Hanauma Bay Reopens After 8 Months

Hanauma Bay reopens today, Wednesday, December 2, after 8 months of being closed due to COVID-19.  As part of the reopening pilot program, with respect to COVID-19 restrictions, there are numerous modifications to the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve (HBAY) operations and how the public may enjoy this natural resource:

• Face covering mandates apply at all times within HBAY.
• HBAY will be closed to the public on Mondays & Tuesdays.
• Vehicular and pedestrian entry into HBAY will be allowed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors must leave HBAY by 4 p.m.
• The number of visitors allowed to enter HBAY will be capped at 720 a day.
• Access into HBAY (including the parking lot, entrance, and theatre) will be limited to 30 individuals at a time. Once that group enters the theatre to watch the mandatory educational video, the next group will be allowed to enter.
• All visitors will be required to watch the educational video in the theatre for each visit to HBAY. Previous viewing of the video will not preclude visitors from skipping this step.
• Entry and parking fees for nonresidents of Hawai‘i have increased as a result of Ordinance 20-32:
  • $3 parking fee for nonresidents
  • $12 entry for nonresidents
  • Free entry for Hawai‘i residents (with valid ID) and children 12 years and younger
• No commercial activities are allowed to operate in or transport visitors into HBAY. This includes commercial vehicles, taxis, and commercial tour groups including, but not limited to, sightseeing, scuba, or snorkel groups.
• The gift shop, education center, food concession, snorkel and locker rental facilities will remain closed within HBAY.  Snorkel equipment should be brought by visitors to the bay.
• Bathrooms and showers within HBAY will be in operation.
• City bus service into HBAY will continue to be suspended.

“We are thrilled to be able to invite the public back to one of the most spectacular features on O‘ahu, while modifying how we manage this nature preserve to keep it thriving for generations to come,” said Mayor Kirk Caldwell. “All of these measures are in place to balance conservation efforts, safety of the public and staff, and the ability to responsibly enjoy this world class environmental feature. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we implement these new procedures.”

HBAY was initially closed on March 18, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since that time, only researchers and officials have been provided access to the nature preserve. This has resulted in no revenue from ticket sales available to support HBAY operation, while clearer water and larger fish returning to the nature preserve have been observed.

“As a fiscally responsible nature preserve, Hanauma Bay has served as an amazing model of how to focus on both the recreational needs of the community and the conservation of its natural resources,” said Michele Nekota, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. “We see these new operations as a pilot program, which we hope can improve efforts to learn from, enjoy, and maintain Hanauma Bay in this pandemic era.”

A historically significant location for Native Hawaiians paddlers, and a favorite fishing location for some Hawaiian Royalty, Hanauma Bay was designated the state’s first Marine Life Conservation District in 1967.

Its popularity grew in the 1970s and 1980s when visitor attendance peaked at an estimated 10,000 people a day. A management plan implemented in 1990 helped to mitigate this human impact by: reducing visitation, improving facilities, banning the feeding of fish, and educating bay visitors. In 2019, average daily attendance was almost 3,000 people, with nearly 845,000 tourists and residents visiting the nature preserve that year.

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