Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A Word of Warning
Wherever you are on Oahu, remember that
you're in an urban area. Never leave valuables in
your car. Thefts do occur at Oahu's beaches,
and locked cars are not a deterrent.
In 2004, a $13 million Marine Education Center opened with exhibits and a 7-minute video
orienting visitors on this marine life sanctuary. The 10,000-square-foot center includes a train-
ing room, gift shop, public restrooms, snack bar, and staging area for the motorized tram,
which will take you down the steep road to the beach. (Tram fees are 75¢ down to the beach,
$1 up from the beach to the parking lot, or $2.50 all-day rides up and down.) Facilities in-
clude parking, restrooms, a pavilion, a grass volleyball court, lifeguards, barbecue grills, pic-
nic tables, and food concessions. Alcohol is prohibited in the park; no smoking past the vis-
itor center. Expect to pay $1 per vehicle to park and a $7.50-per-person entrance fee (active
duty military personnel and their dependents, and children 12 and under are free). If you're
driving, take Kalanianaole Highway to Koko Head Regional Park. Avoid the crowds by going
early, about 8am, on a weekday morning; once the parking lot's full, you're out of luck. Or
take TheBus to escape the parking problem: The Hanauma Bay Shuttle runs from Waikiki to
Hanauma Bay every half-hour from 8:45am to 1pm; you can catch it at the Ala Moana Hotel,
the Ilikai Hotel, or any city bus stop. It returns every hour from noon to 4:30pm. Hanauma
Bay is closed on Tuesdays so the fish can have a day off. Park is open from 6am to 7pm Wed-
nesday through Monday.
SANDY BEACH
★
Sandy Beach is one of the best bodysurfing beaches on Oahu; it's also one of the most danger-
ous. It's better to just stand and watch the daredevils literally risk their necks at this 1,200-foot-
long gold-sand beach that's pounded by wild waves and haunted by a dangerous shore break
and strong backwash. Weak swimmers and children should definitely stay out of the water
here; Sandy Beach's heroic lifeguards make more rescues in a year than those at any oth-
er beach on Oahu. Visitors, easily fooled by experienced bodysurfers who make wave-riding
look easy, often fall victim to the bone-crunching waves. Lifeguards post flags to alert beach-
goers to the day's surf: Green means safe, yellow caution, and red indicates very dangerous
water conditions; always check the flags before you dive in.
Facilities include restrooms and parking. Go weekdays to avoid the crowds, weekends to
catch the bodysurfers in action. From Waikiki, drive east on the H-1, which becomes Kalani-
anaole Highway; proceed past Hawaii Kai, up the hill to Hanauma Bay, past the Halona Blow
Hole, and along the coast. The next big, gold, sandy beach you see ahead on the right is Sandy
Beach. TheBus no. 22 will also get you here.
