Hanauma Bay

On Saturday we went to Hanauma Bay to snorkel.  Hanauma Bay is a bay on the south eastern shores of Oahu within a volcanic cone that was created over 32,000 years ago during a volcanic eruption.  The work hana in Hawaiian means bay.  The word Uma had two different meanings.  One means curve and the other means a ancient hand wrestling game.  I'm going with curve.  Hanauma is both a Nature Preserve and Marine Life Conservation District.  Originally opened as the Hanauma Bay Beach is now called Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve.  Now that it is a preserve it is against the law to mistreat marine life or touch, walk or make any other contact with the coral heads on the reef.  There are over 400 species of fish that inhabit the bay.  There is an abundance of green sea turtles, known as Honu.  There is also an abundance of parrotfish.  One of the fish in the bay has a really interesting name; it is Humuhumunukunkuapua'a or better known as the humu humu fish or a reef trigger fish.  There are over 3000 visitors a day at the preserve or over a million visitors a year.
It is  very popular for snorkeling due to the protection of the bay and the reef that is close to shore.  With in seconds you can start snorkeling.  It was great to snorkel again and the fish we saw were beautiful.  We saw so many different species along with some coral formations and even saw a sea slug.  The only disappointment I had was watching some idiots standing or sitting on the reef.  Hanauma Bay is a great place to visit so if you are visiting Oahu make sure you go to the Bay and do some snorkeling.  You will not be disappointed.