HONOLULU — As of July 1, Hawaii residents will no longer be required to make reservations to access the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve during regular operation hours.

What You Need To Know

  • From July 1, Hawaii residents will not need to make reservations to enter Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

  • Residents with a valid photo ID may enter the nature preserve from 6:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, without a walk-in ticket or reservation

  • Fees and reservations for non-Hawaii residents and visitors remain the same

  • Active-duty military still get in for free with proper ID, but need a reservation

Prior to the change, kamaaina were allowed to enter Hanauma Bay without a reservation until 9 a.m. They then had to get a walk-in ticket or make an online reservation. From July 1 on, residents with a valid photo ID, such as a Hawaii driver’s license or school ID, can enter the nature preserve from 6:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, without a walk-in ticket or reservation.

“We are pleased to see the recent attendance numbers for Hanauma Bay showing an uptick in kamaaina visiting the preserve,” said Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation Director Laura H. Thielen in a news release.

“Since the launch of the online reservation system in April 2021, we have tried different methods of attracting locals back to Hanauma Bay, including testing out this no-reservation idea in summer 2021. While the idea was popular, we still needed additional staffing to accommodate the increase in visitors not using the online system. Now that we have these folks hired, we hope this policy can remain permanent,” said Thielen.

Fees and reservations for non-Hawaii residents and visitors remain the same. Active-duty military still get in for free with proper ID but need a reservation.

There are approximately 280 public parking stalls within Hanauma Bay. All visitors, regardless of residency, must watch the education and safety video prior to heading down to the beach. More information is available at the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve website.

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is cleared 30 minutes prior to closing at 4 p.m. It is closed all day Monday and Tuesday.

Hanauma Bay was designated the state’s first Marine Life Conservation District in 1967. According to the DPR news release, in the 1970s and 1980s, the visitor count rose to about 10,000 visitors per day. In 1990, a management plan was implemented to mitigate human impact. In 2019, the bay’s average daily attendance reached up to 3,000 people, with nearly 845,000 tourists and residents visiting in that year alone.

Today, the average daily attendance is about 1,500 people as the City and County of Honolulu works toward balancing the recreational and cultural needs of the community while educating all who visit the bay and preserving this natural resource.

Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.