Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

Lonely Planet review

A stunning ensemble of sapphire and turquoise hues mix together in modern-art abstractions in Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, the remnants of an eroded crater. Just below the sparkling surface are coral reefs, some of which are 7000 years old. Schools of glittering silver fish, bright blue flashes of parrotfish and perhaps a sea turtle are just a few of the regulars who are so used to snorkelers that many will go eyeball to face mask with you.

Before Hanauma (Curved Bay) was designated a marine life conservation district in 1967, it was a popular fishing spot in danger of being stripped of its primary inhabitants. Despite its protected status today, the beloved bay is still a threatened ecosystem - it is constantly in danger of being loved to death by the huge number of annual visitors. Some of the park's seemingly bureaucratic rules are actually intended to manage the number of people who access the park at one time and in turn protect the attraction.