Hanauma Bay

I know a lot about visiting Hanauma Bay because I worked there for almost two years.  As of December 2013, the park is open every day except for Tuesdays.  Their hours are from 6am to 6pm in the winter months and 6am to 7pm in the summer months.  A little secret is that if you come in before 7am, you don't have to pay for parking or admission.  Parking is $1 and they take cash only so be sure you have some handy before you get there.  On busy days, the parking lot fills up early and you will have to wait until someone leaves before they'll let you in.  Admission is $7.50 and kids 12 and under are free.  There are lots of extra costs once you get inside the bay.  They have snorkel gear to rent, but if you are planning on snorkeling more than once during your trip, definitely bring your own or rent from a company that does weekly rentals.  There is a tram that takes you up and down the hill for a fee.  When I worked there, it was $2.00 for an all day pass.  There are also food concessions that are rather overpriced, and a gift shop.  People always ask me where the best place is to snorkel.  It really is about the same everywhere inside the reef.  If the water is calm, and you are a good swimmer, I recommend going out the channels and exploring outside the reef.  (Talk to a lifeguard before you go out.)  Please do not go in deeper than your knees if you can't swim.  People drown here all the time in water that they can stand up in.  For reals.  Ambulances are a weekly occurrence during the busy summer month.  Of course, this beach isn't a dangerous one, in fact it's one of the safest.  It just has a higher number of tourists who don't know what they're doing.  If you want to know more, ask me about it.  Let me know if you want to know more about what it's like to work at a touristy beach, I have lots of stories. :)

Octopus

Outside the reef

Outside the reef

There are tons of wild chickens here, and often chicks!

Monk seals sometimes hang out on this beach

Hanauma Bay was closed down because of jellyfish once when we worked there

This chicken liked to catch rides on our tram

I did not take this picture, one of the regular visitors did

Sea turtle rescue in progress