Hanauma Bay
Each year, nearly 8 million tourists from around the world visit the incredible Hawaiian Islands. While most of them prefer luxury and exotic comfort of Waikiki, in the southern part of Oahu, Hanauma Bay is for those who want to fully enjoy scuba diving. Hanauma Bay is a veritable paradise, which was named the best beach in America for 2004. Here is one of the best places in the world for divers and lovers of water sports.
Hanauma Bay is the most famous dive site in Oahu. In the underwater kingdom of this bay you can swim along with over 450 species of tropical fish that live here. Some of them are endemic to the region of Hawaii. Besides the amazing coral reef, the water is teeming with passages of hundreds of colourful fish. The busiest tourist seasons are in summer and winter, when visitors can fill their desire for a peaceful holiday.
In fact, Hanauma Bay Beach Park and is a nature reserve, which aims to protect and safeguard from undue influence the fragile and beautiful ecosystem of the bay. Absolutely every guest of Hanauma Bay is required to view a short educational film before going down to the magnificent beaches along the steep road. For those who do not like going there on foot, there is a special bus that transports people up and down against the modest price of 50 cents one way.
Hanauma Bay is about 15 km east of Waikiki, a detour from the main coastal road (Kalaniana'ole Highway, Route 72). For those who arrive by private car, it is important to know that the parking bay tends to be filled very early and you can not visit Hanauma if you have nowhere to leave your car.
It is important to know that public visits are not possible on weekends and during holidays in Hawaii. Hanauma Bay is closed to visitors every Tuesday to protect the environment. This prohibition did not apply to U.S. President Barack Obama, who came here on Tuesday during his Christmas vacation.
Hanauma Bay is a real tropical paradise consisting of a white beach with lush greenery and complemented by the wealth of a marine kingdom and coral reefs. On the 18th century, Hanauma Bay was a favourite fishing spot of Hawaiian kings, and today is protected as a reserve because of the unique tropical fish, among others- the Humuhumunukunukuapua'a fish, considered a symbol of Hawaii.
The reserve is under strict environmental project management. Once about 3 million tourists a year had visited Hanauma, but today their number is drastically reduced. It is visited annually by about 1 million people. Already in 1967 there was founded an organization that deals with the protection of the rare marine life.
The bay has very rarely encountered turtles, including Green sea turtles. Several hiking trails along the coast and along the ridge of the bay offer breath-taking views of the entire Hanauma. In the recently opened Marine Education Center, you can learn more about protecting Hanauma Bay.
