The entrance fee for a popular O‘ahu snorkeling spot will more than double for tourists starting this week.
Beginning Thursday, nonresident visitors will have to pay $25, up from $12, to enter the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve near Hawai‘i Kai, under a bill passed by the Honolulu City Council.
Entry will remain free for Hawai‘i residents with valid identification, children 12 or younger regardless of residency, and active-duty military members.
Parking rates will remain at $1 per vehicle for residents and $3 per vehicle for nonresidents.
Demand for entry remains high since Hanauma Bay reopened to the public in December after a nine-month break because of the coronavirus pandemic, Honolulu parks officials said.
“We saw how dramatically Hanauma Bay healed during the pandemic when access to the public was closed. We want to preserve the healing by minimizing human impacts, while at the same time ensuring that there are sufficient resources to maintain the bay and its facilities,” said City Council Chairman Tommy Waters, who represents the district that includes the bay.
All proceeds from entrance fees go toward maintenance, education and research, city officials said.
Last year, former Mayor Kirk Caldwell approved increasing the entrance fee for visitors from $7.50 to $12. This is the second time in less than a year the city has increased the nonresident fee at the nature preserve.
An online reservation system for the park started in April. Click here for more information.
