Hanauma Bay Preserved in Perpetuity

In 1967, Hanauma Bay, was declared a Marine Life Conservation District. Nearly 56 years later, Hanauma Bay remains a marine conservation jewel that kamaʻāina and visitors get to learn from and take in the marine life in perpetuity.

It is important to know that each person’s impact on this precious marine environment is felt by the entire ecosystem from the limu (seeweed), koʻa (coral), and wonderous fish and marine life. For this reason the daily carrying capacity of the bay has a daily cap. The carrying capacity has been reduced from 1999, when 3,000 guests were welcomed into the bay during open hours.

Over the next months, we will share all that we are learning from each of our visits to the Bay! We hope this encourages your ʻohana to visit this incredible cultural and ecological wonder. Stay tuned!

When is Hanauma Bay Open? (as of July 2023)

The Bay is open Wednesday to Sunday from 6:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It’s important to note that the cut off time to enter the Bay is at 1:30 p.m.

When does the Hanauma Bay close? (Get the latest info)

At 3:00 p.m. the lifeguards will let beachgoers know that the Bay is closing and that they must vacate the beach. All visitors must vacate the parking lot by 4:00 p.m.

Are you Kamaʻāina?

Starting in July 2023, to encourage kamaʻāina to come to the Bay, residents do not have to make a reservation to come to the Bay. However, you must arrive to the parking lot entrance before 1:30 p.m. Before entering the parking lot all adults in the car must show their Hawaiʻi driver’s license. Children (13 years old or older) also need to show identification. With that said, a Hawaiʻi State ID or current Hawaiʻi School ID will work! The guards at the entrance to the parking lot are very strict about enforcing identification checks. If you have visitors in your car who are non-residents and they do not have an official reservation (or do not have a walk-in ticket), they will not allow you to enter with your car.