ALOHA!
The Hanauma Bay tram is something you take once you arrive at the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve.
You can take it after you have gotten your Hanauma Bay ticket.
It’s best to make reservations for Hanauma Bay tickets!
There are no separate tickets for the tram.
You will just get in line and get on the tram when it’s your turn.
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👆 There is a tram at Hanauma Bay that you can take to get you down to the beach.
👆 The Hanauma Bay tram is an open-air tram.
👆 Instead of taking the tram down to Hanauma Bay, you can walk down… and back up!
👆 Hanauma Bay tram stop at the top.
After you have stopped by the ticket booth, you will be directed to the theater to watch a short video about the importance of conserving Hanauma Bay.
This includes a request to take care not to step on coral reef when out snorkeling, as doing so can damage it.
Then, after that video is over, you will further be directed to get on the tram.
Or, you can skip the tram and start walking down to Hanauma Bay on your own immediately!
👆 The Hanauma Bay tram can take you down to sea level.
It’s not necessary to take the Hanauma Bay tram, but if you want to avoid walking, then it’s an option!
The Hanauma Bay entry is at a higher point, and to get to the Hanauma Bay snorkeling spot (aka the beach), you need to go down.
So there is a tram to minimize the level of effort to get to the Hanauma Bay beach from the entry.
It’s a 2 minute tram ride down to Hanauma Bay.
Or you can walk down the same path to Hanauma Bay.
Going back UP will take most people a bit longer, because it is uphill!
So if you want to walk the path at least once, then down is probably preferable for most people!
The Hanauma Bay tram used to cost money.
That was back in the day when the entry fee of Hanauma Bay was a lot cheaper than it is today.
Now that the Hanauma Bay entry fee has increased, the tram is free and included in your ticket price.
So then, taking the tram is obvious, right?!
Well, I recommend walking at least one way!
If you choose to walk only one way, you will probably want to walk down, since it’s generally easier to walk downhill than it is uphill.
But you will want to keep in mind that you will be lugging all your beach gear and snorkeling gear with you as you make the walk down (or up).
So basically the reason to walk instead of taking the tram down to Hanauma Bay is so you can stop to take pictures!
Then best view of Hanauma Bay is along the tram path.
The tram does not make stops along the way.
There is another Hanauma Bay overlook at the top, which is easier to get to, and it does provide a good view, but a lot of the iconic images of Hanauma Bay come from the path down to the beach.
But if see the views or taking a picture is not reason enough to walk, then you might as well just take the tram!
👆 If you walk, you can read the informational sign about whales in Hawaii on your way down to Hanauma Bay.
Whether you take the tram or walk, you won’t be alone.
Of course lots of people take the tram down to Hanauma Bay.
But there are also many people who walk down to Hanauma Bay, and you’re also likely to see many people walking back up.
There is a cafe at Hanauma Bay, but it is not at the beach. It is at the top.
This means that you’ll either need to stand in line and take the tram back up, or walk back up.
Once you are at the top, you will want to get a stamp on your hand so you can re-enter and go back down.
More below about taking the Hanauma Bay tram!
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Taking the tram at Hanauma Bay
So when you first arrive, you’ll go to the ticket booth to either buy your ticket (if you’re one of the first ones there!) or to show them the Hanauma Bay reservation that you have already made.
Then you’ll walk past the gift shop and to the little outdoor museum that gives you information about marine life in Hawaii.
Once there, you are basically just waiting to go to the theater to watch the required video about saving the coral reef.
There will be volunteers around to let you know when the theater is open.
Once it’s open and you go into the theater area, you will watch the video.
You will be standing while watching the video.
Then once that video is over, it’s time to take the tram down to Hanauma Bay!
You will continue walking, and the tram stop will be right there!
👆 You can bring as much beach gear as you can carry or roll!
👆 The tram stop at the top of Hanauma Bay.
👆 Any luggage you can’t keep with you, you can put in the back of the pick-up truck.
👆 The tram ride to the Hanauma Bay beach starts!
👆 The walking path down to the Hanauma Bay beach is next to the tram path.
👆 For the best views of Hanauma Bay during the tram ride, sit on the LEFT side of the tram when going down!
👆 In 2 minutes on the tram, you will be at the beach!
👆 Once you get off the tram, you can start looking for your spot on the beach! For the Hanauma Bay snorkel gear rental and bathrooms, you will go off to the right from the tram stop when facing the ocean. To buy food at Hanauma Bay, you will need to go back up to the top!
👆 The beach closes 1 hour before the Hanauma Bay closing time.
👆 There might be a line to take the tram back up to the top.
And that’s a bit about the tram at Hanauma Bay!
More for Hanauma Bay:
- How to buy Hanauma Bay tickets
- Hanauma Bay food
- Bus to Hanauma Bay?!
- Hanauma Bay snorkeling gear rental
More of Oahu snorkeling + more:
- What to bring snorkeling Hawaii + Hanauma Bay
- Snorkeling spots in Waikiki
- Where to see turtles in Waikiki
- North Shore Oahu beaches
- Things to do in East Oahu (beaches + trails)
HAPPY RIDING THE HANAUMA BAY TRAM!
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