HONOLULU — Visitors to Hawaii will now be required to make reservations and pay an online fee of $25 per person to visit one of the state’s most popular sites.
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve on Oahu will begin the online fee system for everyone 13 and older except Hawaii residents beginning Wednesday, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
“When we first launched the online reservation system in April, one of the first things we noticed were ‘no shows,’ or people not honoring their confirmed reservations,” said Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation director Laura Thielen in a statement.
“Not only did this take away a spot from another visitor, but it also resulted in the potential lost revenue,” she said. “With payment now being accepted when the reservation is made, it motivates the visitor to honor that commitment, while also ensuring the funds are gathered to directly improve the nature preserve.”
Attendance once peaked at 10,000 per day. The reservation system will cap visitors to about 1,500 daily.
There is an additional $3 parking fee for out-of-state visitors.
Tickets are in high demand and the reservation website says admissions can sell out without five minutes of becoming available. People can make reservations up to two days in advance.