The weather is one of the most important factors in determining when you should visit the bay. Although the weather in Hawaii is around 78 degrees on average year-round, there are some months that you should avoid making a trip out to Hanauma Bay.

Ocean swells are an important thing to look at as well when you consider a snorkeling excursion. Although Hanauma Bay is in a cove, large waves on the East or South side of Oahu may affect the water conditions and visibility.

The number of visitors to Hanauma Bay is fixed at 1400 guests per day. During busy times of the year, there’s thousands of people trying to get one of the 1400 reservation tickets. You can only obtain reservation tickets 48 hours in advance, and Its not uncommon for the tickets to sell out in 5 minutes during busy times of the year.

The best time of the year to visit Hanauma Bay is September through mid November. We determined this due to the following:

Weather Conditions: The weather during this time of the year is still very nice. You may get the occasional rain shower from time to time, but showers usually pass quickly and do not last for a prolonged period of time.  Light rain showers can also provide a welcomed respite from the heat commonly found at the bay.

 Seasonal Waves: By early fall, the annual south swell begins to die down on Oahu. While this is a bad thing for surfers, this is a great thing for snorkelers. Because the water becomes calmer during this time of year, the water visibility improves at Hanauma Bay, and allows for a better overall experience.

Visitor Volume: Due to it’s family-friendly nature, Hanauma Bay is a big attraction for visiting families. That being said, families usually visit during peak travel times during the summer and spring breaks. With school-aged children back in school by the first or second week of September and parents back at work after their summer vacations, there will be less people to compete with when trying to obtain a reservation at Hanauma Bay.

The next best time of the year to visit Hanauma Bay is Mid April to Ealy May:

Weather Conditions: The weather during this time of the year is very nice and consistently warm. You get the occasional rain shower or windy day from time to time, but there’s typically not a prolonged period of rain or wind during this time of year.

 Seasonal Waves: While there can be some early swells that arrive at this time of the year, the waves are typically not big enough to create a stir quite yet. The bigger swells don’t arrive until the end of May or even well into June or July.

Visitor Volume: Most schools are still in session from mid April to early May. Further, spring break usually ends by the second week of April. Due to this timing of schools typically in session, there will be less visitors vying for reservation tickets.