Bus or tour to Hanama Bay?

Just wondering if it would be better to book a tour to Hanama Bay as it doesn%26#39;t seem to be that expensive ($16 which includes the snorkelling equipment and transportation) or to take a bus which is cheaper....if it%26#39;s not too hard to bus it, we would rather do that and save some money but not if it takes too long, if it%26#39;s too crowded, waiting time too long etc by bus....any suggestions?

Bus or tour to Hanama Bay?

The bus will get you there in around 40-45 minutes from Waikiki and will only cost you $2.00 each way. Entrance fee (aka ';donation';)for the park is $5.00 per person. Renting the snorkel equipment at the park will cost you around $8, so you are better off bringing your own or picking them up before you go. If you do the math including snorkel equip, its not saving you much more to take the bus. Hope that helps!

Bus or tour to Hanama Bay?

First time I went, I did a tour from the hotel.

The second time, we took the bus.

Like the first poster said, the price works out almost the same unless you have your own equipment already.

Two things to keep in mind though:

1) The bus takes a bit longer. Its about 45 minutes each way. It can also get very crowded, depending on the time. You may have to stand up the whole way there. On the upside, the bus takes some different, more local roads, and its gives you a nice sense of the communities.

2) Taking a tour means you are on their schedule. You need to pick a return time and stick to it. If you take the bus, it runs about every half hour, so you can spend as long as you want, and return when you are ready.

Thanks for both of your inputs... appreciate it!! =)

Rob, with the tours, what is the latest they pick up again and what are usually the crowded times for the buses? And just curious since you have done both, which did you prefer...bus or tour?

I%26#39;d be curious to hear the answer also..

I was planning on picking up some snorkeling sets before we leave this weekend....

Well, in terms of the tours that our hotel offered (we were at a Sheraton), there was 3 pick up times, I believe at 8am, 10am, and noon. Then the return times were about 11am, 2pm, and 4pm.

Keep in mind that different tour companies may have different times.

When we booked, we took the 10am departure. We didn%26#39;t have to return on the 2pm bus. We could return on the 4pm bus if we wanted. However we needed to specify which time when we booked the tour 2 days ahead. We couldn%26#39;t just catch the shuttle back at 4pm the day of. So it requires a little more planning.

In terms of bus vs tour, as I have done both, if and when I go back, I%26#39;ll take the local bus. I have snorkle equipment, so I don%26#39;t need to rent any, and the bus is cheaper and its a nice drive.

The bus runs about every 20 minutes.

A trick for getting a seat on the bus: try and catch the bus at the west end of Waikiki, closer to Honolulu. The bus then runs east towards Diamond Head, so if you board the bus there, it could be full already. So depending on where you are staying, you may want to walk down Kuhio a bit to better your chances of getting a seat.

I am not positive, but I believe Hanauma Bay is closed on tuesdays. So double check that and keep it in mind when you decide which day to go.

krpton .... rob said it all.

TheBUS #22 that begins the Hanauma Bay run starts at King Kalakaua Park on Kuhio Avenue at the The Gateway Hotel, across the street from Ohana Maile Sky Court Hotel. The sooner you can get on the bus on it%26#39;s route, the better you are. The bus will fill to capacity as it travels down Kuhio Avenue to Kapiolani Park. Depending on the time of the year and week, things do get busy and of course slower at other times. ABC stores sells snorkeling gear under $10.00. This might be a way to go. The tours are okay, but, as Rob mentioned, you are under the guidance of the tour company.

I would go with the city transportation to save money and most important to take a scenic bus ride and view the different communities along the way.

Remember, TheBUS #22 is the only city bus that goes into Hanauma Bay. Good luck,

';Live Aloha';

I just returned last night, we took the public bus, it was not crowded at all for us and you can%26#39;t beat the price, however the return buses leave on the hour (relatively speaking, Hawaiin time...), we didn%26#39;t pay attention to that and ended up arriving at the bus stop about 1210 and had to wait nearly 50 minutes for the next bus. Also, the bus doesn%26#39;t start that route from Waikiki area untill 0800, at least during the week when we went.

Bus:

1st bus to Hanauma Bay leaves Waikiki about 8:30. The first ones may be full depending which end of Waikiki you are on. If you are on the Diamond Head end, sometimes the bus will go right past because it is full.

Cost $4 (2 each way) + $5 entrance + about $5 to rent equipment. So about $14 total

Tours:

Look for coupons in the free brochure. You can get tours that run earlier than the bus. Cost as low as $12 including equipment + $5 entry fee. So about $17 total.

Of the 2 choices, take the cheap tours. For the $3 you would save by taking the bus, it is not worth the extra time it takes. But if you have a 4 day or monthly bus pass anyway, then take the bus.

For bus routes to popular attractions including Hanauma Bay:

http://www.thebus.org/pop/pop.asp