Hanauma Bay

The following is from Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanauma_Bay

     Hanauma (pronounced "ha-na-OO-mah", in Hawaiian) is a marine embayment formed within a volcanic cone and located along the southeast coast of the Island of Oʻahu (just east of Honolulu) in the Hawaiian Islands. Hana means 'bay' and uma means 'curve,' rendering "Curved Bay." Though some call it "Hanauma Bay," this is a tautology: Hawaiians simply call this feature "Hanauma." Hanauma is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Island and has suffered somewhat from overuse (at one time accommodating over three million visitors per year). In the 1950s, dynamite was used to clear portions of the reef to make room for telephone cables to be brought in underwater. Some of this can still be seen today, and this section of the bay is called "Cable Channel."

Tourism and public use

     Hanauma Bay was purchased from the Bernice Pauahi Bishop estate by the City and County of Honolulu, and subsequently opened for public use. It was initially a favorite fishing and picnic spot for residents who were willing to travel out to the bay. In the 1930s the road along Hanauma Bay's corner of Oahu was paved and a few other amenities provided that made it easier to visit the beach and reef. After closure during World War II the Bay area reopened and became even more visitor friendly after blasting in the reef for a transoceanic cable provided room for swimming. In 1967 it was set apart by the State division of Fish and Game as a Marine Protected Area, a term used generically to describe any marine area that had some or all of its resources protected. In Hanauma Bay's case everything became protected, from the fish to the reef, to the sand itself. A volunteer group set up a booth at the beach and began teaching visitors about conservation of the reef and fish who lived there. More changes in the 1970s by the City cleared more area in the reef for swimming, made an additional parking lot, and shipped in white sand from the North Shore, leaving Hanauma Bay increasingly more attractive to visitors. By 1990 overuse of the beach and surrounding area was a real problem, with visitors walking on the reef, swarming the surrounding areas, parking on the grass and on the sides of the road. Measures were taken to limit use and so visitor access was limited to the parking lot, and when it was full everyone after was turned away. A few years later in 1998 an admission fee was charged, further reducing the number of visitors. Then in August 2002 the Marine Education Center was opened at the entrance to the bay, where still today new visitors must watch a short film and receive instruction about conservation of the Bay's resources. Today Hanauma Bay sees an average of 3000 visitors a day, or around a million visitors a year. The majority are tourists. The Bay is closed to tourists on Tuesdays. Barack Obama has gone snorkeling with his family on Tuesdays during his Christmas Break vacations to Plantation Estate.

Collection of Hanauma Bay Postcards and Photos - 

 

Picture of Inter Island Airways S-38 in 1930

 

Warren Vanderschuit, Friend Eddie Zollan, Hanauma Bay-Oahu-Hawaii, 1950, 1950s.

 The things you find on ther internet!.  In desperation in searching for vintage photos for Hanuma Bay, I entered "Hanauma Bay 1950," and this picture was the first to come up.  It's from http://www.expono.com/vanderschuit/albums/

"In flight with Hawaiian Airlines Royal Fleet. Hawaiian Airlines' pressurized Convair 340s speed passsengers between the Islands of Hawaii in comfort and matchless dependability - a hallmark of Hawaiian's more than a quarter-century of service. Hawaiian Airlines Convair 340 approaches Hanauma Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, USA."

Possibly from the 1950's.

Postcards Hawaii ("Plastichrome") printed in Ireland. 1973

Hanauma Bay, Hawaii . . . This beautiful blue-green bay and sparking white sand beach is only a few minutes drive from downtown Honolulu.

Beautiful Hanauma Bay surrounded by lovely mountain terrain and the blue Pacific Ocean. Only minutes from downtown Honolulu and a favorite swimming area of residents and visitors. This spectacular photograph was taken on a Panorama Air Tour flight

Hanauma Bay Today (2011) -

Drew's Note -
     I  grew up in the Valley right next to Hanauma Bay, in Hawaii Kai.  I had my 7th or 8th birthday party here, where we went camping for the night, they allowed camping back then, at the far end of the beach.  I snorkeled  out beyond the reef, when I was about 11, and got followed by a pair of Tiger Manta-rays, that we thought were Tiger Sharks.   I also remember in 1979 when the park was closed due to a visit by a six foot gray shark that eventually gave birth.