pronounced hah-now-MAH
Reef-protected snorkel preserve in a volcanic crater — Oʻahu's best-known snorkel beach, with a strict reservation system.
NWS forecast for this exact lat/lon — forecasts can change, re-check before you go.
100 Hanauma Bay Rd, Honolulu, HI 96825
Hanauma is the classic Oʻahu family snorkel destination — calm shallow water, hundreds of fish visible from waist depth. The catch: you must reserve online days ahead, watch a conservation video, and the path down is a steep walk (or a paid tram). Worth it once. Kids 6+ snorkel; toddlers can splash in the shallow shore band.
Reserve online at https://pros6.hnl.info/hanaumabay no more than 2 days in advance — slots open at 7 AM HST and book within minutes. Bring snorkel gear (rental on site is fine but pricey). Pack a picnic; concessions are minimal. Plan 3-4 hours total including the entry video.
Lifeguarded. Coral preserve rules are strict — no touching, no standing, no sunscreen except reef-safe. The bay-mouth current (outside the inner reef) is genuinely dangerous; stay in the inner sandy/reef area with kids.
This beach sits in the Tsunami Evacuation Zone per Hawai‘i Statewide GIS. If sirens sound or shaking is felt, move inland and uphill immediately. Hawai‘i Emergency Management →
Park-and-pay lot at the top. Arrive at opening (7 AM weekdays except closed days) for the best chance.
Clean facilities at the top (visitor center) and at the beach. Showers at the beach level.
Limited shade at the beach level — bring a hat and umbrella. The visitor center area at the top is shaded.
First entry slot (7 AM) is best — fewer people, calmer water, easier parking. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Conservation fee applies (non-HI residents pay more).
Accessibility: Tram available for the steep walk down/back (small fee). Beach itself has sand-to-water access but the descent is the barrier.
Famous shorebreak beach — beautiful to watch, dangerous to swim, not a family swim spot.
Dramatic east-side beach with the lighthouse view — strong shorebreak limits family water use to small-condition days only.
Diamond Head-end of Waikīkī, less crowded than central Waikīkī, with a small reef-protected swim area.