Hanauma Bay

I know a lot about visiting Hanauma Bay because I worked there for almost two years.  As of December 2013, the park is open every day except for Tuesdays.  Their hours are from 6am to 6pm in the winter months and 6am to 7pm in the summer months.  A little secret is that if you come in before 7am, you don't have to pay for parking or admission.  Parking is $1 and they take cash only so be sure you have some handy before you get there.  On busy days, the parking lot fills up early and you will have to wait until someone leaves before they'll let you in.  Admission is $7.50 and kids 12 and under are free.  There are lots of extra costs once you get inside the bay.  They have snorkel gear to rent, but if you are planning on snorkeling more than once during your trip, definitely bring your own or rent from a company that does weekly rentals.  There is a tram that takes you up and down the hill for a fee.  When I worked there, it was $2.00 for an all day pass.  There are also food concessions that are rather overpriced, and a gift shop.  People always ask me where the best place is to snorkel.  It really is about the same everywhere inside the reef.  If the water is calm, and you are a good swimmer, I recommend going out the channels and exploring outside the reef.  (Talk to a lifeguard before you go out.)  Please do not go in deeper than your knees if you can't swim.  People drown here all the time in water that they can stand up in.  For reals.  Ambulances are a weekly occurrence during the busy summer month.  Of course, this beach isn't a dangerous one, in fact it's one of the safest.  It just has a higher number of tourists who don't know what they're doing.  If you want to know more, ask me about it.  Let me know if you want to know more about what it's like to work at a touristy beach, I have lots of stories. :)

Octopus

Outside the reef

Outside the reef

There are tons of wild chickens here, and often chicks!

Monk seals sometimes hang out on this beach

Hanauma Bay was closed down because of jellyfish once when we worked there

This chicken liked to catch rides on our tram

I did not take this picture, one of the regular visitors did

Sea turtle rescue in progress

Electric Beach

Electric Beach has fantastic snorkeling.  You have to swim out a ways to get to the place where the hot water from the electrical plant nearby lets out.  The fish love the warmer water and flock there, which makes snorkeling really fun.  Electric Beach is just past Ko Olina when you see the electrical power plant on your right and the beach on your left.

 Check out Colette's video of our snorkel at Electric Beach! http://vimeo.com/92032989

Ko Olina Lagoons

The Ko Olina Lagoons are beautiful and good for snorkeling year round, thanks to the lagoons being protected from the open ocean.  There are four man-made lagoons that you can choose from.  My favorite is lagoon #2, Honu Lagoon.  The least busy one is probably #4 though, because it is past the hotels.  The lagoons are picture-perfect, with manicured lawns and beautiful palm trees surrounding the beach.  I see turtles here very often.  The water is the perfect depth, not shallow enough that you'll hit your knees and you can actually dive, but not too deep that you can't reach and see the bottom easily.  The Ko Olina Marriott Beach Club is my favorite hotel on the island, so if you get a chance to stay there, you definitely should!

Paradise Cove

Paradise Cove is the natural cove near the Ko Olina Lagoons.  If you drive towards the lagoons and park in the parking lot that says Public Beach Access before you hit the hotels you will be in the right place.  There are a ridiculous number of turtles here.  We found one that we named Stumpy because he was missing his front left flipper.  Poor guy.  This is a fun place to go if you want to somewhat avoid the hotel crowds at the Lagoons.

Shark's Cove and the Pupukea Tide Pools

Shark's Cove is an excellent place to snorkel in the summer.  During the winter months, the waves are enormous and very dangerous, and the beach is usually roped off.  Be sure to get here early, as parking is limited.  You will have to walk down a very short hill to get to the small beach.  This is not really a beach for hanging out.  The water here is deep enough to have fantastic snorkeling and avoid scratching yourself on rocks, yet shallow enough so that you feel safe.   We saw squid here once, which was one of the coolest experiences ever.  They change color like crazy.  On the left side of the snorkeling area are the Pupukea Tide Pools, which is fun to wade in if you don't have your swimsuit with you.  If you are on Oahu during the summer months, definitely give Shark's Cove a try!

Squid!!!

Me and my squid friends

These things are creepy

Zebra Moray Eel

Blake's underwater tricks ^