Starting today, July 28, 2021, the City & County of Honolulu is running a two-week pilot program that will allow Hawai’i residents to enter the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve without a reservation. You can read about it HERE.
Friends of Hanauma Bay applaud DPR Director Thielen and her staff to pilot a program that will make it easy for residents to enjoy Hanauma Bay while general visitor counts are being kept at a lower level than prior to the pandemic. Until today, residents could enter without a reservation between 7 am and 8 am, but the pilot program opens up Hanauma Bay to residents with valid state ID anytime during normal operating hours. We know many of our members are Hawai’i residents, so we hope you get a chance to be part of this pilot program, but please check the box jellyfish calendar before you go: https://www.waikikiaquarium.org/interact/box-jellyfish-calendar/
I visited Hanauma Bay yesterday. As a resident I was going for the pilot program they are presently doing which involves residents walking into the reserve with a Hawai’i ID or driver‘s license. It was an amazing experience. The staff and volunteers were very welcoming. It was such a pleasure to be able to go and enjoy this beautiful nature preserve without being required to make a reservation. The experience was very easy and organized. I truly enjoyed snorkeling and the views of beautiful Hanauma Bay. I wanted to say thank you for opening up the bay to the residents again. It is very much appreciated. Pam Leclerc