Hanauma Bay - Hawaii Beach for Snorkeling | Everything you need to know to go

I was there as a 6 year old back in 1990. Schools of fish were swimming beside the beach goers even at the shallowest end. The water was crystal clear and gleamed a bright turquoise as you look further out. It was probably the most pristine beach I have ever seen and I believe right now the bay isn't what it was before.

Amazing vid, so much detail, thanks, also awesome couple, love the energy.

Solid vid, thanks for the fyi. Parking has always been tough to get there. BTW Josh's reaction to the mongoose & the musubi cracked me up!

Thank you so much for the information. I was so nervous about not being able to get reservations. We will try to get some reservations.

Great video and tips. Appreciate what you do!

Great video, informative and funny! we are going in the morning for the first time will use all your tips and edit my post to let you know how it all went. Thank you guys!

Great vid guys! you have to go back and to the ridge hike around the entire bay! Cheeee!

Great video beautiful images this is the spot for snorkeling we love it seem like time just fly when you are having fun :)

I loved Hanauma Bay when I went! But after hours of snorkeling my legs turned to absolute jello trying to walk back up that hill! I was tempted to roll back down the hill and move in with the mongeese... (mongooses?) What an incredible and vital additional fact! One can never be too aware of volcanic eruptions. I like to play it safe when it comes to all forms of lava. Sending thoughts and prayers for Josh's iPhone!

When I first visited about 25 years ago it was just a little dirt path down to the bay. No parking fees, no mandatory video, nobody telling you what to do... it was great. My last trip last august was the opposite. It took us an hour just to get down to the water after they shook you for nickels and dimes, made you watch a video and tried to get you into the gift shop.

Cool vid. Y'all brought back some great memories for me. 47 years ago I did a bike ride of the islands and spent time here. It was mobbed cause of President's Day. The ranger and his family who lived down there were so nice and took me in. He let me camp at the far end when the crowd cleared and there I stayed for 3 days. It was crazy and magical. But he was breaking the rules so don't tell anyone.

Oh good to know! Thanks again for making this video. I'm glad I got us reservations for Thursday because hopefully that will make the process a lot faster! How was the parking when you arrived?

I miss Hanauma Bay! Wish to go back there in the near future.

Most beautifulest place I’ve ever been too

Last time I was there was 1971.... A lot more primitive back then. There was a small beach shack where we rented snorkels, masks and fins.

Cool story bro time. It was 1982 and I was 12ish. We lived in Pearl City. Dad and mum would plan for a week in advance for a trip to the bay. Spare ribs or beef strips would be marinated in teriyaki for several days in preparations for grilling - proper charcoal grilling, none of this 'gas' rubbish, the cold salads were made well in advance, lumpia fried, the dive tanks were full and the sundry items were all carefully packed in a package worthy of a couple of wagons full on the Oregon Trail. Dad was freshly dive rated and hung with others who were as well. Most were Navy employees for S.I.M.A in Pearl Harbor. He was going to teach me to dive too, he said. He and his buddy got me squared away with standard dive equipment with which I was passably familiar and we set out across the reef on our bellies. It's a terribly long trip when you're a chubby kid who knows what kind of infection a coral scrape can bring. Out we go and we reach the edge and I peer over - and I freaking panic! It drops off about 30-40 feet and is crystal clear. I see huge blooms/boulders of coral on the bottom and FISH! Fish as big as I am and they haven't the slightest fear of humans. Dad starts to spread a bunch of hot dog rolls into the water which brings the fish right in close. It took me several minutes to control my breathing sufficiently to properly use the regulator. It's a vivid memory that I will not ever forget. We didn't end up diving out there, but we returned to the 12 foot pool off the beach to practice. After that, we BBQed on the beach and then we all took a stroll back to the "Toilet Bowl" back when there were no barriers or restrictions. The last vivid memory I have is of the propane powered trams that used to traverse the steep incline down into the crater. When the family was fully geared up for a FULL day out there, it took two trips from two or three cars to get the gear all down the hill. What a glorious place and a glorious time to be alive. The place and time that I am describing is nothing whatever like people that are viewing this video will ever see again.

Omg, thank you so much. My favorite video of this place so far. I’ll be taking my son ( he’s 10) as a surprise in June. Any chance we can meet you guys there?😅. We have snorkeled once here in Catalina island with a tour guide though. We could use a couple of snorkeling guides in Hawaii…

Looked like a great day! I definitely agree that it's a must-do trip. How did your iphone hold up?

Hi! We on Oahu now and will take your advice on this as a “must do” excursion. Question - any idea what time they release new tickets each morning? Thanks.

love your videos! Visiting Hawaii soon here. I wonder what's the usual thing to do at Hawaii for your personal belongings while you are enjoying the water? Leave it on sand? lock it up? what does people usually do? And I'm curious now, Josh how is your phone working now after you used it to take those awesome underwater shots.