Captain Cook Monument at Kaawaloa Cove
Ka’awaloa Cove in Kealakekua Bay is a popular destination for snorkeling boat tours, but it might be more rewarding...
Captain Cook
Beaches in Captain Cook
Two Step Beach on Honaunau Bay
Two Step at Honaunau Bay is a lava rock shoreline with shallow saltwater pools and a just a few...
Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park
Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park, the “Place of Refuge”, is on Honaunau Bay in the South Kona District....
Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park (Napo’opo’o Beach)
Napo’opo’o Beach is located at the sound end of Kealakekua Bay in the South Kona region. Napo’opo’o Beach was...
Hookena Beach Park
Ho’okena Beach on Kauhako Bay is an oasis of fun about 45 minutes south of Kailua-Kona. You an easily...
Pebble Beach at Kona Paradise
Pebble Beach is referred to as a black sand beach but it’s mostly rocks and pebbles (one small patch...
North Pebble Beach
North Pebble Beach is a tiny hidden gem north of Pebble Beach in the Kona Paradise subdivision. If you...
1871 Trail to Ki’ilae Village
Hiking the 1871 Trail is how you get to the southern shoreline of Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Park. This...
Keei Beach
Ke’ei Beach is a small sandy beach backed by palm trees in a hidden spot south of Kealakekua Bay....
City of Arches
City of Arches is a beachless coastline chock full of arches and holes in the lava rock shore. It’s...
Napo’opo’o Landing Wharf
Napo’opo’o Wharf once was a location for docking steamer ships, but today it’s for launching much smaller boats (the...
Manini Beach (Kapahukapu)
Manini Beach is a locals beach next to Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park and Napo’opo’o Beach. The only sandy...
Hokulia Shoreline Park
Shoreline Park at the Hokulia Resort is one of the most underutilized parks in the Kona area. It’s a...
Keopuka Kai Shoreline
This little-known tract of remote coastal land was once part of a larger ahupua’a (Hawaiian subdivision) called Keopuka in...
Nearby Attractions
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is also known as Kawaihae-Anaehoomalu and is often signed Ala Kahakai Trail. This coastal...
About Captain Cook
Captain Cook is the name of a town and the greater area south of Kailua-Kona. It's an area with lots of historical sights and is known for superior snorkeling spots. The Captain Cook Monument is one of the top destinations in the area, but more for its amazing snorkeling on Ka'awaloa Cove than for the historical marker. Snorkelers can get to this cove by kayaking from Napo’opo’o Landing or by hiking two miles downhill on the Ka'awaloa Trail or by taking a snorkeling cruise from Kailua or Keauhou. Most choose the latter, but the other options are more rewarding. Another top snorkeling spot in the area is called the "Two Step" and yes it's excellent. If you want to learn about Hawaiian history and explore an ancient village, you should visit Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park which has indoor and outside exhibits. A hiking trail in the national park called the 1871 Trail leads to more historical sites and some picturesque coves. Other options for seeing history in person include Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park which has a large heiau and Hokulia Shoreline Park which few folks know about. A short drive south of Captain Cook is where you'll find the amazing Ho'okena Beach which has camping plus kayaks and other gear rentals. Uphill from the beaches there are other things to see in Captain Cook including many coffee plantations with tasting rooms, fruit stands, a small botanical garden, and the Painted Church.