Sense of Place - History
Over the years Hanauma Bay's popularity grew to gigantic proportions. It was not just popular among residents but became a must-see visitor destination when visiting the island of Oahu. During peak periods, the nature preserve saw as many as 10,000 visitors each day. The bay was becoming heavily impacted by overuse and a lack of knowledge of how to protect such an ecosystem.
The City and County of Honolulu and a grassroots organization consisting of concerned citizens decided something needed to be done. In 1990, an 8-point management plan was initiated which decreased the number of visitors to approximately 3,000 - 3,500 per day, yet problems persisted due to a lack of understanding of how to protect this valuable resource.
Last updated
June 17, 2009
