2bearbear Singapore Travel Blog

On day 8 of our travels in Hawaii, we visited the world-famous Hanauma Bay! It is said that Hanauma Bay is one of the best snorkeling sites in Hawaii because of its clear blue waters, diverse marine life and calm waters in the bay. This we’ve got to check out…

2bearbear @ Hanauma Bay Oahu Hawaii Travels

About Hanauma Bay | Travel Hawaii

First things first, to get to Hanauma Bay, you’ll likely have to drive. The address of Hanauma Bay State Park is 7455 Kalanianaole Highway, Honolulu, Hawaii. You’ll also be able to find it under attractions for Hanauma Bay using Google Map or your good old GPS. Parking is free.

Park entry is $7.50 and it is free for kids under the age of 12. Lastly, the park opens from 6am to 7pm and is CLOSED EVERY TUESDAY. For more information, you can visit the Hanauma Bay State Park website.

Once you have paid for the entrance fees, you’ll be brought to a video screening room where important messages such as conservation efforts as well as etiquette are shown…

Video screening prior to entering Hanauma Bay

As the entry/video screening area is at the top of the bay, you’ll be greeted with stunning views such as these…

The view itself was breath-taking…taking in the sea breeze and marveling at the clear blue waters of the bay, reminded us of the Creator, who created beauty such as this for our enjoyment…

Then there’s a walk up and down the slope that you’ll have to do. An easy walk for most travellers. But if you’re not the fittest bunch out there, you can choose to take the tram which costs $1 down hill and $1.25 uphill…

At Hanauma Bay, it is as what they say. Clear beautiful waters, well-preserved corals and diverse marine life. Tom got to do some snorkeling and he found himself swimming with schools of fish, coming up close with the marine life and swimming among the coral reefs. The water is so clear that you’ll be able to see fish swimming among the corals just by standing up near the coral reefs. By the way, remember to buy your own snorkel set at any of the supermarkets in the city as it is relatively expensive ($20USD) to rent at Hanauma Bay.

However, if you’re snorkeling, remember this important thing: DO NOT TOUCH THE CORALS!!! It is actually quite challenging to do so but if you keep yourself afloat, you should be able to stay above the corals as you float past and observe the fish swim past you. At the end of the snorkeling session, our necks were quite strained. Though challenging, it is well worth it to help preserve this amazing place for others to enjoy as well!

Tom also did some sand art as a token of his love for Kate…

Tom loves Kate @ Hanauma Bay Hawaii Travels

The day was so relaxing and fun that we eventually spent 4 hours there. Time just flew past. Soon, we had to bid this beautiful sanctuary goodbye…here are 2 videos we took while we were there…

View of the entire Hanauma Bay Oahu Hawaii

On the beach of Hanauma Bay

After a quick poke lunch (we wrote about our favourite poke at Sun Dried Specialties), we headed back to Waikiki for some beach surfing action!

If you’ve ever wanted to try surfing, Waikiki is the place to be. Here, you’ll be able to rent beginner boards (characterised by a larger size – for more stability) at $15 per hour. However, it is recommended that you should be a proficient swimmer before trying out surfing as it can be a very tiring process. Trying to push yourself from the rest position to the standing position over and over again in an hour can be quite draining. Although Tom was worn out by the end of the hour mark, he managed to stand a couple of times and can now claim to have surfed before! -_-”

Dinner at Maui Brewing Company | Travel Hawaii

To reward Tom for a tiring day out surfing and snorkeling, we headed to the Maui Brewing Company, located right inside Holiday Inn Resort Waikiki Beachcomber where we stayed!

The vibe was cool and casual and we managed to snitch a seat by the balcony to enjoy street views as well…

2bearbear @ Maui Brewing Company Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber

What we had at Maui Brewing Company Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber — Cocktail Menu Maui Brewing Company Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber

We had the Butcher Pizza, Pork Belly Bao and Pineapple Mana brewed with Maui Gold pineapples! If you’re looking for a relaxing time to unwind after a day of fun out in Oahu, Maui Brewing Company is a great place to hang out 😉