Last Updated on Aug 11 2023 by Sama

See the Fishes at Hanauma Bay in the Hawaii Kai Area

About Today’s Plan

Today’s plan is to head over to the Hawaii Kai area and snorkel at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. Although there are many other places to snorkel, the facilities here make it the most convenient and friendliest place to snorkel on Oahu. There are also a handful of amazing outdoor activities here.

Merely a 30-minute drive from Honolulu, this stunning bay feels like a world away from the bustle of the city, which cannot even be seen from the beach as the large bay is surrounded by the lush green, gently fluted hills of Koko Head. The bay is secluded and tranquil in the early morning, but during the day becomes a very popular place for locals and visitors.

Just a short drive away from Hanauma Bay is Koko Marina Center, a place where you can eat dinner and watch a movie.

Preparation

First, be sure to check the weather, and bacteria levels. I find that when there’s rain days before, that might mean murky water or there might be some sewage overflow, leading to higher bacteria levels in the ocean.

Experience the wonder of Hanauma Bay, one of Oahu’s most-loved sights. The volcanic crater is a protected, marine-life conservation area with an amazing array of tropical fish and coral reefs. This tour takes the stress and hassle out of the experience, with organized transportation and snorkel gear. Because of the sight’s popularity, the parking lot often fills up halting entrance to the beach. Avoid missing out with this professional tour.

• Includes round-trip transportation from Waikiki (about 30 minutes each way), professional-grade, sanitized equipment (silicon-tempered mask, J-type snorkel, and endurance vinyl acetate fins), and expert instruction. Mask defogger is also available upon request. Hanauma Bay Snorkeling by Kaimana Tours is a good service for this.
• Consider getting an underwater camera, like the small, lightweight, waterproof, GoPro. You will probably also want an extension to take photos, because you need don’t want to get too close to the fish (some scare easily).
• Check the weather report and don’t go to Hanauma Bay after heavy rain. Heavy rain during the week may make the water murky and limit underwater visibility.
• Early morning is the best time to go, because the sand settles overnight.
• Hanauma Bay is closed on Tuesdays and state holidays.
• Bring a lot of food and water so that you can relax at the beach after snorkeling. There is no food vendor here.
• If you plan to go to Chief’s Luau (mentioned later in this article), be sure to make reservations ahead of time. Chief’s Luau is held on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is located on Kalanianaole Highway, a little past Koko Marina Shopping Center. Unlike other snorkel spots, this is an organized establishment – they have a parking lot, equipment rentals, bathrooms, a trolley (to go up and down the huge hill), and lifeguards.

The Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is a beautiful place to visit, and it’s especially amazing if you’re a fan of marine life. This nature preserve is home to a stunning coral reef that features over 450 varieties of fish. You can see all sorts of tropical fish, as well as octopus, crabs and eels. If you’re lucky, you might even get to see a green sea turtle! One of the best things about this nature preserve is that it has something for everyone. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced snorkeler, you’ll be able to find something interesting to see at Hanauma Bay.

The entrance opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. Once you arrive, plan on at least 30 to 40 minutes before getting into the water. You’ll have to wait in line to pay the admission fees and then watch the 10-minute video in the Marine Education Center on preservation and safety rules before heading down to the beach.

There are a variety of fish here. Fish like to hang out near the reef, so stay near the reef. Fish are also more active in the mornings, so I suggest coming here early (it opens at 6am!). You may also see a turtle slowly swimming through the area.

After you finish snorkeling, you can relax at the beach here. It’s amazingly clean and the water is very tame because of the cove shape. Hanauma Bay does get crowded around 10:30am. There are no food vendors here, so I suggest bringing food and drinks if you plan to stay here for an extended amount of time.

Note: Hanauma Bay is a major tourist attraction, but there are authorities which monitor bacteria levels and can close the beaches down if bacteria levels are too high. Be sure to look at Hawaii Beach Safety to check the reports.  

Snorkeling Tips

Hanauma Bay is one of the most popular snorkeling destinations in Hawaii. The bay is home to a variety of tropical fish, as well as green sea turtles. While snorkeling can be a fun and relaxing activity, there are a few things to keep in mind if you’re a beginner. First, it’s important to wear a life jacket or vest. This will help to keep you buoyant and prevent you from getting tired. Second, be sure to use a mask and snorkel that fit properly. A good fit will help you to breathe easily and avoid water from leaking into your mask. Finally, take your time and move slowly through the water.

Practice emptying water from your snorkel tube. Safety is important, so before you go into the deeper water, practice this technique by submerging the top of your snorkel under water and then blowing water out. If you have a purge valve, the water will easily blow out through the bottom. If you have a simple snorkel, you will have to blow hard to get the water out through the top.

Understand “dry snorkels.” Dry snorkels are snorkels whose top will close if the top goes under water. This means that you won’t need to blow water out and no water will get in your tube if you dive deep with the snorkel on.

Snorkeling should be easy. Don’t breathe heavily and don’t swim hard. You should be a floating body when you snorkel. Conserve your energy and enjoy the sights.

Fins are very useful. Fins turn you into a big fish. You can move effortlessly through water with them on. Don’t buy cheap, plastic fins from the grocery store.

De-fog your snorkel mask. If you jump out and jump back in the water, your snorkel mask will fog up. To de-fog it, you can use commercial de-fogger or you can rub a thin layer of baby shampoo or toothpaste on the inside of your mask. If you have none of the above, saliva also works (but it’s a little gross :-?).

Handling rip currents/rip tides. Rip currents are currents that pull you away from the shore.  Rip currents are dangerous if you try to swim back to shore, because you will slowly be pulled out to sea, tire out, and panic. What you should do if you find yourself in a rip current is swim parallel or diagonally to the shore. The current may pull you backwards a little, but you will eventually swim out of the rip current. Click here for more info on rip currents. Hanauma Bay is a cove, so it’s unlikely you will encounter a rip current, but this is a good thing to be aware of in general.

Other Activities

Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail (Easy Hike)

If you want an easy hike with view of the ocean, you can hike to the Makapuu Lighthouse (detailed guide here). It’s located further along Kalanianole Highway, east of Hanauma Bay, and at the eastern point of Oahu. This entire hiking path is paved, so it’s great for kids or casual hikers. I’ve even seen people taking their dogs walking here. It’s an open view the whole way (no bushes in your face!) and there is a view of the lighthouse and the ocean at the end.

It’s not just a hike! Other activities located here are:

• going up the neighboring Makapuu Lookout
• walking to a beach and seeing “Pele’s Chair”
• going down to the tide pools to get splashed by waves, enjoy a shallow pool, and see small marine life
• walking up to the lighthouse

Koko Head Stairs (Hard Hike)

Koko Head consists of climbing 1,048 steps to the top of the Koko Head Crater. While this hike will test your endurance, you will be rewarding with some of the best views of the island. You can see Aina Haina, Sandys Beach, and a large portion of the south shore. This is one of the best spots on the  Island for both sunrise and sunset! Detailed guide here.

Waimanalo Beach

Waimanalo Beach Park is a beautiful place to walk, and the fine white sand under your feet and the clear waters make it an ideal location for photos. T.V. shows like “Baywatch Hawaii” and “Magnum P.I.” were filmed here so that you can canonize your wedding pics right here!

To reach this slice of wonderland, you have two options. Take the scenic Hwy 1 route from Waikiki that takes you past the Makapu’u lighthouse onto Waimanalo. Or drive through the Pali Highway 61, which merges onto the Kalanianaole Highway 72 south towards Waimanalo. Either route will take you 45 minutes. 

We recommend packing some comfort food, snacks, and drinks along with you to the beach since this area lacks nearby restaurants and eateries. Thus, purchase a cooler that will hold ice and your goodies.

Halona Blowhole

The Hālona Blowhole is one of Hawai‘i’s natural wonders, created thousands of years ago when molten lava tubes were formed from volcanic eruptions. There aren’t any active volcanoes on O‘ahu anymore, but the blowhole remains a must-see scenic stop.

Hālona, in Hawaiian, means “lookout,” and visitors can see miles of pristine coastline waters from the lookout. On clear days, the islands of Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i can also be seen in the distance.

The blowhole is just a 20-minute drive outside of Waikīkī and getting there is half the fun because you’re traveling on the scenic Kalaniana‘ole Highway that takes you past Hanauma Bay and Koko Head Crater and along the coastline. Have your camera ready as soon as you get past Hanauma Bay. You won’t be disappointed. Just a mile past the blowhole is the world-famous bodyboarding beach, Sandy Beach.

Sandy Beach

Sandy Beach Park, on Oahu’s south shore, is a beautiful white sandy beach great for watching the sunrise from the east, flying a kite on the typically strong tradewinds, and boogie boarding on its short wave swells.

On most days, Sandy Beach is not a good beach for swimming since it often has high surf, strong shore breaks, and a powerful current. Only proficient boogie boarders and body surfers should enter the water, and should always speak to a lifeguard before hand.

The easiest way to get to Sandy Beach is by car. Located on Kalanianaole Highway, Sandy Beach is approximately 30 minutes away from Waikiki, and on hour away from Ko Olina.

You can also go to Sandy Beach on the Honolulu City Bus from Waikiki by taking the #23 Hawaii Kai – Sea Life Park route to Kealahou St + Kalanianaole Hwy.

Lanai lookout

Nestled between Hanauma Bay and Koko Head to the west and the Halona Blowhole to the right on Kalanaianaole Highway, the breathtaking Lanai Lookout is often overlooked for more well-known attractions. From the parking lot of this scenic overlook, you will have uninterrupted views of the stunning Pacific Ocean, and, on a clear day, the islands of Lanai, Molokai and even Maui. But what is really special about this lookout is the stunning lava formations you’ll find once you hop over the short wall surrounding the parking lot. The vibrant blue waves crash into the rock formations, creating what I personally believe to be one of the greatest photo opportunities on Oahu.

For visitors’ convenience, a small parking lot has been carved onto the sea cliff itself off of Highway 72 (a.k.a. Kalanianaole Hwy), but it’s best to arrive early to ensure you get a spot. Besides, we hear that sunrises from this lookout point are particularly spectacular.

Sea Life Park

Sea Life Park is a whole world of its own, filled with exhilarating exhibits, up-close animal encounters, and breathtaking activities. Navigate your way around the park with our easy-to-use Sea Life Park map to find everything from activities, restaurants, shops, services, exhibits, and more! There’s no better way to ensure you won’t miss a thing during your park visit. 

Something else that you can consider doing is going to Hawaii’s junior version of Sea World: Sea Life Park. There are 5 main shows throughout the day. The rest of the time, you will be feeding animals or walking around. For an additional fee, you can also swim with dolphins, sharks, or sea lions. These additional fees are quite expensive, though. The “Dolphin Swim Adventure” for example, is $184.99 (includes park admission).

The reason Sea Life Park is not a featured attraction in the plan is that there is a large time commitment involved. Unlike the Honolulu Zoo, Sea Life Park revolves around shows, which are at set times through the day. Outside of these shows, there is not much to do, except look at fishes and sea lions. You can swim with a dolphin, but you must pay a lot of money for it. The admission is $45 for adults and there’s nothing next to it, so a trip to Sea Life Park means spending most of your day here, with a lot of time spent idle. I feel that Sea Life Park is not big enough to keep people entertained for a full day.

Chief’s Luau

Update: Chief’s Luau is now relocated and is in Kapolei at Wet’N’Wild Hawaii. It’s still a good luau, but is now considered more of a West Side activity, since it’s about a 30 minute drive from the main part of Honolulu. 

If you really want to go to a luau, you should consider visiting Sea Life Park and then staying for “Chief’s Luau.” The luau is held at Sea Life Park. The event is 4 hours and includes arts, crafts, activities, a show, and a buffet. Adult admissions are given alcoholic drink tickets. The main draw of this luau is that it is small (100 people) and the host is a funny guy. This luau is only available on Wednesday and Sunday.

Food and Entertainment

If you decide to stay in this area for dinner, you should head down to the Koko Marina Center, just a short drive along Kalanianaole Highway, west of Hanauma Bay. As far as shopping centers go, this one is the one of the nicest on Oahu. If you’re driving to Hanauma Bay, you can also stop here to pick up snacks or a Jamba Juice.

What to eat?

There a loads of things to eat here. They even have a movie theater and Taekwondo school. Here are some of the things I like:

Casual dining: Zippy’s. This is a plate-lunch chain in Hawaii. Some of their food is really unhealthy (the Surfpac for example, has spam, fried chicken, and teriyaki beef), but they have a large menu. There are 2 sides to the restaurant: one for casual orders and the other is a sit-down restaurant. They are also open 24/7.

Good beer, good food: Kona Brewing Company. This is a great restaurant for the older people out there. It’s a restaurant with a very mellow atmosphere. Last time I went, there was a live band playing old, Hawaiian melodies. The Hawaiian decor is very nice too. Kona Brewing Company also sells their own beer in stores. Their beers are very delicious, especially if you like darker, flavorful beers.

Italian food: Assagio’s. If you want a fancier meal, go to this Italian restaurant. The pasta portions are okay, but may not be enough if you’re a big eater.

Dessert: Bubbies. Locals love Bubbies’ mochi ice cream. They have other ice cream too, but their mochi ice cream is unparalleled.

Entertainment. You can watch a movie at the movie theater here. This theater is never crowded, unlike most theaters in downtown Honolulu.