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About Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park (Napo'opo'o Beach) on Kona & West Island, Hawaii

Napo’opo’o Beach is located at the sound end of Kealakekua Bay in the South Kona region. Napo’opo’o Beach was stripped of its sand by Hurricane Iniki in 1992 and it never came back. What’s left is a narrow rocky beach that’s not good for much other than getting into the water – luckily the water is excellent here.

The bay is a popular place for sea kayaking and it’s a major destination for boat cruises, for watching spinner dolphins, and for prime snorkeling. Most of this activity happens on the north side of the bay near the Captain Cook Monument, but the snorkeling near Napo’opo’o Beach is good too.

The bright white obelisk known as the Captain Cook Monument is visible across Kealakekua Bay from Napo’opo’o Beach. You can kayak to the monument, but you can’t land the kayak there. If you want to go on a guided sea kayaking tour, it has to be with one of three approved touring companies (see this state park page for the current list). Kayaks can be rented in the area for self-guided travel too, just make sure the crafts have an approved sticker and don’t get out at the monument.

Hikiau Heiau, an historic Hawaiian temple, is right next to Napo’opo’o Beach. Visitors can no longer enter and walk around on this massive structure, but it’s easy to see it from outside. Napo’opo’o Beach and Hikiau Heiau are part of Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park.

Getting to Napo’opo’o Beach is fairly straightforward. From the town of Captain Cook turn south onto Napoopoo Road (Highway 160) and follow it downhill to a T intersection with Puuhonua Road. Turn right and continue about 500 feet to the parking lot near the restrooms and a covered picnic area (across from the home at address 82-6049).

Address
82-6049 Napoopoo Rd
Captain Cook, HI 96704
Phone
808-961-9540
Park Name
Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park, Napo'opo'o Beach Park
Other Names
Kekua
Owner
State
Pet Details
Dogs allowed on leash
Fees
Free parking
Activities
Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, Picnicking, Wildlife Watching, Kayaking
Amenities
Historical Structures, Restrooms, Showers, Covered Pavilion, Picnic Tables, Spinner Dolphins, Interpretive Signs, Grass Lawn
Captain Cook,US
5:18 am, November 8, 2024
temperature icon 73°F
L: 0° H: 0°
Feels like 73.11 °F clear sky
Wind gusts: 2 m/s
UV Index: 0
Precipitation: 0 inch
Visibility: 10 km
Sunrise: 6:28 am
Sunset: 5:46 pm
Humidity 72 %
Pressure1018 mb
Wind 2 m/s

Nearby Beaches

Napo'opo'o Landing Wharf

0.2 miles away

Napo’opo’o Wharf once was a location for docking steamer ships, but today it’s for launching much smaller boats (the...

View beach

Nearby Attractions

Nearby Lodging

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