Hanauma Bay Offers Visitors Rare Look at Nature Preserve
Hanauma Bay is located nearby the affluent marina community of Hawaii Kai in East Honolulu, 10 miles east of Waikiki. The weather in this area is usually predictable, which means that it’s usually hot and dry. When the tradewinds blow, it’s can be quite breezy. However, if it’s windy at the bay, the waters become choppy and visibility is reduced with regard to viewing marine life while snorkeling. If the tradewinds subside, then the waters of the bay become like a lake.
That’s when visibility is the best, because the waters become crystal clear. On a day such as this, snorkelers can delight in seeing a virtual rainbow of hues darting through the waters, encompassing an array of tropical fish, as well as other species of marine life. Visitors to Hanauma are asked to respect the bay and marine life, and to refrain from engaging in such destructive activity as walking on the bay’s already damaged reefs.
After all, Hanauma is a nature preserve and should be treated as such. The bay offers visitors adequate amenities such as restrooms and even food and refreshments. The stewards of the bay have taken great care in educating visitors to the preserve about doing their part in protecting Hanauma and its rich, priceless legacy. Visitors should make sure they consult with the Education Center at the bay before proceeding to the beach below.
Also, because the bay can become so crowded on any given day of the week, it’s wise to go early. Please check with bay officials several days before going to the bay, because certain restrictions have been enforced to protect the natural preserve. Visitors that drive to the bay and park, should be aware that as in any other city in the U.S., Honolulu is not without crime. Visitors are urged to not leave valuables in your vehicle and to make sure the vehicle is secured.
Because Hanauma is located in East Honolulu, visitors are urged to hydrate often (drink lots of water) as this particular region of the island of Oahu can be quite hot and dry, especially during certain times of the day and especially during the summer months. Traffic can also become congested along the road to Hanauma Bay, depending on the day and the time of day, so visitors are advised to exercise prudence. So if you happen to include a visit to Oahu while in Hawaii, be sure you don’t miss this special and unique experience.
Here’s some information that may be useful to you:
- For the summer session, Hanauma Bay is open daily from 6:00a.m. until 7:00p.m. except on Tuesdays. The bay is closed all day on Tuesdays . On the second and forth Saturdays of each month, Hanauma Bay remains open until 10:00p.m.winter.
- For the winter session, Hanauma Bay is open daily from 6:00a.m. until 6:00p.m . except on Tuesdays. The bay is closed all day on Tuesdays . On the second Saturday of each month, Hanauma Bay remains open until 10:00p.m. Changes are possible at any time. For the latest information call the recorded information line at (808) 396-4229.
