RT Hanauma Bay

Marine life conservation area within a volcanic cone offering world-class snorkeling, educational exhibits, and pristine beach access.

General Information

Hours:

Wednesday to Sunday: 6:45 AM to 4:00 PM
Last entry at 1:30 PM
Closed Monday and Tuesday

Fees:

General Admission: $25
Children 12 & under: Free
Hawaii Residents & Active Military: Free with ID
Parking: $3 per vehicle

Pet Policy:

Pets are not allowed

Closest cities with hotels:

Honolulu, HI

Seasons:

All year

Location:

7455 Kalanianaole Hwy, Honolulu, HI 96825hanaumabaystatepark.com

How to Get There

From Honolulu, HI (12 mi): Take H-1 E to HI-72/Kalanianaole Hwy, continue for about 12 miles, and turn right into the preserve entrance at the top of the hill.

Overview

Hanauma Bay is a marine embayment inside a volcanic tuff ring on Oahu’s southeast coast in the Hawaiʻi Kai neighborhood of East Honolulu, and one of the island’s most popular tourist destinations.

How the Bay Formed

About 32,000 years ago, volcanic vents opened on the sea floor along Oahu’s southeast shoreline. Rising magma vaporized ocean water, and the steam explosions blew the magma into fine ash that built rings of tuff and scattered shattered coral and basalt into the rock. Waves later cut through the low southeast wall of the crater to form the bay you see today.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Hanauma Bay", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0