All Reviews for Hanauma Bay Snorkeling Tours

The driver kindly explained about Hanauma in English. They repeatedly mentioned what not to do, so I understood. Before entering Hanauma, they gave us life jackets at the cliff viewpoint. If you have any additional items, it's a good idea to mention them at this time. Once we arrived at Hanauma, we gathered with the same group of guests to pool together $25 for admission. I think it’s a good idea to bring a mat or something to relax on the beach in advance. It was very kind and I had a lot of fun snorkeling.

英語にはなりますがドライバーさんが丁寧にハナウマについて説明してくれます。
やってはいけないことは何度も言うので理解できました。
ハナウマに入る前に崖の展望台でライフジャケットをくれました。他の追加品があればこの時に言いましょう。
そしてハナウマに着いたら同じグループの客で集まって25ドルもまとめ合い、ハナウマに入場します。
ビーチで休むためのシートなどを事前に持っていくといいと思います。
すごく親切で楽しくスノーケリングを楽しめました。

I visited Hanauma Bay for the first time in two years. It was early in the morning, but the water wasn't as cold as I expected. The fish swimming around are always the same. This time, there was someone who was visiting Hanauma for the first time, so I made a reservation, but the entrance fee is a bit high, so I think it might be good for a while. The driver was handsome and helped by purchasing the entrance tickets all together. The snorkeling set and life jackets were clean.

2年ぶりのハナウマベイに行ってきました。朝一でしたが、予想より水は冷たくなかったです。泳いでる魚は毎回同じです。今回、初ハナウマの人がいたので申込みしましたが、入場料もかるし、とうぶんいいかなぁと思います。ドライバーさんはイケメンで、入場チケットの購入をまとめて購入してくれて、助かりました。シュノーケルセット、ライフジャケットは綺麗でした。

There were some language issues, but the driver was kind. Hanauma Bay was very beautiful and amazing. I want to go again.

若干言葉の問題はありますがドライバーさんも親切でした。ハナウマベイとても綺麗で最高でした。また、行きたいです。

We gathered in front of the hotel early in the morning (5:45 AM) and watched the sunrise until our reservation time for Hanauma Bay (6:30 AM). This activity does not require a reservation for entry to Hanauma Bay, but you need to purchase tickets on-site, and you have to wait in line until it's time. I felt that time was a bit wasted, but I guess that's what you get for a cheap tour. One participant in the same tour kindly purchased tickets for everyone at the counter. Of course, we all lined up together.

If the tour included the ticket price, I suppose there wouldn't be any need to wait in line? I saw some people entering without waiting. Since everything was explained in English, there were some things I didn't understand. I heard there are lockers available, but I think it's better to take valuables to the beach. Someone needs to keep an eye on the bags. The snorkeling gear was cheap, and it was hard to breathe underwater. Some people mentioned it broke halfway through. The driver said if we called, he would help us... in English.

If you want to participate in the tour efficiently and with peace of mind, I think it's better to join a Hanauma Bay snorkeling tour guided by Japanese staff, even if it's a bit more expensive.

朝早くから(5時45分)ホテル前集合で、ハナウマ湾の予約時間(6時30分)まで朝日が昇るのを見てました。
このアクティビティーは、ハナウマ湾入場予約は不要なのだけど、現地でチケット購入しないといけないく、時間になるまでならんで待っていないとダメでした。
その時間がもったいなかったかな？安いツアーだからしょうがないです。
同じツアー参加者の一人が全員分のチケットをまとめて窓口で購入してくれました。もちろん全員同じかたまってならんでました。

チケット代金も入ったツアーならたぶんこの並ぶ　ということはないのかな？並ばないで入ってる人もいたので。
全部英語で説明させるのでわからないこともありました。ロッカーあるとのこと、でもビーチに貴重品はもっていった方がいいと思います。誰か一人荷物番が必要です。
シュノーケルも安物か海のなかで息がしづらいです。
途中で切れたという人もいました。電話してくれれば…と、ドライバーはいってました。英語です。
効率よく、安心してツアーに参加したいのであれば、少し高くても日本人スタッフが案内してくれるハナウマ湾シュノーケルに参加した方がいいと思います。

We were able to enjoy ourselves thoroughly until the meeting time of 12:30 thanks to the early morning pickup. Timely service is great!
For meals, only before going down to the beach, card payments are accepted. The BIG hot dog was $11, and we were able to share it between two people. The fish is larger and there are many more varieties compared to before the pandemic!

早朝ピックアップで早く到着の為、集合12：30までたっぷり楽しめました。時間通りの対応が、良い！
食事は、海岸に降りる手前のみ、カード飲み対応です。BIG ホットドック、11ドル、二人でシェアできました。コロナ前より、魚が大きくて、種類も沢山！

It was an early morning pickup, but the van was full. The entrance fee for Hanauma Bay is collected in cash inside the car, so it's a good idea to bring exact change. The driver will say various things in English, but as long as you can understand what time you need to be back at the car, you can just let the rest go. At Hanauma Bay, there is a place on the beach where you can rent fins and other equipment, and you can also rent lockers there. However, it's not a self-service system; you have to give your items to the staff, and when you want to retrieve them, you hand over the key.

早朝ピックアップでしたが、バンは満席でした。ハナウマ湾の入場料は車の中で現金で集められるため、お釣りがないように持って行くといいです。ドライバーが英語で色々言いますが、とにかく何時までに車に戻っていればいいか、聞き取れればあとは適当に流しておけば大丈夫です。ハナウマ湾には、ビーチにフィンなどレンタル品を借りる場所があり、そこでロッカーも借りれますが、自分で出し入れする式ではなく、物をスタッフに預けて取り出したい時に鍵を渡す式です。

Liked being first to beach, life vest was missing straps that go between legs front to back, this caused jacket to float up around neck, the overall experience is good and I recommend, but life vests need addressed

I had ordered and paid for a life jacket in advance, but I couldn't rent it on the day of my visit... I couldn't understand the English, and when I arrived and tried to communicate, the bus had already left (crying). The sea was very clear, and I could see the fish.

ライフジャケットを事前に注文、支払いしていましたが、当日レンタルできませんでした…。英語の理解が及ばず、到着して伝えようとしたらもうバスが行ってしまっていました(泣)海はとても透明で魚も見れました。

Hanauma Bay can be accessed by rental car or trolley, but there is a limit on the number of people allowed in the bay (reservations are required), so for those who prefer convenience, booking through Veltra is a good option. While there were fewer corals compared to the islands of Okinawa, since I went in the morning, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of fish and the number of larger fish. Although it was an early morning tour, there were initially few people (the seawater was a bit cold at first), and the morning-only tour was more than enough to enjoy.

I stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, and the meeting point was at the valet area (hotel entrance) of the neighboring Ilikai Hotel, which was accommodating in English, and there were no issues at all (there was hardly any conversation). By the way, the people I went with were from Germany, Brazil, and Asia. An English speaker among us handled the communication. Inside Hanauma Bay, we had free time. There were lockers available for valuables, but we didn't use them (we took turns going into the water as a family). You might want to bring drinks (and maybe some light snacks). Be aware that there are restrictions on the types of sunscreen you can use. They provided snorkeling gear, including fins, but given the current situation, we only brought our own snorkels. We thoroughly enjoyed our time until the return meeting time, and they drove us back to the morning meeting point. After a short break in the afternoon, we went shopping. I'm glad I visited Hanauma Bay for the first time!

ハナウマ湾はレンタカーやトローリーでも行けますが、湾に入るには人数制限（予約）があるので、色々と面倒な人はベルトラ予約が気楽です。沖縄の島々よりはサンゴは少なかったですが、AMにいったこともあり色々な魚の群衆や大きい魚が思ったより沢山いました。朝早いツアーでしたが、逆に人も最初は少なく（少々海水が最初冷たかった）、ＡＭのみのツアーで十分楽しめました。
ヒルトンビーチリゾートに宿泊していましたが、集合場所はとなりのホテルのイリカイホテルのバレットエリア（ホテルの入口）で、英語対応でしたが全く問題ありませんでした（ほぼ会話する事がない）。因みに一緒に行った人たちはドイツ、ブラジル、アジアの人。逆に英語のわかる人が代表で対応してくれました。ハナウマ湾の中は自由行動。貴重品用のロッカーありとのことでしたが使用しませんでした（家族の順番で海に入って対応）。飲み物は必要かも（軽食程度も）。日焼け止めは種類に規制があるのでご注意を。シュノーケルは足ひれ含めて貸してくれましたが、このご時世我々はシュノーケルのみ持参しました。帰りの集合時間まで十分に堪能して、朝の集合場所まで車で送ってくれました。午後は少し休憩後にショッピングなどに。初めてだったのでハナウマ湾行ってよかったです！

The snorkeling in the early morning had high water clarity and was very good. A seal also appeared and was very cute. By the time we were leaving, the sand was stirred up and it was a bit murky, so it was great to go in the morning.

Snorkeling equipment was included in the rental, but there was a mishap where the driver forgot to hand it to us. The entrance fee is paid collectively by the representative, so only cash is accepted. Please be aware of this.

朝一番でのシュノーケルで水の透明度が高くとても良かったです。アザラシも現れてとても可愛いかったです。
帰るころには砂が舞って少し濁っていたので朝一にしてとても良かったです。
シュノーケル等レンタルがついていましたが運転手さんが私達に渡し忘れるハプニングもありました。
入場料はまとめて代表者が払うので現金のみしかダメでした。ご注意下さい。

This was my first time participating in seven years, and this time I brought my children aged 2, 5, and 9. The parasol we rented couldn't be used due to strong winds. Well, that was the same as seven years ago.

I really wanted my 9-year-old son to succeed at snorkeling, but he got scared and gave up.

I think the shuttle service was around $45 seven years ago, but now the price is almost double.

Overall, I felt it wasn't suitable for families with small children, but since this is our family's situation, I will give it 4 stars.

７年ぶりの参加で、今回は２歳５歳９歳の子連れ。
せっかく借りたパラソルが強風で使えず。まあこれは７年前も同じ。

せめて９歳の長男はシュノーケリング成功させたかったけど、怖がって断念。

７年前はシャトルサービス４５ドルくらいだったと思うが、今は値段がほぼ倍。

全体に、小さな子連れには不向きだと思いましたが、
これは我が家の事情なので、★４つにします。

We didn't get to see any turtles but there were lots of fish. Overall we had a good time

I booked a tour with pickup from a nearby hotel to Hanauma Bay.

For the pickup from the hotel, I communicated to several drivers who seemed to be part of different tours that I was participating in the Hanauma Bay tour and shared my name to find my driver.

The entrance to Hanauma Bay opens at 7 AM, so we waited in line until then. For some reason, one participant from our tour acted as the representative to manage the entrance fee collectively. I wondered what would happen if this person ran away, but they managed to pay without issue.

Although it wasn't us, other tour participants were renting additional life jackets, but the driver said, "It's not on the rental list, so if you pay in cash now, I'll give you the life jackets." Since they couldn't communicate in English, I stepped in to negotiate on their behalf, and reluctantly, the driver handed over the life jackets.

Hanauma Bay was absolutely stunning. Since it was early in the morning, there were fewer people, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

There is a place to store valuables at Hanauma Bay, so I left cash and other items there, keeping only my phone and the key to the valuables box in a waterproof case around my neck. I left towels on the beach, but they were safe. I think it's better to clean up a bit earlier than the meeting time since there are few showers available.

近くのホテルからハナウマ湾までの送迎付きのツアーを予約しました。

近くのホテルからのピックアップは、何人かのツアーのドライバーらしき人に、ハナウマ湾のツアーに参加している旨と名前を伝えて、ドライバーを見つけました。

ハナウマ湾の入り口が朝7時に開くので、それまで列に並んで待機でした。入園料は何故か、そのツアーの参加者の1名が代表者となり、まとめて管理してました。この人が逃げたらどうするんだと思いましたが、無事払ってくれました。

私達ではありませんが、他のツアー参加者がライフジャケットを追加でレンタルしていたのですが、ドライバーは、"レンタルリストに無いから現金で今払えばライフジャケットを渡す"と言っていました。英語でコミュニケーションできない方々でしたので、代わりに私が間に入って交渉したら渋々ライフジャケットを渡してくれました。

ハナウマ湾は絶景で最高でした。
早朝だったこともあり人も少なく満喫しました。

ハナウマ湾には貴重品を預ける所があるので、現金等は預けて、携帯と貴重品ボックスの鍵だけ防水ケースに入れて首からぶら下げてました。
タオル等は浜に置きっぱなしでしたが、無事でした。
シャワーの数が少ないので、集合時間よりも少し早めに片付けた方が良いと思います。

It was my first time back at Hanauma in about seven years. It was beautiful and fun as always. The person who came to pick me up was also very kind. Unfortunately, the water was cold since it was early in the morning.

約7年ぶりのハナウマでした。やはり綺麗で楽しかったです。迎えに来ていただいたくれた方も親切でした。
朝早かったこともあり、水が冷たかったのが残念。

In the early morning at Hanauma Bay, I never expected it to be this cold. I did go into the water once, but it was so cold that I gave up quickly. I was really shocked that there were hardly any fish around. When I visited in the past, it was in the afternoon, so it was warm and there were plenty of fish to enjoy! Is there no tour available in the afternoon? I felt that it has become increasingly difficult to enter Hanauma Bay lately. The driver was kind and stopped by Leonard's Kitchen for us on the way back.

早朝にハナウマ湾へ
まさかこんなに寒いとは思ってもみませんでした。
一回は海に入ったものの寒すぎてすぐにギブ。
魚もほとんど見当たらなくめちゃショック。
過去に訪れた時はお昼からだったので暖かかったのか魚もたくさんいて楽しめたのに！
お昼からのツアーは無いのでしょうか？
最近はますますハナウマ湾に入るのが難しくなってきてることを実感しました。
ドライバーの方は親切で帰りにカハラモールにあるレナーズキッチンカーに寄ってもらいました。

It's an early morning tour, so snorkeling starts at 9 AM. Even in Hawaii, it's cold. It was that cold in June, so winter will be even colder. If possible, a thin wetsuit is recommended; if not, a long-sleeve rash guard is essential. Also, please make sure to wear marine shoes in areas with lots of fish. Additionally, no Japanese is spoken at all, and all pickup locations and times are in English, so those who can't speak English might want to reconsider.

朝が早いツアーなので
９時からシュノーケリングになり
ハワイといえども寒いです
６月であれだけ寒かったので
冬はもっと寒いでしょう
できれば薄手のウェットスーツ
なければ長袖ラッシュは必須
あと、魚がたくさんいる場所は
マリンシューズも絶対履いてください。
あと日本語は一切通じないし
ピックアップ場所や時間も全て英語なので
英語できない人はやめた方がいいかも

スノーケリングセットと送迎の金額としては妥当に思う。
マスク用曇り止めを持っていく方がより楽しめる。
時間は7時から12時半までとたっぷり楽しめる。
朝イチで入れるので、人がいない状態の写真が撮りやすい。

Worst part was getting up for a 5:50am shuttle pick-up. But it was well worth it. Our shuttle was full and there were more instructions at the top of the Bay, where gear rental was distributed and we were placed into manageable groups for the ticket office. But the organizers knew what they were doing, kept track of everyone, despite confusing looks on some of our faces (mine!). Plenty of room at the beach; clean basic facilities. Information booth was staffed by very knowledgeable and helpful guides. I noticed a long line at the locker & gear rental. In the past 10 years of 4 snorkeling trips (I'm obviously not avid), Hanauma Bay comes in 3rd as far as plentiful ocean life.* Maybe because of climate change, 10 years ago was the last of the best of snorkeling? Glad I went though. I was going to skip it because of the tourism. But the agencies in charge struck the best balance possible for an endangered reef and we humans who want to pay our respects to Kanaloa and Pele, for the beautiful gifts they bestowed.
*(1st: Boracay; 2nd: St Lucia; 4th: Kauai)

I found it difficult to make a reservation myself, so I joined a tour. The guide spoke English and worked hard to translate, which made me feel at ease. This was my fifth time at Hanauma Bay, and I was able to enjoy plenty of time playing with the tropical fish in the shallow waters among the coral reefs.

自分では、予約が難しいのでツアーに参加。ガイドさんが　英語でしたが、
一生懸命　翻訳してくれて　安心できました。ハナウマ湾は、５回目でしたが
浅瀬がサンゴ礁のため　熱帯魚とたっぷり遊べました。

We had no trouble even with our limited English skills. We rented an umbrella as an option, but it was difficult to set up due to the strong wind. When we rented on-site, the staff helped us set it up properly. The water at Hanauma Bay was definitely clearer and more beautiful than in Waikiki. Our child was very happy to see many different types of fish.

英語力のない私達でも不自由はありませんでした。オプションでパラソルを借りましたが、風が強く設置が大変でした。現地で借りるとスタッフがしっかりと設置してくれていました。ハナウマの海はワイキキより断然透明で美しかったです。子供はたくさんの種類の魚を見ることができ、とても喜んでいました。

I didn't expect to line up for tickets on the day instead of making a reservation online. However, since I was able to go as planned, I am mostly satisfied.

Considering the timing, it was just right to have an 11 AM pickup with my 6 and 9-year-old children. The person in charge provided various explanations and guidance throughout the car ride. Other Japanese guests were using translation apps, but since I didn't use one, I only understood parts of the conversation. I wish I had downloaded the app. My children had a very enjoyable time and it seems to have left a lasting impression on them. They said they want to go see the fish again.

ネット予約でチケットとっているのではなく当日チケットに並ぶとは思っていませんでした。が予定通りに行けたのでほぼ満足です。
時間的には6歳9歳の子供がいたので11時ピックアップでちょうどよかったと思います。担当の方も車中ずーと色々と説明、案内してくださっていました。他の日本人は翻訳アプリで聞いていましたが、翻訳アプリ使用しなかったので所々しかわからず。アプリを入れておけば良かったと思いました。子供たちにはとても楽しい時間になり印象に残ったようです。またお魚見に行きたいと行っています。

- We participated as a family of four: two adults and two children (ages 9 and 6).
- It's better to have at least a basic level of English conversation skills.
- We had the same driver for both trips. We gave a tip after getting off on the return trip.
- It was a bit chilly when we got to the beach, possibly due to the slightly bad weather. The children were shivering.
- Although we saw many fish in the shallow waters just a few meters from the beach, it wasn't very impressive.

・家族4人で参加。大人2、子供2(9歳,6歳)。
・日常会話程度の英語力はあった方がいい。
・往復同じドライバーさんだった。チップは復路の降車後に渡した。
・少し天気が悪かったせいか、浜に上がると少し寒かった。子供は震えていた。
・浜から数メートルの浅瀬にしては多くの魚が見れたが、感動はなかった。

Hanauma Bay was a really great and fun experience. It's an early activity but the water isn't too bad, as it's quite easy to warmup in the ocean. The ride to Hanauma Bay from our pick-up location was prompt and comfortable and that genuinely enhanced the experience. The driver, Orlando, was very kind and informative.

Overall, beautiful and the service made our life so much easier. We would recommend these guys again.

With the bay...
Fish weren't as plentiful as the pictures...by a long shot.

Perhaps planning on being there at high tide would help with making the space easier to snorkel.

Interesting process getting into the bay.

Great friendly service from the crew we booked with helping us manage these processes at the bay.

Food and drink options there are slim and no where to sit and eat them as you wait for transport back.

The tour guide on the drive out was great, very friendly. Gear worked well and was clean. We got chairs and an umbrella which was really nice since we were there a while. I didn’t love the actual bay, however. The snorkeling was only okay and we didn’t see nearly as many types of fish as I would have expected for a place boosting great snorkeling. I have been to better. The reef was also super shallow so hard to navigate around the sections safely without touching the coral. It also was very sandy so the view wasn’t clear. Overall I would not pick this activity again just since the snorkeling wasn’t great. However, the driver and equipment was great so I didn’t want to knock their rating down just because the experience wasn’t amazing.

Since it was a tour just for transportation, I participated in a tour without Japanese language support. There were no issues as a result. I was able to return around noon, so I had a meaningful day!

送迎だけのツアーなので日本語なしのツアーに参加しました。結果問題なしです。
昼ぐらいには帰ってこれますので一日有意義に過ごせました！

I was a bit disappointed because there were hardly any fish. The scenery is beautiful and the water is clear. However, if you're expecting to see a lot of fish at Hanauma Bay, it doesn't make sense to go since there are almost none. There may have been many in the past, but now...

Waiting for a long time to enter and paying a high admission fee just to catch a glimpse of a few fish here and there isn't worth it. The rental equipment is clean, even if it's reused, and the driver was nice. However, being crammed into a car with other guests isn't comfortable, and if there are no fish to see, it raises the question of the tour's value. I think the decrease in tours to Hanauma Bay is due to its diminishing appeal. Still, I believe it's great that such tours exist for those who really want to go snorkeling at Hanauma Bay.

少しがっかりなのは、ずばり魚がほとんどいないから。
風光明媚でお水も綺麗。
でもハナウマ湾にはたくさんのお魚を期待していくのであれば、お魚がほぼいないので、行く意味がずれます。
昔はたくさんいたのでしょうが、今は…。
ちらほらたまに見かける程度のお魚をちらっと見るために、長時間入場を待たされ、高い入場料は払い、というのは見合いません。
レンタル品は使いまわしとはいえ清潔感もあり、ドライバーさんも良い方。
でもゲストがギュウギュウに詰められた車は居心地は良くなく、お目当てのお魚がいないのであれば参加意義は？となってしまいそうです。
ハナウマ湾のツアーが減っているのは、魅力が減ってきてるからだと思いました。
それでもどうしてもハナウマ湾でシュノーケリングをしたい方のために、こういったツアーがあるのはありがたいのだと思います。

I chose this tour as a relatively inexpensive way to get to Hanauma, which has become difficult to access individually due to the lack of bus services and difficulty in making reservations.

Although the guide did not speak any Japanese, as long as you confirm the departure location and time from Hanauma, you'll be fine. Before arriving at Hanauma, we made a stop at a scenic viewpoint where we collected the entrance fee of $25 per person.

After that, we lined up until the designated entrance time, received snorkeling gear, and the guide informed us of the meeting location and time before leaving. A representative from the participants paid the entrance fees for everyone, and after a brief explanation of Hanauma and an 8-minute video, we were free to explore until we disbanded.

We enjoyed snorkeling and saw a lot of fish in the rocky areas. If you understand even a little English, this tour is very fulfilling to participate in.

なかなか予約も取れず、バスもない、個人では行き難くなったハナウマに比較的安く行く方法として、このツアーを選びました。
全く日本語は通じないガイドさんの送迎ツアーですが、ハナウマからの出発場所と時間さえしっかり確認しておけば、大丈夫です。
ハナウマ到着前に見晴らしの良い場所で途中下車した際に、ハナウマ入場料$25/人を集めました。
その後指定されたハナウマ入場時間迄並び、シュノーケル用具を渡され、そこでガイドは集合場所と時間を伝えて一旦帰りました。参加者代表の人が全員分の入場料を支払い入場、ハナウマ利用説明と8分間のビデオ視聴のあと各自解散まで自由に行動しました。
私達はシュノーケリングを楽しみました。岩のある場所では本当に沢山の魚が見られました。
少しでも英語が解るなら、充実に参加可能なツアーでした。

Although it was only in English, the staff greeted us with smiles and used easy-to-understand words, so there was no problem.

The snorkeling equipment was also clean, and we had a great time. Thank you! ♪

英語のみでしたが、スタッフさんはわかりやすい単語で笑顔で接してくださいましたので、問題ありませんでした。

シュノーケリングの道具なども綺麗で、とても楽しめました。
ありがとうございました♪

I was disappointed by the coral and fish more than I expected. Was it due to the environment? Perhaps because it was mid-March, the water was cold, and I could only manage to stay in for about 20 minutes.

思うほど珊瑚も魚も残念感がありました。
環境のせいでしょうか
3月の中旬ということもあるのか水も冷たくて20分ぐらい入っているのが精一杯でした。