Best Snorkeling At Hanauma Bay
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Catalogue
- Brief Introduction of Hanauma Bay
- Best Snorkelling at Hanauma Bay
- See Various Kinds of Fish Species
- Eat & Drink
- Tips before Going
- Key Information
- How to Get There
Show More
Hanauma Bay, in Hawaii, is best known for its snorkelling, shallow waters, calm beaches, and stunning white sand. Located to the eastern side of Oahu, it is a very old volcanic crater that is well protected from swells and oceanic waves, leaving it one of the most peaceful and colourful places for beach lovers to snorkel. This makes Hanauma Bay the hottest destination in Hawaii.
Hawaii is a group of volcanic islands that spread over 2400 kilometres. Hawaii has one of the most diverse natural composition of oceanic flora and fauna, with an abundance of splendid beaches, the tropical climate and active volcanoes making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The capital city of Honolulu is placed on the island of Oahu, to whose east side sits the grand and exquisite Hanauma Bay. It has got to be the most-visited beach outside of Waikiki. Every year an approximate one million people take pleasure in swimming with the marine life and the oceanic ecosystem that is indigenous to Hanauma Bay, Hawaii.
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About 3.9 million years before, the Wai’anae volcano erupted to create the island of Oahu. Following this, the Ko’olau volcanos eruption breached the ocean’s surface leaving in its wake the windward side of the Oahu. The latest eruption, about 32,000 years ago, volcanic vents opened up on the ocean floor with short and violent eruptions that created rings of ash called tuff. Coral reef and basalt that were scattered in these eruptions embedded into the tuff, and slowly with wave erosion cutting through the south-eastern wall of the crater, the current Hanauma bay was formed.
The word Hana itself means ‘Bay’ leaving the extra bay after Hanauma quite redundant. The second part of the name is likely a reference to the shape of the bay and its indigenous canoes and it means ‘curve’. There is another interpretation to the second part which refers to an indigenous hand-wrestling match also known as ‘Uma’.
Hanauma Bay, Hawaii was declared a protected ‘marine life conservation’ area in 1967. It is one of the most beautiful Nature Preserves for marine life and corals. The Hanauma Bay was initially used by king Kamehameha and his queen Ka’ahumanu as a recreational centre. They sponsored games, fished, and entertained their royal guests at the bay. The bay also served as a layover due to its calmer waters and because its curve served as a navigational lookout point.
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Grab your gear, and get set for the best snorkelling experience ever. This is the beach that won ‘Best Beach’ in be United States. Once a Hawaiian haven for the royal family to fish and entertain guests, the Hanauma bay with its protected coral and marine life, make it the ideal beach for snorkelling. When you first visit Hanauma Bay, you are made to watch a short film on conservation and receive instructions about the bay’s resources. After this you get educated about the diversity of the fascinating ocean life around here. The pristine waters are great for first timers as well as experienced snorkel buffs. Water here is clear and packed with aquatic life.
Renting lockers seems prudent so that you can enjoy your snorkelling experience in peace while your valuables stay put in a safe place. There are, however, friendly and good Samaritans who would be willing to watch you stuff while you are underwater. If you have your own snorkelling gear then there is nothing like it. There is always the option of renting the gear and it is available in small shacks near the restrooms. Suit up and wade into shallow waters to find a good spot to begin your adventure. Most people avoid the coral reefs on both sides of the bay at the beginning, at least until they are acclimatized to the waters. Choose the middle where you have soft sand under your feet to start with. The coral reef is a beautiful sight too and if you are alright to have no place to put your feet down the you could enjoy the reefs, which are also pretty close to the surface. Be aware, however, that toughing the coral is highly frowned upon and you definitely should not stand on the reef either. Once you are confident enough to swim to the reef, give it a little time to grow onto you. There is nothing like seeing scores of fish swimming around you, unperturbed by snorkelling intruders in their midst. The fish at Hanauma Bay are pretty used to such intrusions and barely ever dart into nooks or hide behind the stunning coral growths.
There are plenty of reasons why you will enjoy your snorkelling experience at Hanauma Bay, Hawaii. The clear and unspoiled waters allow you to see far into the distance around you. Waters are shallow and there are never any strong currents at their bay. You could be an inexperienced swimmer and still get away with it because the coral reef is so close to the surface that they will be no need to dive in deep for a close look. You could get lucky and manage a swim with some sea turtles. It is crowded enough to find help when you need but not so crowded that you are fighting for space to enjoy your experience. These are just a few of the perks of choosing the beautiful bay for your snorkelling pleasures.
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If you get excited by colourful aquatic life, then you are in for a real treat. There are around 400 species of fish that inhabit the Hanauma Bay. It is best known for its abundance of Green Sea Turtles or Chelonia Mydas. Locally known as Honu, these turtles have a teardrop shaped carapace along with paddle like flippers. They are usually light coloured and are largely herbivorous. The Hanauma grounds are known to be a nursery for immature turtles that have nesting grounds in the French Frigate Shoals, the biggest atoll in the Northwest Hawaii Islands.
Another fish that surely has you staring curiously and that is found in abundance around here, is the Parrotfish. This fish is named because its teeth, packed tightly together, forms a beak like at their front. They are vividly coloured and often are bright blue or green and have bright pink or yellow patches.
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You will certainly get a glimpse of the Humuhumunukuapua’a, which is the national fish of Hawaii. It is more popularly known as the Reef Triggerfish or Rectangular triggerfish. With a plump mouth and a blue upper lip, this fish can blow water from its mouth to find invertebrates that may be hidden under the substrate. The fish also has a minute second spine which assists it to lock the main spine. This helps the fish hide in crevices and stay logged in while making it hard for predators to pull the fish out from its hiding place.
Look out for the butterfly fish which earns its moniker from the brightly lined body it has. Striking patterns and bright colours make these fish hard to miss. So of them have eyespots on their flanks and an interrupted dorsal fin with a truncated tail fin. They generally are corallivores which form pairs and hunt specific coral heads.
The Squirrelfish, also known as the “Mempachi’, are found close to the shore. They are largely nocturnal and have very big eyes. They are certain subfamilies of this fish that have a venomous spine that can cause painful wounds.
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Some of the other fish you can lookout for are the damsel fish, Moorish idol, Wrasse, Tang, Surgeon fish, cardinal fish, chub, perch, porcupine fish, jacks, hawk fish, snapper, mullets, cornet fish, goat fish, needle fish, and trumpet fish. There are also a bunch of eels, invertebrates, and crustaceans for you to look forward to at the Hanauma Bay.
There are so many hues and tints to enjoy in the waters of Hanauma that you would never feel like getting out of the waters. However it is important to adhere to the rules and make sure you do not touch or step on the coral reefs. Feeding fish too, is against the rules of the Nature Preserve and can incur fines.
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When you get tired of the party with the fish, you would want to take a break and do things like eating and drinking. Here is a guide to what you can expect around Hanauma Bay. There is a concession snack stand that offers a variety of snacks and beverages for consumption. This snack bar is located before the admission area and the entry into the bay. This means that you will have to trek a long way up when you want to eat. Also, this means that you must remember to get your hand stamped before exiting, if you intend on coming back inside after snacking. You will find a variety of waters, tea, juices, soda, lemonade, fries, nachos, hot dogs, rice and chili, burgers, brownies, turkey or ham wraps, fruit salads, green salads, sandwiches, chicken strips and more at the snack counter.
If you carry your own food, be sure to clean up after yourself. Be sure that you do not leave wrappers, bottles and cans ling around. The ocean does not require more trash. There are several trash cans on the beach that help keep the place clean and fit to be a Nature Preserve.
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Always arrive early in the morning. The importance of this cannot be stressed enough because the parking lot at the bay parking can accommodate only 300 cars while the number of visitors allowed per day is 10 times more. There will be a lot of running around to find a place to park later because you will be turned away as early as 8am due to lack of space. The only way you can manage is by driving downhill and parking close to the residences. Then you would have to take bus number 22 back to the top. This can be a futile waste of time. Arriving early also helps with better vision underwater. Clear skies and bright sun will ensure that you have a good time while snorkelling.
Bring a small cooler with some food and non-alcoholic beverages while you go to the bay. There are concession stands that offer some snacks but you will find that you can get hungry after all those exploits under the water. Also on the off chance that you do not like what the snack stand has on offer, you will not go hungry all day.
Carry reef-safe sun protection. The residents, volunteers and the authorities are very keen on this particular piece because of the massive environmental damage that has been wreaked upon the bay due to sunscreens and plastics. Hawaii has approved a legislation in 2018 may which assuredly bans all products with octanoate, oxybenzone or octocrylene in it due to the toxic effect they have on coral reefs. Sever sunburn can cause much discomfort if you are not cautious enough. Many visitors carry sleeve surf shirts so that they can avoid sun burns in the long run.
You are allowed to carry your own snorkelling gear like mask, fins and snorkel. This way, your equipment will fit you well, be a 100% hygienic and you will avoid situations where the rental shop runs out of accessories.
Stay safe and know your water skill level before getting into the water. If you are not an accomplished swimmer, then stay in open waters closer to the shore. DO not attempt to swim far out to the reefs without experience as a swimmer. Water rescues and drownings have been known to happen because people get carried away while following marine life around the waters. Always check in with some lifeguards for tips before you enter the water. Also, it is best if you have your friends or a partner to go in with you.
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The Hanauma Bay State Park is open between 6am and 6pm. Park holidays are on Tuesdays, Festivals and State holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Day. You will find the park at 7455 Kalanianaole Highway Honolulu in Hawaii. The parking lot for vehicles is located on a ridge on top, above the actual bay. Parking is very limited and it is best to get in as early as possible if you want to find a good parking spot. You would have to pay a dollar per day if you have your own vehicle. A steep walk from the parking area gets you to the bay. There are trams that run a shuttle service both ways too. Going down to the bay obviously costs less that coming back up and tired visitors almost always avail this service while making their way back up.
The bay has lifeguards, changing rooms, showers, restrooms, and equipment rental stalls. There are concessional food stalls around the bay too. If you are the kind who packs your own food, then you will find plenty of decent spots to sit down with your picnic basket. Entrance fee for adults above the age of 12 is charged at $7.50 per individual. Active residents of Hanauma can enter free provided they have clear identification. Lockers will cost you $10-12. Prescription masks for the near-sighted also come at a certain price. Beach wheelchairs are available or free upon request when you contact a volunteer. Life jackets and vests are not made available due to liability reasons and patrons are usually requested to carry such items with them. Optional snorkelling gear such as underwater cameras, dry snorkels,
Snorkelling at night has been banned for a few years now and should not be tried.
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There are many tour operators who offer shuttles from their Waikiki hotels. Even Hanauma Bay offers shuttles from Waikiki for $25 for a round trip inclusive of snorkelling gear. If not this option, you could take a cab which would cost you roughly $40-50, one way. Bus number 22 charges about $2.75 for a one way trip and will take about 45 minutes to get you there from Waikiki.
At the end of the day, you will be elated that you visited Hanauma Bay and frolicked with the aquatic life here. Your Instagram and social media feed too will certainly be enriched by a day at the enchanting and magical place that is Hanauma Bay. So go, and have some fun in the sun at one of Hawaii’s favourite destination.
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