Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve (HBAY)
(808) 768-6861
E komo mai (Welcome) to the official website for the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve (HBAY); one of the most spectacular natural resources in Hawai‘i! A historically significant location for Native Hawaiians paddlers, and a favorite fishing location for some Hawaiian Royalty, Hanauma Bay was designated the state’s first Marine Life Conservation District in 1967. Today the land portion of the preserve is maintained by the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation, while the ocean is overseen by the State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources.
HBAY’s popularity grew in the 1970’s and 1980’s when visitor attendance peaked at an estimated 10,000 people a day. A management plan implemented in 1990 helped to mitigate this human impact by: reducing visitation, improving facilities, establishing an education program, and banning the feeding of fish. In 2019, average daily attendance was almost 3,000 people, with nearly 845,000 tourists and residents visiting the nature preserve that year. The approximately eight-month COVID-19 closure in 2020 gave HBAY’s natural resources a chance to rejuvenate, while providing the City a chance to further enhance its management techniques. Today, average daily attendance is roughly half of the pre-pandemic amount, as the City continues to work towards balancing the recreational and cultural needs of the community with the education and preservation mandates of this natural treasure. We welcome you to be a part of our effort to protect and preserve the bay!
For more information about how you can enjoy HBAY please scroll down. A list of ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ is at the bottom of this website.
Table of Contents
How to visit Hanauma Bay
The Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve (HBAY) is open to the public Wednesdays through Sundays, with entry allowed from 6:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All HBAY visitors must leave the nature preserve by 4 p.m., with the beach being cleared at 3:30 p.m. This schedule is subject to change at any time. For the latest information call the main phone number at (808) 768-6861.
All visitors will be required to watch the educational video in the theatre for each visit to HBAY. Previous viewing of the video will not preclude visitors from skipping this step.
City bus service into HBAY has been discontinued. However, there is a bus stop atop HBAY along Kalaniana‘ole Highway via Route 22
- Hawai‘i residents (kama‘āina) with valid photo identification may access HBAY for free and without a reservation during public hours of operation. This does not apply to non-Hawai‘i residents accompanied by kama‘āina or military members without Hawai‘i identification (Hawai‘i State ID or Hawai‘i Driver’s License). However, U.S. military servicemembers and their dependents get free entry with their military identification.
- Acceptable proof of Hawai‘i residency includes current: Hawai‘i Driver’s License, Hawai‘i State ID, or Hawai‘i School Student ID.
- For non-Hawai‘i residents, payment is required and reservations are highly recommended to visit HBAY. Children 12 years old and younger may enter for free, regardless of residency, though a reservation is recommended utilizing the Parks and Recreation Online System (PROS)
- The PROS reservation system allows you to select an educational viewing show time two days ahead of a planned visit. For instance, beginning Monday at 7 a.m. Hawai‘i Standard Time (HST) you can begin reserving a time slot for Wednesday. Reservations will remain open until the spaces are filled or until midnight the day before, so reservations for Wednesday will close after 11:59 p.m. (HST) the preceding Tuesday.
- Reservations and payments can be made for up to 10 people at a time, consisting of no more than five children and/or five adults. Payments for non-residents of Hawai‘i who are 13 years and older must be made online to secure the reservation.
- Entry payments are made at the time of online reservation. They are non-refundable, unless HBAY is closed due to unforeseen circumstances by the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation. Reservations are non-transferable. All sales are final with no cancellations or exchanges. A 2.35% service fee is assessed for online payments. Parking fees are collected on-site using cash payments.
- Once the reservation is made a reply email will be sent to the bay visitor’s provided email which serves as your reservation confirmation. A valid photo identification matching a printed or the digital email copy of the reservation is required as the reservation is non-transferable. Unauthorized use of reservations will void the reservation without refund.
- To accommodate members of the public without computer and internet access, approximately one-quarter (25%) of walk-in or drive-in access will be allowed. On-site payment for entry is available. All members of your party must be present to obtain a walk-in ticket.
How much does it cost to visit Hanauma Bay?
Hawai‘i Resident | Non-Hawai‘i Resident | Active U.S. Military & family | Children 12 years and younger | Commercial Vehicles | |
Reservation | Not needed | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Not needed |
Entry Fee | Free | $25 + online fee | Free | Free | N/A |
Parking Fee | $1* | $3* | $3* | N/A | $10 for 1-7 passenger vehicles $20 for 8-25 passenger vehicles $40 for vehicles 26 passengers or more |
*Parking fee for residential vehicles is refundable if you leave within 15 minutes of entry | |||||
What's inside Hanauma Bay?
Along with the natural beauty and abundant marine life within HBAY, there are several amenities, concessions, and services offered within the nature preserve. They include:
- A gift shop open from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Credit/debit card payment only, no cash.
- Food concessions open from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Credit/debit card payment only, no cash.
- Award-winning Marine Education Center opened in August 2002
- Bathrooms
- Ocean Safety Lifeguards. For a map of the lifeguard towers follow this link: bit.ly/OahuBeachAccess
- Educational volunteers and biologists
- A tramway from the top entry down to the beach
- Fresh water showers
- Snorkel rentals available from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Credit/debit card payment only, no cash. Click here to make a rental reservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
pros.hnl.info/hanauma-bay
Two (2) days in advance. Monday for Wednesday, Tuesday for Thursday, Wednesday for Friday, Thursday for Saturday, Friday for Sunday.
7 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time.
5 nonresident adults/active military and 5 children.
You would need a second reservation made in an adult’s name in that group, and their email address.
Hanauma Bay is closed every Monday and Tuesday. Since reservations are only allowed two (2) days in advance, allowing reservations to be made on Sunday would be more than two (2) days in advance.
The online reservation system is based on a first come, first served basis. Whoever can press the place order button first will get reservations.
This means the reservation site is busy processing the task. DO NOT refresh or press the back button. You will not be able to retrieve your reservation if you refresh or press the back button. If the reservation is not processed, the reservation is considered incomplete and will be returned to the reservation system after 10 minutes.
If the credit card screen doesn’t load in the allotted time, take a snapshot for documentation. Call the Hanauma Bay information hotline at 1-808-768-6861. Leave a message with your phone number and email address. Your call will be returned as soon as possible.
On the day the reservation is made call the Hanauma Bay information hotline at 1-808-768-6861. Leave a message with your phone number and email address. Your call will be returned as soon as possible.
No phone calls or email required. The reservation can be used. Payment can be made at the admission window. Acceptable payments: MasterCard, VISA, JCB or Cash. If paying by credit card, there is an additional 2.35% service fee.
Call the Hanauma Bay information hotline 1-808-768-6861 for assistance and leave a message. Your call will be returned as soon as possible.
You can show your reservation on your phone. Take a snapshot of the entire reservation page. The reservation must show the amount and type of customers (nonresident, active military or child).
A limited number of walk-in tickets are available and passed out on a first come, first served basis. Walk-in tickets are issued daily when the parking lot gate opens at 6:45a.m. (except for Monday and Tuesday, when we are closed). Everyone in your group must be present to receive a walk-in ticket.
During peak seasons, from 6:45 a.m. – 7:10 a.m., there is a drive-thru process to receive walk-in tickets. Once you enter the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve vehicular traffic will be directed to the Commercial Parking Lot ticket booth to receive the walk-in tickets. After 7:10 a.m., walk-in tickets are moved to the public parking lot loading zone area. There will be a person under the blue umbrella passing out walk-in tickets.
No. All nonresidents need a reservation or a walk-in ticket to access the lower beach level.
Online reservations do not include a reserved parking stall. Online reservations only secure your admission ticket for entry to the beach level. You can either wait until the parking lot reopens or find legal street parking nearby and walk into the nature preserve.
Late reservations will be accepted before 1:30 p.m.
No. The $25.00 charge will still apply for nonresidents 13 years and older.
The military promotion is only for U.S. Active Military and their dependents who are stationed in Hawai‘i. Currently, there is no way to distinguish Hawai‘i Active Military personnel from out of state Active-Duty Military personnel outside Hawai‘i.
If the dependent’s U.S. Military ID status does not indicate Active, the nonresident charge will be applied.
Yes. Without a proof of residency (valid Hawaii State ID, valid Hawaii Driver’s License or Hawaii school ID), visitors will be considered nonresidents. Valid temporary IDs are accepted.
Yes. Without a proof of residency (valid Hawai‘i State ID, valid Hawai‘i Driver’s License or a valid Hawai‘i school student ID), visitors will be considered nonresidents. Valid temporary IDs are accepted.
No, it is cash only for parking fees. The parking fee is $3 for non-residents and $1 for Hawai‘i residents with a valid Hawai‘i State ID, valid Hawai‘i Driver’s License, or a valid Hawai‘i school student ID.