What to bring to Hanauma Bay for snorkeling!

ALOHA!

The most important essentials to bring to Hanauma Bay are a swimsuit, beach towel, plenty of water, and reef-safe sunscreen to protect both you and the coral reef… and of course snorkeling gear! You’ll also want to bring an underwater camera or a waterproof phone case so you can take video of colorful Hawaiian fish.

I most recently went to Hanauma Bay in July 2025, and here’s more of what you need to know about packing for snorkeling at Hanauma Bay!

 

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1. Snorkeling gear

The most obvious thing to bring to Hanauma Bay is snorkeling gear!

Basic snorkeling gear includes the mask and snorkel (with the snorkel being the thing that allows you to breathe underwater) and snorkeling fins.

You can also by it as a snorkeling gear set that includes the mask, snorkel, and basic fins.

Some people also like to wear a snorkel vest.

 

Should you bring fins?

Hanauma Bay is big and you want to go all over so you can see what you can find! Fins will allow you to go further faster, and you’ll use less energy than just kicking all the time. Because Hanauma Bay is big, this is why I wore fins, even though I usually just wear water shoes when I’m snorkeling in Waikiki for example.

If you decide not to bring fins, be sure you bring water shoes!

Because you absolutely SHOULD wear something on your feet. You’ll hear it a lot when you’re actually at Hanauma Bay that you should never stand on the reef. And yes, don’t do that. But that doesn’t mean that you won’t accidentally hit it or something.

The first time I went to Hanauma Bay as an adult, I went snorkeling barefoot. I accidentally kicked something as I was swimming. I didn’t hurt so I didn’t think much of it. After I got out of the water, I realized I was bleeding. (I also got scared a bit when I read that coral reef cuts can cause infections!) If I had on good water shoes, this wouldn’t have happened. Ever since then, I don’t go snorkeling without water shoes.

 

If you want to save space on luggage, you can bring only the mask and snorkel, and then rent the fins at Hanauma Bay.

 

2. Rash guard + beach shorts

Another obvious thing you’ll need for Hanauma Bay is swimming clothes. A swimsuit is the obvious piece of swim clothing, but another thing you’ll want to consider is wearing a rash guard.

A rash guard is basically a swimming shirt. It can be short sleeve or long sleeve. The idea here is to protect your skin from the sun, and you’ll also need to apply less sunscreen since you’ll be wearing a layer to protect you from the UV rays.

 

For women: Take a look at this rash guard or this 2-piece rash guard and shorts.

For men: Take a look at this swimming shirt and swim trunks.

 

3. Waterproof phone case or waterproof camera

I don’t go snorkeling without my cheapo waterproof phone case so I can take video of the little fishies swimming around, so I brought this to Hanauma Bay! I have it attached to a wrist strap that floats.

The cheapo waterproof phone case does have a bit of a learning curve. For starters, if you want to take video, you’ll need to start it before the phone goes underwater since touchscreen doesn’t work. If you want to take pictures (not video) underwater, you’ll click a side button to do so. This makes video easier than pictures. And even after using my waterproof phone case so many times, I still find that I unknowingly flip the camera into selfie mode. So I think I’m taking a video of little fishies, and I’m taking a video of myself swimming! 😂

You might want to consider getting an underwater camera for snorkeling, and I would get a camera wrist float to go with it.

If you want to take other valuables in the water with you, you want to take a look at the waterproof waist pouch.

 

👆 I saw this fishie at Hanauma Bay. Because of my waterproof phone case, I was able to take a video (this is a screenshot) of one of my favorite fishies to see! This is humuhumunukunukuapua‘a! I love saying it when I see it! You can say it too! Humu-humu-nuku-nuku-a-pu-a-a! Practice here! 😁 Or… you can just say reef triggerfish. Or… Hawaii state fish. 🤪

 

4. Pocket blanket (beach mat)

I used to have a pocket blanket but I lost it and haven’t gotten around to replacing it. I would have really liked to have had it for Hanauma Bay, but instead I bought a float in Waikiki (ABC Store) right before I went to Hanauma Bay. I just didn’t get it blown up (they’ll do that for you) so that the float would act as a beach mat. I was really glad I had it though!

So don’t forget some sort of beach mat, possibly like this sandproof pocket blanket!

Speaking of things you’ll have at the beach…

Get a lightweight travel-friendly turkish towel before you go. Or buy your souvenir beach towel when you get to Waikiki at ABC Store!

Get a sandproof beach bag before you go. Or buy your souvenir beach bag when in Waikiki.

 

👆 My version of a beach mat was a not-blown-up float. 🤪 This was not the best spot to set up at Hanauma Bay. There were lots of ants on the grass. I also saw a mongoose nearby.

 

👆 Hanauma Bay’s list of how to prepare for the beach includes reef-safe sunscreen, rash guard, beach shorts, sunglasses, hat, beach bag, beach towel, and an underwater camera!

 

5. Personal swim buoy float

Being a bright color, it allows you to be spotted well from further away, and it also serves as a resting spot! You’ll be swimming around for awhile around Hanauma Bay, and instead of treading water as your rest when you’re in deeper water, you can rest on your float!

My personal swim buoy is a snorkeling-must for me! So of course I brought it with me to Hanauma Bay. I have one that you can put some stuff in so it also acts as a dry bag in the ocean.

Look at this personal swim float (without dry bag) and this swim float with a dry bag.

 

👆 I used a personal swim buoy that I used at Hanauma Bay!

 

6. Reef-safe sunscreen

A few years ago, Hawaii got rid of the sale of sunscreen that contain certain ingredients. These ingredients were considered the most unfriendly to coral reef. While there is no ban on sunscreen that you can bring into Hawaii, in the spirit of protecting the reef at Hanauma Bay, it would be nice if you look at the ingredients of the sunscreen you’ll be taking to Hawaii. (Or buy it in Hawaii. Because then it will be reef-safe sunscreen!)

The 2 ingredients that Hawaii says are the most unfriendly are oxybenzone and octinoxate. Wear sunscreen without these ingredients! I feel pretty confident in saying that this reef-friendly sunscreen is cheaper than anything you’ll find in Waikiki.

 

👆 The best sunscreen for Hanauma Bay is reef-safe sunscreen without oxybenzone or octinoxate! Check your sunscreen to see that these ingredients are not there. 🤙

 

7. Water and snacks!

Hawaii is hot! Bring lots of water. Maybe coconut water to replenish electrolytes. Bring food. There are no bag checks.

There is a cafe at Hanauma Bay, but it’s not at the beach. You need to go back UP to go to it. It’s fine if you do it after you’re done with the beach, but it’s not as convenient if you want to get food in the middle of while you’re still there.

In order to get to the beach you take a tram down or walk down. I recommend you walk down and take the tram up! You’ll want to stop to take pictures!

 

Happy packing for Hanauma Bay!

 

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