)

~Are there bathrooms here?

~Approx how far of a drive is it from the Waikiki Beach area?


Any other tips? Thanks! :)

Posted too soon:
Yes you can rent snorkel stuff there.
Yes there are bathrooms and showers and changing rooms.
They are closed on Tuesdays, weekends are busiest.

I agree w/ everything DebitNM said. Took about 20 minutes to drive there from Waikiki. We went with a tour company who picked us up at the hotel, provided the equipment, a few pointers about the bay, left us for several hours, and then picked us up. We paid the entry fee. We brought our own hotel towels, some snacks and bottled water (food is not sold on the beach, just near the check-in area),waterproof camera, and sunscreen.Some people lugged down lawn chairs. We left our stuff on the beach while snorkeling, and it felt safe. You have to watch a seven-minute movie on the bay, inhabitants, and safety before heading down to the beach.

Entry fee?? You have to watch a movie?? Hmm.. OK. I just thought it was a beach with great snorkeling! :) How much is the fee?

$1 per car and $7.50 a person. Read the info on the link to get all the info.

Janeyre~ Thanks for the info! 20 minutes isn't bad at all.

take the bus and enjoy the day.
Hanauma is and has been one of my favorites for 40 years.
I've been swimming with the same turtles for years in the third tier.
remember to always respect the ocean and enjoy how beautiful it really is..pick up your trash too.
bring an underwater camera, water socks and lots of hydration.
It gets really hot out there.
Eat a good breakfast too and bring snacks.

Hanauma Bay is visually lovely. It is a nice beach. A great place for vacation photographs. On the downside, i find the place totally overcrowded. Parking is a pain after 10:00 a.m. The fish population is nothing to get excited about. The coral has been injured by the weight of humanity. The water clarity is good, not great. If you can't walk a .30 of a mile downhill, then you have to take a bus which is a pain. The 20 minute film is necessary for many but simplistic and boring for those who have snorkeled before. During low tide and lowering tide, you lose about .40 of the snorkeling area which causes further congestion.

If you never have been to hanauma and you want to snorkel, then go. If you have much snorkeling expericence on the Islands, you will not be impressed with the snorkeling there.

Bill

Go early early early, during the week.
As above, bring water and water socks or fins for sure; possibly a waterproof holder to attach to your suit or wrist if you don't have a companion staying on the beach
Cover up shoulders (t shirt?) if possible to avoid sunburn
As noted you can rent equipment there.

No, it's not just a beach with good snorkeling. Hanuama Bay was: "declared a protected marine life conservation area and underwater park in 1967"
The video and admissions fees are to help protect the environment and maintain sustainability of the area.

You can go on The Bus or in a rental car, or you can sign up for a van pick up from your hotel that includes the equipment rental and stuff.

Just because it is designated a Marine Sanctuary does not mean that it is good snorkeling. Sorry if I was unclear.

I agree with Bill. If this is the only island you are visiting and a one time chance to snorkel it is fine. We took our kids when we were on Oahu 15 years ago and it was fun but since then I have snorkeled on Kauai & Maui so a couple of years ago we were on Oahu and decided to go back to Hanauma it was kind of a let down.

I didn't find the snorkeling all the great when I was there a few years ago. I'd been there in the 80's when they sold bread crumbs to feed the fish and there was a lot more marine life. Having said that, I'm glad they banned that practice and you'll still see a lot of interesting fish and turtles.

We were there in March and I was pretty disappointed. Coral is in bad shape, fish were few. Line was long and I hadn't done my research so didn't realize we had to watch a video first.

Had much better snorkeling experiences on the Big Island (this trip)... and Maui and Kauai 12 years ago.

Parking lot opens at 6am.

Pay station for access to the beach opens at 7am.

If you want to avoid paying the $7.50 and seeing the film, get there at 6:45 or earlier & walk right in.

MaiTaiMary,

we went there with two kids, ages 8 and 12, less than 10 days ago. There is an entry fee but, I believe, children were free. It is worth it. The video is very short, and if you leave your name on the list after watching it you don't have to do it again if you return within a few months.

It was our first time of snorkeling ever, and we felt very safe. My kids loved it.

My recommendation is to go as early as you can. There is more fish and less people early in the morning.

It's a must do in my <blue>book<black>!
Site of Elvis' <blue>Hawaii<black>((~))'61 beach house. :S-

We were in Hawaii last Sept. and visited Hanauma Bay. We went early, enjoyed the short video, walked the easy trail down and had a wonderful morning. Some in our group rented gear. I had not been to the bay in many years and thought the snorkeling was wonderful. I followed a turtle around for awhile and saw many species of fish. Absolutely go early. One year we arrived around 11am and it was full. Have fun.

Does anyone know anything about the night snorkeling at Hanauma? I've read it's the 2nd and 4th Saturdays and is open until 10 pm. What I'm trying to find out is how LATE we can arrive? We have so much planned but really want to try this!