78-7130 Keauhou Harbor The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. To make matters more interesting: almost all of the trail is exposed to full sun. The easiest way to visit Kealakekua Bay for snorkeling or diving is as part of one of the many snorkel tours to the Captain Cook Monument. Kealakekua Bay is also the site of the Captain Cook monument, where a series of unfortunate events lead to his untimely death. If you reached the Puuhonua, you would be pardoned and given a second chance at life. There is fun stuff to see in both directions. Sit down on the platform and put on your gear, then jump into the water. Fortunately the other couple wanted the same itinerary as us, Captain Cook Monument snorkeling. To the left toward the ocean, there are some shallow areas between the rocks you can explore in addition to checking out the edge of the drop off. Use our site to plan your vacation in a sustainable way with minimum impact on the local environment. It is not unusual to come across green turtles, and dolphins are regular visitors to the bay, even though they generally stay a fair distance from the shore. Two 15-Ft. Water Slides and Dive Platform. The easiest way to enter the water for snorkeling Captain Cook Monument is from a boat if you came on one; though entering from a kayak can be a struggle, but will be necessary if you rent your own (read more below). The cruises generally take between 3 hours and half a day and provide snorkeling gear, snacks and refreshments, as well as cultural, natural and historical information relevant to Kealakekua bay. Source: here by user horspowr1001 under a CC BY-NC 2.0 license. Turn back at this point. Big Island Snorkeling Guide eBook available here, Butterflyfish: Forceps, Fourspot, Longnose, Multiband, Ornate, Raccoon - school, Teardrop, Goatfish: Doublebar, Yellowfin - school, Yellowstripe - large school, Sergeant: Blackspot, Hawaiian, Indo-Pacific, Surgeonfish: Goldring, Orangeband, Ringtail, Whitebar, Whitespotted, Tang: Achilles, Chevron, Convict, Lavender, Sailfin, Yellow - schools, Triggerfish: Black, Finescale, Lei, Pinktail, Urchin: Banded, Blue-black, Collector, Long-spined, Pale Rock-boring, Red Slate Pencil, Take a guided kayak tour or rent a kayak to paddle across Kealakekua Bay. All of Kealakekua Bay is a protected marine life conservation district, helping to preserve the health of the reef and the populations of fish for snorkeling Captain Cook Monument. Note that you are not allowed to land your kayak at the Kaawaloa Flats (the piece of land on which the Captain Cook monument is located), which effectively means youd have to tie off your kayaks together while they float in the water and keep an eye on them while you are snorkeling. In the protective embrace of a dark lava shoreline, an underwater world of magic and mystery is revealed. A MLCD is a part of the ocean with an especially abundant reef habitat, where the fish population is given special protection against human interference. Interactions between wild animals (dolphins) and humans are almost always disadvantageous for the animals but there are ways to mitigate our impact. Directly in front of the monument, the drop off is sudden, but if you keep swimming to the right, the coral shelf gets a little wider. Cook monument is challenging and not particularly scenic. Oh, did I mention we also had to carry all of our snorkel gear, lunch and plenty of water down and back up that hill? If you are staying somewhere that has a free kayak for your use, your vessel still needs a permit for use on Kealakekua Bay. The Captain Cook Monument is on the rocky north shore ofKealakekua Baysouth of Kona, inaccessible directly by car. The most important thing you can do is respecting the resting behaviors of the spinner dolphins during their peak resting period between ~10.00 and ~14.00. Kaleiopapa St, The local ecosystem in Kealakekua Bay is suffering under its own popularity, and the Division of State Parks now issues mandatory permits for people seeking to take a vessel on the waters of the bay to prevent further damage to the shoreline and coral reef. Waters here can get rough with high surf though, and you should only enter the waters here when the ocean conditions are calm. There are often turtles here and you have a chance to see some bigger fish, like Milkfish and Bluefin Trevally. This is the lush and tropical Kona Coffee country, and a great place for a road trip! You may not be able to explore the entire area we are describing. And surprisingly the land around it is British soil. You can also find the Hikiau Heiau in this park. Parrotfish, triggerfish, wrasses, bluespotted groupers and shoals of yellow tang complete the picture. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws. By continuing, you consent to our use of Cookies. Sea Paradise and Fair-Wind (both departing from Keauhou Bay). If you are on an organized tour, drinks and snacks are generally included in the price (ask your tour guide for details). Enroute to historic Kealakekua Bay and the Captain Cook monument, enjoy Hawaiian spinner dolphins, flying fish, and humpback whales (seasonal). The exit is trickier unless the ladder is there. Read more here. It used to be a rough 4x4 road that came down to the monument, but has been closed to vehicles for quite some time. This is the Hoku Nui trimaran from Sea Paradise in front of Kealakekua Bay, read more about snorkeling tours to Kealakekua Bay by Sea Paradise. Our guide Geoff was the best! Kealakekua Bay is one of the best places in the entire state for snorkeling. The whole region is rich in history and spans both a marine life conservation district *and* a state historical park. You can use these to climb back up onto the wall. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Boat movement should be from the rear of the animal. 2. Sea turtles are a very familiar sight on many snorkeling spots in Hawaii, including Captain Cook Monument. We told Geoff that we would love to see dolphins and he informed us it would be a 50% chance of seeing dolphins. At Kealakekua Bay, an endless rainbow of blue hues color the water. All Rights Reserved. Kona Coffee Farm Tour at the Greenwell farm, close to Kealakekua bay. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. This structure was built in 1878 and is a white obelisk located at the Kaawaloa Flats, in the western portion of the Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park. Nowadays this well-known explorer is remembered through one of the major landmarks on the south Kona coast: the 27 ft. tall Captain Cook monument. We find that in front of the monument and to the right is a little more interesting than to the left. South of Kona the landscape becomes greener and the skies more cloudy. Abundant coral growth and marine life can be seen in waters of about 5 feet deep. Boat tours are the easiest way to go snorkeling at Kealakekua bay. The best option is generally to climb up the little ladders that the tour guides set up for their clients. this famous coffee. And the trail is quite rocky and gets slippery when it is wet. 78-7130 Keauhou Harbor In recent years, the state has attempted to clean up the situation with a moratorium on kayaks in the bay. With its natural wind protection, remote location and designations as an underwater state park, marine sanctuary, and site of the Captain Cook Monument, Kealakekua Bay is earning a reputation as the best snorkeling destination in Hawaii. They are commonly resting in Kealakekua Bay. This is the ideal place to take close-ups of a yellow longnose butterflyfish or a Hawaiian sergeant major (native to the area), even though the sea can be a bit rough due to the waves. The visibility snorkeling Captain Cook Monument is some of the clearest in all of the Hawaiian Islands; you can often see 100 feet. You can choose from many different types, large comfortable sailing or motorized multihulls, small motor boats, or fast small inflatable speedboats (or rafts as they call them in Hawaii). Kealakekua Bay is one of the jewels of the south Kona district. Geoff was great. We are a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The small beach in the park next to the pavilion is known as Napoopoo Beach and was stripped of its sand by hurricane Iniki (back in 1992). He was informative, helpful, and had wonderful stories to tell. To the right of the monument is north and toward the cliff, and to the left of the monument is south and toward the open ocean. Watch out for other snorkelers, who can be numerous in the water in mid-morning. The Coffee Shack overlooks Kealakekua Bay and serves great lunch and of course Kona coffee. While it is possible to obtain your own permit, it is a non-trivial process that takes a few weeks to complete (contact the State Parks office in Hilo at (808) 961-9540 for more information). Thank you for the wonderful memories! Dont touch it and be careful not to break it with your swim fins. In general, visibility is excellent and the sea is calm, with almost no current. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. From the monument, the only option is to take to the water from the concrete platform that runs along the shore. Exclusive tour permit to launch and land on both sides of the bay has a limit of 12 guests per guided tour. The monument is the location where Captain Cook was killed by the local Hawaiians. 2. There is no parking anywhere near the best snorkeling waters though, so you have to jump through some proverbial hoops to get to where you want to be. As the only underwater state park on Hawaiis Big Island, with no paved roads leading to its sparkling shore, this marine sanctuary boasts pristine water conditions. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Kayaking from the boat landing to the statue takes between 15 and 25 minutes (one way). Only these three companies, listed on the state park website, are allowed to use Napoopoo Pier for launching and can land at Ka'awaloa Flats on the Captain Cook side. If the winds or swell are out of the south or west, it may be too rough to snorkel here. When visitor numbers are high, this is also the area where most of the tour guides moor their boats, so watch out for them. This is best done with some shoes on your feet. Bring a hat, sunscreen, plenty of water, comfortable and close-toed shoes, and, of course, snorkeling gear! You can slip or lightly jump off the top of the concrete wall into the water. The water is calm enough to snorkel here most of the time, but it is the most calm in the mornings before the afternoon winds start. Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes). Some of the permitted kayak rental companies also do guided trips, but most do not have a landing permit. Combine this difficult hike with a couple hours of snorkeling in the middle, and you have two very worn out people. We share our favorite tips and images on Instagram, click here to go to our instagram account. 100% Kona coffee grown on our own estate farm, 78-7130 Kaleiopapa Street Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, Cocktails, Beer & Wine available for purchase (during the last hour of the cruise). The list of permitted vendors changes often so please make sure to ask whomever you choose if they have a current commercial use permit. There are a few parking spaces on either side of the road near the path. The snorkeling is along the shore to the left and right of the white obelisk of the monument. The most accessible part of it is on the north-eastern edge of the bay where you can find Nopoopoo Beach Park with a parking area, a picnic pavilion, restrooms, showers, and a water fountain. See also: 1: An Overview of Maui 2: An Overview of Kauai 3: An overview of Lnai 4: An overview of Molokai 5: An Overview of Oahu, Facebook Pinterest Twitter Instagram Subscribe to our Newsletter Read our Blog. There are many great coffee farms close to Kealakekua bay, see our BIG list of Kona coffee farms to pick a favorite. It would be a waste of time to only visit the bay without seeing any of the other nearby attractions on the south Kona coast. Chat with the captain about the days adventures then sit back and enjoy the dramatic beauty of the Kona coast, cliffs, lava tubes and sea caves. In this guide we explain how to get there, what to see and do, and more. The driver we had was marvelous - named Geoff, and lived on the island since 1986. It now consists of a collection of rocks and, while not great for hanging out, it is reasonable for a quick swim and a good place for snorkeling. Tours leaving from Keauhou Bay, Honokohau Harbor or Kailua-Kona Pier, by canoe or by boat, are organized by many local guides. And as you swim out away from shore the ocean floor drops away quickly into depths where you cannot see the bottom. But the ones in slightly deeper water fared better. Soon after arriving at the Captain Cook monument, turn right at the Napoopoo Road sign. Kaawaloa Cove, the spot with the best snorkeling at the bays northern boundary just north of the Captain Cook monument, can be accessed only by hiking in, or over the water. Public Meeting Place: The center of the bay is deep and you can often find a pod of spinner dolphins that use the bay as resting grounds (read more on how to behave around wild dolphins). The trailhead for the hike to the monument is only a few hundred feed after this intersection, while you need to follow Npopoo Road another 4.5 miles (7 km) to its end to get to the eastern shoreline of the bay. There are a variety of different boat tour companies that leave from Keauhou Bay, Honokohau Harbor or the Kailua-Kona Pier. You can find world-class snorkeling waters in a tropical bay smack in the middle of the lush Kona Coffee district. Schools of colorful tropical fish play hide and seek among delicate filigree forests of pale purple, pink, and white coral architecture and dark fingers of pillow lava. In fact, Hidden Hawaii describes Kealakekua Bay as an outstanding snorkeling spot with technicolor coral reefs and an array of tropical fish species.. 3. These snorkeling Captain Cook Monument instructions are given looking at the white obelisk of the monument from the water. Make sure you explore the areas to the right and to the left of the monument (when facing the ocean) in turn, with a preference for the area to the left. Walking up in the middle of the day in the hot sun can be difficult, particularly after a snorkeling session. The first five yards from the shore are stony, shallow (2-7ft/0,5-2m), full of light, and teeming with fish. A dive into the calm water confirms its clarity, where snorkelers enjoy underwater visibility up to 100 feet. Vibrant fringing reef with sea turtles and spinner dolphins, Marine reserve with a fringing reef and many fish, Reef drop off and sandy beds with sea turtles, Immersed volcanic crater with coral, reef fish and turtles, Localize and discover the best snorkeling spots in more than 50 destinations worldwide. Be aware that if you come on a boat tour, they may limit the area you are allowed to snorkel. Kealakekua means the pathway of the gods in Hawaiian. The bay is home to one of the best snorkeling spots in the entire state of Hawaii and the nearby lush and tropical region (the Kona coffee coast) is also a place of great historical significance, as it holds many archeological and historical sites. Be amazed by the beautiful cobalt blue and turquoise bay waters and the palm fringed shoreline. In this special place, thousands of ancient Hawaiians gathered for an annual celebration honoring their fertility god, Lono-i-ka-makahiki, during what is referred to as the makahiki festival. The area where the companies land their kayaks looks like it might be a good entrance but is not because of the slippery rocks and it is shallow a long way out. You cannot reach the monument by car but it is possible to either hike to the monument or to get there over water (either by kayak or with asnorkeling tour). According to Hawaii The Big Island Revealed, The Ultimate Guidebook, Snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay near the monument is perhaps the best you will find anywhere in the state., At Kealakekua Bay, an endless rainbow of blue hues color the water. Free cancellation: up to 24 hours before tour. A full day and well worth it! On the larger boats there is plenty of shade, comfortable seating, music, and great food. We had a fantastic time on this trip!! As of June 2019 it is mandatory for the permitted vessels to have the State Parks issued decals affixed to both sides of kayak bows so please also check for that to ensure that you support only permitted businesses.
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