Plan Your Visit

Group visits to the Bay

The City and County of Honolulu requires that all groups visiting Hanauma Bay, including school groups, obtain a permit. Permits are valid for two hours and entitle groups to guaranteed parking, immediate entrance to the Bay, a private showing of the mandatory Hanauma Bay educational video, and an educational orientation. The staff at the Hanauma Bay Education Program coordinate all group visits. Groups interested in obtaining a permit should call the Education Program at (808) 397-5840. We request at least two weeks notice, although special arrangements can sometimes be made. Please note that unpermitted groups may be turned away.

Required Information

• Requested dates and times (9:00-11:00 am, 11:00 am -1:00 pm, 1:00-3:00 pm, 3:00-5:00 pm)
  
• Contact person with phone number, fax number, e-mail and mailing address
  
• Number in party (50 maximum, local schools excepted)
  
• Method of transportation (private cars or buses)
  
• Age range of students
  
• Number of chaperones
  
• Special requests (see below)

What to expect:

• Permits are valid for two hours, which includes a 30-45 minute presentation and a 9 minute educational video.
  
• Please bring your permit with you and be prepared to show it to a parking attendant; entrance is permitted even if the parking lot is full.
  
• Non-residents 13 years and over must pay $5 per person to enter the preserve. Please have the money collected beforehand. Credit cards, cash and travelers checks only.
  
• Snorkel gear is NOT PROVIDED but can be rented for an additional fee on the beach.
  
• Buses cannot park on site and are allowed a15 minute drop off and pick up only. (Please call the City and County for suggestions on where drivers can park.)
  
• There is limited shade and cover in the park. Please bring sun protection and rain gear.

Special program and tours

In addition to the mandatory Hanauma Bay educational video, groups receive an educational orientation by trained marine science educators. These orientations usually last 30-45 minutes and cover coral reef ecology and preservation. Groups may request other topics in place of or in addition to coral reef ecology. These topics include: coastal plants, introductory oceanography, geology of Hanauma Bay and the Hawaiian Islands, endangered species and marine protected areas. Programs may last up to 1 hour or longer (staff permitting) if groups do not wish to get in the water during their visit. Longer orientations will require sufficient advanced notice. Additional permits may be required if groups wish to conduct scientific surveys and experiments or collect samples, so please let us know well in advance if this is the case.

Additional School Programs

The Hanauma Bay Education Program periodically conducts teacher training workshops. Staff are also available for visits to career and science fairs and community events. If you are interested in receiving notice of these workshops or would like to have a staff member visit your school, please contact us here at the Bay.