Hanauma Bay is the best place to snorkel in Oahu, let us take you there!
It takes approximately 20 minutes to get from Waikiki to Hanauma Bay. Our company has 3, 8 passenger vehicles, which means that there's a maximum of 4 stops per vehicle, usually less! We start picking up at the Hilton Hawaiian Village side of Waikiki approximately 10 minutes prior to the scheduled pick up time. Our goal is to leave Waikiki by the time listed on the schedule-if everyone is on time and there is no traffic delay we are able to do this without any problem. The ride is direct to the bay without stops. They are outfitted either at the hotel or at Hanauma Bay. The drivers are very efficient with the equipment. Customers are given a verbal tour of points of interest, tips and instructions on adjustment of the equipment and snorkeling safety and information about the Bay (including tips on where to see the most fish) en route to Hanauma Bay. The tour allows for 2-2 1/2 hours swim time at the Bay. We add 1/2 hour to the total tour during summer to make up for time spent in line.
Why book with us?- Snorkel rental concession at the Bay is $20 for a set of snorkel equipment-We provide all that PLUS TRANSPORTATION (and so much more) for the same price. What a deal!!!
- Taking the bus takes 1 hour to get there from Waikiki, plus many times the bus is full by the time it gets to your stop and they just drive by without stopping.
- If you rent a car, you run the risk of getting there and having the parking lot be closed because it is full. There's no other place to park nearby and sometimes its closed for a long time.
SUMMER SCHEDULE:July and August always bring the highest volume of guests to Hanauma Bay. This often results in longer wait times to get into the park. This year we have the added wild card of an extensive road construction project on Kalanianiole Hwy. In to insure that all of our customers enjoy a ample amount of beach time we are adjusting our schedule during the week starting July 3rd.*
*Weekends are less crowded and have no road closures so will remain the same as our original schedule until further notice
Hanauma Bay
Hanauma Bay is one of the most visited natural attractions in the State of Hawaii. Located within an ancient volcano crater, its shallow, transparent and inviting waters brimming with marine life have been attracting millions of snorkeling and scuba diving enthusiasts for years. The bay is located on the east side of the island, within what is undoubtedly the most beautiful and scenic part of Oahu. A visit to Hanauma Bay is unforgettable. The shallow waters and abundance of fish have earned it the reputation of being the epitome of the Hawaiian experience. Tourists and locals alike frequent the beautiful and famous nature preserve year round. Being prepared with good sunblock, hydration and some familiarity with the Bay itself will help enhance your experience and avoid any potential downside. Please take the time to look through this page, get to know Hanauma before making the trip. If you do decide to add this extraordinary adventure to your itinerary, our friendly, knowledgeable staff can help you get the most out of your day by providing door to door service and clean, sanitary equipment at a great value. Come ride with us!
Hours and days of operation:Hanauma Bay is open every day except Tuesdays, from 6 am to 6 pm.
Admission:The admission cost is $7.50 per person, no charge for children 12 and under. Please be advised that even if you buy a tour package, admission is never included in the package and must be paid separately at the park’s entrance. Snorkel gear can be rented at the beach level for $12. For those visitors that reach the bay on their own and need to rent mask, snorkel and fins, try to arrive as early as possible since long lines at the rental window are very common.
How to get there and cost:Driving:
There is no free parking anywhere near the bay and only very limited paid parking at the bay. When the parking lot fills up you will be turned away so plan to arrive early. If you park outside the Bay be careful where you leave your car or it may be ticketed or towed away by the time you return. Total cost per person (*): over $50.00 (car rental + parking + $20 snorkeling gear rental).
Via public transportation:
Duration: about one hour (a little more during rush hour). Buses can be very full at return time so make sure that you allocate enough time in case you need to wait for a bus or two since they run every 30 to 60 minutes. Total cost per person: $25.00 ($5 round trip + $20 snorkeling gear rental).
Via Taxicab:
Duration: 20-30 minutes (taxis are not allowed to wait for fares at the bay so you will need to call one in to pick you up). Total cost per person (*): $60.00 ($80 round trip. max 4 people+ $20 snorkeling gear rental).
Via Tour/shuttle company:
Considering they include a comfortable ride from door to door and snorkeling gear, tours ultimately represent the best value-the better ones even offer packages with a souvenir photo fish ID card and use of an underwater digital video camera. Please be aware not all shuttle companies are the same-when selecting a company make sure they will bring you all of the way into the park and that their equipment is sanitized daily. Total cost per person: from $19.95 (Transportation and snorkeling gear)
How long to stay:You will need time to watch a mandatory instructional video before entering the beach area and it takes a few minutes each way to travel from the visitor center to the beach. For those that choose not to negotiate the pathway from the visitor center to the water there is a trolley that will take you up and down the path for a small fee. The approximately 3 hour time frame allocated by the shuttle service should allow plenty of time for full enjoyment of the bay without over-exhaustion. There is little shade on the beach itself. For this reason it is advisable to avoid overstaying your time at the beach. Hanauma Bay is a Nature Preserve NOT a beach park, therefore, many beach park activities are prohibited such as ball playing, shell collecting and boating. You will be advised, walking on the coral is also prohibited as the coral itself is part of the nature being preserved.
What to bring:
You will need to bring your own towel, swimwear and the park entrance fee. Some optional items you may also like to have with you include: snacks and drinks (may be brought with you or purchased at the entrance to the park), extra sunscreen, a camera and extra spending money. There are small lockers (1 cubic foot) located on the beach level for a fee (manned-not coin operated) to hold your valuables, but we recommend that you travel light. You will want to spend most of your time in the water, so it is better not to have to haul many items up and down from the beach or have to worry about them while you are snorkeling.
Precautions:The bay is very accessible to swimmers of all skill levels. Much of the bay is shallow, but there are deeper areas and sudden drop-offs. It is possible to get slightly disoriented. For this reason, it is always better to snorkel in pairs. Children should never be left unsupervised. Do not step on the coral (there are no “rocks” in the water, everything that is not sand is coral). The coral and everything “attached” to it is either alive or has an organic component. If you accidentally scrape or cut yourself make sure that you wash and disinfect the injury thoroughly to prevent infection. Most of the fish in the bay are tame and used to human presence but do not touch, disturb or try to feed the marine life. A green turtle for example, can deliver a powerful bite but it will not bother you if left undisturbed, remember that you are an spectator and behave as such. As you get closer to the “edge” of the coral reef that protects the beach there may be strong currents or wave surges, there are plenty of Park Rangers, volunteers and lifeguards that know the bay and will be able to advise you regarding any area that you might want to explore. Do not hesitate to ask for information. That is why they are there in the first place. Most of the staff are either volunteers or have requested to be transferred to this location and are passionate about the Bay.
About Us:
My husband and I have lived and worked in Hawaii for over 20 years. We recently decided to collaborate on a business that would allow us to both utilize our strengths and knowledge in business as well as our love for and knowledge of our chosen home. Sharing Hanauma Bay with Hawaii’s visitors has been a great enjoyment for us as we truly love, respect and enjoy the Bay ourselves and we get to provide others with the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate it as well. We provide instruction and information about the Bay to allow our guests the opportunity to experience for themselves the beauty of one of our most precious natural resources in a safe and responsible manner.
We work directly with only a few hotels and leave the rest of our seats open for guests who have found us on the internet or through our printed advertisement. We have kept our business intentionally small so we can personally see to all of the details that go into providing excellent service for our customers. We personally insure that our equipment is cleaned and sanitized properly and in good working order. We provide extras like personal bottles of anti-fog for re-application and digital underwater cameras for rent. We keep our vehicles clean and mechanically sound. Our drivers are trained in transportation, customer service and beach safety.
We operate as a taxi service (rather than a large tour bus) with the added bonus of providing equipment for snorkeling. Because of the smaller groups we are able to provide more personalized service and guarantee our customers a maximum of 4 stops(usually less) in Waikiki before heading to the Bay. Hanauma Bay itself has an 8-passenger per vehicle limit. By using only 8-passenger vehicles we show respect for the Bay as a nature preserve and do not overcrowd the park at any given time. We are also able to take our customers directly from Waikiki to Hanauma Bay without stops or transfers.
We enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to share this beautiful natural resource with visitors to the islands and try always to emphasize that respect for the environment and safety are the keys to getting the most out of your Hanauma Bay experience.