HONOLULU (AP), -- Tourists who start this week will pay more than twice the entrance fee to a popular Hawaii snorkeling spot.On Thursday, visitors from outside the United States will be required to pay $25 more than $12 for entry to Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, east Oahu. Residents with valid identification, children aged 12 and younger, regardless of residency, as well as active-duty military personnel, will still be allowed to enter the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve in east Oahu at no additional cost.For locals, parking rates will be $1 per vehicle and for non-locals, $3 per vehicle.According to Honolulu parks officials, entry is very popular since Hanauma Bay was reopened to the public in December following a nine-month hiatus due the coronavirus pandemic.According to Lisa Bishop, the president of Friends of Hanauma bay, the park's water was 64% cleaner after it reopened."We were amazed at how Hanauma Bay recovered after the pandemic, when the public was not allowed to enter. Tommy Waters, Honolulu City Council chairman and representative of the bay district, stated that we want to keep the healing going by minimising human impacts while at the sametime ensuring that the bay has sufficient resources to continue its maintenance.Since its reopening, the city has attempted to improve management of this bay. This includes limiting entry and launching an online ticketing and reservation system.Officials stated that the initial limit for the pandemic was 720 people per day. This has been increased to 1,600 by loosening virus-related restrictions.In 2019, attendance was around 3,000 per day."Hanauma Bay has the unique opportunity to show how we can manage our natural resources better as we recover from the pandemic," stated Laura Thielen, Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation director.City officials stated that all entrance fees generate revenue for maintenance, education, and research.
