Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
Honolulu, HI
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve sits inside a collapsed volcanic crater on Oahu's southeast shore, its reef sheltering some of the calmest, clearest snorkeling water on the island. Every visitor books a timed entry online first, and the bay closes two days a week so the reef gets a rest. That rule says a lot about how seriously the state protects it.
The reef and the clarity of the water are hard to beat anywhere else on Oahu, but the reservation system and the two day closures mean this isn't a spontaneous trip anymore.
How we score beachesReservations open online two days ahead at 7am sharp, and the mid morning slots go first. Grab one the moment the window opens rather than waiting until the day before.
The lot at the bay is small and costs $3 for non-resident vehicles, cash only, and it fills before most of the day's reservation slots even start. Rideshare, the trolley, or TheBus are the more reliable options.
A paved road switchbacks steeply from the visitor center down to the sand, about a 10 minute walk. A tram runs for a fee for anyone who'd rather skip the walk down or back up.
Dogs and other pets are not allowed inside Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, since it's a marine life conservation district where every visitor checks in with ID.
Summer brings the calmest water and the best visibility for snorkeling, while winter swells can stir up sediment and occasionally close the bay to swimming altogether. Water stays warm, in the upper 70s, no matter when you go.
More Hawaii beaches
Waikiki Beach
Honolulu, HI · Hawaii
The beach that put Hawaii surfing on the map, with gentle, forgiving waves for beginners, Diamond Head crater as a backdrop, and a reef that keeps the water calm most of the year.
Lanikai Beach
Kailua, HI · Hawaii
A quiet, residential-neighborhood beach on Oahu's windward side, with powder-soft sand, turquoise water, and two small offshore islets (the Mokulua) as a paddling destination.
Poipu Beach
Koloa, HI · Hawaii
A sheltered, sunny south-shore beach on Kauai split into a calm swimming lagoon and a livelier surf side, with a good chance of spotting Hawaiian monk seals resting on the sand.