Hanauma Bay is one of my favorite places to visit in Hawaii. It’s one of the top 25 beaches in the United States according to Trip Advisor’s 2014 Traveler’s Choice. Hanauma Bay is a natural pool located along the southeast coast of the Island of Oʻahu. It was formed in a crater caused by a volcanic eruption on the island 35,000 years ago. The name Hanauma was derived from two Hawaiian words, “hana” which means bay and “uma” which means curved.

Hanauma Bay is a Nature Preserve and a Marine Life Conservation District that is home to over 400 species of fish as well as to some Green sea turtles, Chelonia mydas, known as Honu. It is the perfect place for snorkeling and my friends and I had a fantastic time doing exactly that 6 years ago. 🙂 Hanauma Bay is a 10 mile, 32 minute drive from Waikiki. It’s definitely worth the drive as you get to enjoy a beautiful scenery en route to one of the most beautiful and serene places you’ll ever see! 😉

There is an admission fee at Hanauma Bay and I can’t remember exactly how much it was but nothing more than $10. Prior to heading down the beach, you are required to watch a short educational video about the history of the bay and how to help protect its marine life. There is also a shuttle bus that can take you down to the beach for a small fee or you can just take a walk to get there. I say take a walk and get some exercise done! Hahahaha! 😀

The view from the beach is breathtaking. The water is crystal clear and you can see fishes without needing to dip your head in the water. One advise I would give anyone is to wear water shoes before snorkeling as the coral reefs are pretty sharp and can definitely cause an injury. My friends and I didn’t really go very far from the shore. We were happy and satisfied just lounging around in the shallow water. I felt bad for one of my friends because she lost one of her earrings. I think she was so excited and forgot that she was still wearing her earrings when she dipped into the water. We tried to look for it but unfortunately we didn’t find it.

Anyway, I won’t bore you with any more of my stories…for now 😀 but will share some of my favorite photos from that day instead. Hanauma Bay is absolutely beautiful and even more so when you see it in person. 🙂 It is definitely a MUST see when you’re visiting the island of O’ahu in the state of Hawaii. 🙂