A protected bay and beach in East Oʻahu, open Wednesday to Sunday. Non-residents book tickets two days ahead and they can sell out in minutes; every visitor watches an orientation video in the theatre before going down to the beach, and everyone is off the beach by 3:30 pm.
Know before you go. Hanauma Bay doesn't list sensory hours, a quiet area or sensory kits. Here's what it does say about tickets, the crowds, the video and the rules.
Hours
Wednesday to Sunday, with entry from 6:45 am to 1:30 pm; everyone is off the beach by 3:30 pm and out of the preserve by 4 pm. Closed every Monday and Tuesday, and on Christmas Day (Fri Dec 25 2026) and New Year's Day (Fri Jan 1 2027). The preserve says this schedule is subject to change at any time; for the latest, call (808) 768-6861.
Stay close“Please, take very special care of children. They should always be supervised at the beach and in the ocean by their parents or adult guardians. Lifeguards are not substitute babysitters – their responsibility includes the entire beach.” honolulu.gov/dpr (Hanauma Bay Safety & Accessibility)
“Tickets are on high demand and are very limited. They could sell out as fast as 5 minutes after reservations are available.”
“Must be in line at the admission window 15 minutes before your admission time. No late entry allowed.”
“All visitors will be required to watch the educational video in the theatre for each visit to HBAY.” honolulu.gov/dpr (Hanauma Bay)
“Everybody must be off the beach by 3:30pm and leave the nature preserve parking lot by 4:00pm.”
“Entry to restricted areas, amplified music, or any activity that may disrupt the integrity of the nature preserve or visitor experience is prohibited unless otherwise approved in writing.” Hanauma Bay Online Reservation (Terms and Conditions)
“Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve reserves the right to cancel or modify reservations with or without prior notice due to inclement weather, maintenance needs, safety concerns, or public health directives.” Hanauma Bay Online Reservation (Terms and Conditions)
A Hanauma Bay day has fixed steps: the parking booth, the admission window at a set time, the orientation video, then the beach, which clears at 3:30 pm. The video happens on every visit, even a repeat one, so it helps to tell your kid the beach comes right after it.
The preserve's rules on arriving late differ: be in line 15 minutes before your time with no late entry, or late reservations accepted before 1:30 pm. Plan to be early so the stricter one never matters.
If you have access questions, the city's Therapeutic Recreation Unit, which helps people with disabilities access parks, takes calls at (808) 768-3027 and email at parks-tru@honolulu.gov.
Non-residents need a ticket: book online two days ahead starting at 7 am Hawaiʻi Standard Time (Monday for Wednesday, through Friday for Sunday), or try for a limited walk-in ticket when the gate opens at 6:45 am with your whole group there. Tickets can sell out in about 5 minutes.
Every visitor watches the orientation video in the theatre on every visit before going down to the beach. The video is about nine minutes long, has closed captions and is offered in seven languages, including Spanish.
Entry is $25 plus a 2.35% online fee for non-residents 13 and up; free for Hawaiʻi residents with valid photo ID (no reservation needed), active duty U.S. military and dependents stationed in Hawaiʻi with military ID, and children 12 and under. All sales are final unless the preserve closes.
Reservations: up to 10 people at a time, no more than five adults and five children; every visitor, children included, needs a ticket. Payment is online by Visa, Mastercard or JCB, plus a 2.35% service fee; a reservation for admission only can't be made more than 2 days ahead. Packages with round-trip transportation from Ala Moana and Waikīkī, booked through Roberts Hawaiʻi, can be made up to a month ahead.
Walk-ins: limited tickets are handed out first come, first served when the parking lot gate opens at 6:45 am, and everyone in your group must be there. In peak seasons there's a drive-thru from 6:45 to 7:10 am at the Commercial Parking Lot ticket booth; after 7:10 am, look for the person under the blue umbrella in the public parking lot loading zone. At the window, pay by MasterCard, Visa, JCB or cash, with a 2.35% fee on cards.
Check-in and ID: be in line at the admission window 15 minutes before your admission time. The reservation holder shows the confirmation and one original physical ID (no photocopies or photos of IDs), and each visitor with a free entry ticket must also show an ID. Hawaiʻi residents show a Hawaiʻi Driver's License, a Hawaiʻi State ID with a Hawaiʻi address that is valid for one year or more, or a Hawaiʻi school student ID with current validation; non-residents with a resident still need a ticket. The free military entry is for U.S. active duty service members and dependents stationed in Hawaiʻi, with a CAC card or a dependent ID showing "Active Duty"; retired, reserve or veteran IDs pay the non-resident rate.
Refunds: all sales are final, with no cancellations, changes or exchanges, and reservations can't be transferred. If the preserve closes, tickets for that day are refunded to the card used, in about 10 business days. The preserve may cancel or change reservations without notice for weather, maintenance, safety or public health.
Parking: a reservation doesn't include a parking space. Spaces are limited and first come, first served, paid per entry in cash only with no in-and-out: $3 for non-residents, $1 for a driver with a Hawaiʻi Driver's License, State ID or school ID. It's refunded if you leave within 15 minutes with your receipt. If the lot is full, wait for it to reopen or find legal street parking and walk in.
Getting there: city bus service into the preserve has ended; TheBus Route 22 stops at the top along Kalanianaʻole Highway.
On site: bathrooms, fresh water showers, Ocean Safety lifeguards, the Marine Education Center, educational volunteers and biologists, and a tramway from the top entry down to the beach that leaves about every 10 minutes. The gift shop is open 8 am to 3:30 pm, food 8:30 am to 2 pm and snorkel rentals 7 am to 3 pm, all by credit or debit card only. Amplified music is not allowed.
Mobility: free beach wheelchairs are lent from the Beach Information Kiosk year round, for 2 hours, first come, first served. The hours given differ: the preserve gives 8 am to 3 pm (call 808-768-6861 for more info), and the city's beach wheelchair program gives 8 am to 4 pm (24-hour hotline (808) 396-4229). The person using one needs another person to push it, and they hold up to 300 pounds. The tram to and from the beach has a ramp and can take wheelchairs.
Call
(808) 768-6861Hanauma Bay information hotline (leave a message with your phone number and email)(808) 768-3027City Therapeutic Recreation Unit: access questions for people with disabilities
Email
parks-tru@honolulu.govCity Therapeutic Recreation Unit: access questions for people with disabilities
