ALOHA!
The Captain Cook hike is worth it whether you want to do the best Big Island hikes or the best Big Island snorkeling!
The Captain Cook Monument Trail will give you amazing views of the ocean as you hike.
The end of the trail also leads to one of the best snorkeling spots on the Kona coast
The Captain Cook hike is located on the Kona coast.
This can make for a perfect day in Kona with a DIY hike and snorkel day! (This could even be just a morning activity or an afternoon activity.)
Aside from the convenience of the location when you’re staying in Kona with a car, what’s a good reason to make the Captain Cook Monument Trail a part of your short time on the Big Island?!
The views!
And also…
This trail leads to Kealakekua Bay!
And what’s noteworthy about this bay?!
Kealakekua Bay is a state historical park.
According to the State of Hawaii, it’s said to be:
Site of the first extensive contact between Hawaiians and Westerners with the arrival of Captain Cook in 1779.
You can read more about the history of the bay here (pdf from the State of Hawaii).
And, as far as Big Island activities go…
Kealakekua Bay is also a marine life conservation district in Hawaii.
Hawaii has marine life conservation districts.
And there are several marine life conservation districts on the Big Island!
Kealakekua Bay is one of them.
The Kaawaloa Cove area of Kealakekua Bay is also considered one of the best snorkeling spots on the Big Island.
There’s no road access to the snorkeling part of the bay. (You can drive down to the bay on the other side if you just want to go for the views, though!)
The 3 main ways to get to the snorkeling spot at Kealakekua Bay are:
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Boat tour
And if you can’t remember the name Kealakekua Bay, more easily remembered names can be the captain cook hike or the captain cook snorkeling spot!
So…
Why hike to Kealakekua Bay if you can kayak or take a boat?!
Because again…
The views!
But you know, if you don’t want to work so hard to go snorkeling 😉 a kayaking and snorkeling tour is sure to be fun, and so is a boat tour that can take you to a few different top snorkeling spots along the Kona coast in one day.
But, if the idea of a hike and snorkel DIY day sounds good to you, that is sure to turn out to be a GREAT Big Island day too!
Or even half a day, actually.
If you want to do the Captain Cook Monument trail hike and Kealakekua Bay snorkeling in the morning, that can leave you to do another great Big Island activity in the afternoon.
Maybe some more snorkeling along with a trip to a national historical park!
Two Step Beach is another one of the top snorkeling spots on the Big Island, and this is located just down the road on the Kona coast to the south, about a 20 minute drive from the Captain Cook trailhead.
And even if you want to skip the snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay, this trail can be worth it as one of the best Big Island hikes because it comes with those ocean views!
How long does the Captain Cook hike take?
The official recommendation is to give yourself 2-4 hours in total to go down and come back up. (Not including the snorkeling time.)
It seems that many people can get down in around 45 minutes, and then taking longer on the way back up since it’s basically all uphill.
I took over an hour to get down though! I generally walk at a leisurely pace and I also stop a lot to take pictures.
More below about doing the Captain Cook hike to Kealakekua Bay!
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Here are some popular activities you need to know about to get some very-Hawaii experiences! Read the reviews on the partner websites listed below!
You can swim with manta rays on the Big Island!
Read the reviews for the manta ray tour on viator and the manta ray tour on getyourguide.
🌺 Eat Hawaiian food at a luau with a fire show! Have a look at the Hale Hoaloha Luau
🐠 The most popular Big Island snorkeling tours are the ones that go to Kealakekua Bay! aka the Captain Cook snorkeling spot!
Read the reviews for the Captain Cook snorkeling tours on viator and the Captain Cook tours on getyourguide.
🐠 If you're going snorkeling (or to the beach!), here are things you must consider packing for Hawaii!
You can find these things on Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate.
- Swimsuit or swimming shirt aka rash guard
- rash guard: swim set for women and swim shirt for men
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone case (so you can capture pictures of fishies underwater!)
- cheapo phone case OR waterproof camera
- I also have this "camera" wrist float to attach to my cheapo waterproof phone case so my phone won't sink to the bottom of the ocean in case I somehow let go of it. (Mine does stay afloat - test this for yourself before completely trusting it!)
- Swimming goggles or snorkeling mask set
- Reef-safe(r) sunscreen
- lightweight travel towel
- walking sandals perfect for Hawaii
- teva is a popular outdoor shoe brand
- teva sandals for women
- teva sandals for men
I also don't go snorkeling in Hawaii without a personal swim float buoy. Not only does it help to keep me visible, but it makes for a perfect way to rest out in deeper water! Oh, and it also serves as a dry bag so I can take stuff into the water with me.
Another way I have taken valuables into the water with me is to wear a travel money belt that I don't mind getting wet with salt water (it's not waterproof but I have several so I just use one of them) and then I put things in a ziplock freezer bag, and put that freezer bag in the money belt.
There are also designated waterproof waist pouches that you can store your valuables and take into the water with you.
How to save money on your trip
I tend to use booking.com or hotels.com to look for the cheapest hotels. See the Lava Lodge. You can also try the expedia hotels site (see the Aloha Crater Lodge) or see if you like any of the vrbo vacation rentals.
Search for the cheapest car rentals at the Kona airport.
/end side note
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Now…
Hiking the Captain Cook Monument Trail aka Kaawaloa Trail
So this trail is more commonly called the Captain Cook Monument Trail.
But it’s also called (officially called?) the Kaawaloa Trail, likely because it takes you down to the Kaawaloa Cove.
So first…
How to get started with this hike!
Parking at Captain Cook Monument Trail + map
There’s no official parking lot, but there is some limited designated parking near the start of the trail on the shoulder of the road, on gravel.
This shoulder parking is on the side of the road opposite to the trailhead.
Google Maps lists the Captain Cook Monument Trail and it is accurate.
Explore the map.
If you stay at the Pineapple Park Hostel (shared dorm rooms and private rooms available with common areas that come with views of a Kona sunset!), you can walk to the trailhead without having to deal with parking. It’s about a 10 minute walk.
If you haven’t decided on where you’re staying in Kona yet, staying at the Sheraton or hotels near the Sheraton can be a good base to explore some south Kona coast activities, including this Captain Cook hike and snorkeling! The trailhead is a 10 minute drive from the Sheraton.
So once you’ve parked…
Start the hike!!
Coming from the parking area, you’ll see a trail that leads down right in front of the bamboo trees.
You’ll see a sign here for the Kaawaloa Trail warning you to be ready for this hike before you start!
What the County of Hawaii wants you to know:
The Kaawaloa Trail is physically demanding.
Many hikers have suffered injuries and required rescue here.
A 3.8 mile hike, the return is uphill, nearly 1,400 feet in elevation, during the hottest part of the day.
There is no shade along the trail.
Strenuous terrain ahead.
So yes.
Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks… just in case!
Walking uphill in the sun with no water and no snacks when you’re lacking energy is NOT GOOD!
So make sure to do what you can to avoid that kind of situation!
Now…
Once you’re good to go with everything you need in your Hawaii daypack, or more specifically what you need to pack for hiking in Hawaii…
Start hiking!!
Then…
Enjoy the hike down to Kealakekua Bay!
So there’s a good chance you’ll start off walking through a bunch of tall grass. This is how it was for me anyway.
Apparently though sometimes there are volunteers that come through with a weed whacker to clear the path.
But just assume that you’ll be walking through grass!
Then soon you’ll come to an opening where you’ll get those grand views of the ocean!
And then at some point, the trail will head off to the left, and then you’ll continue to make your way down towards Kealakekua Bay.
You’ll start to better see the “bay” formation too.
And then finally…
You’re really almost there!
You’ll start to see Kealakekua Bay from sea level!
So this will be your first real glimpse of the bay from up close.
But this isn’t the main snorkeling entry point.
When I was there, there were some kayaks being launched into the water.
So instead of setting up here to go snorkeling, you’ll keep on walking to the left, continuing to follow the path.
And then you’ll start to see the Captain Cook Monument Trail (for which the hiking trail is named after!) and the Kealakekua Bay again!
Arrival to the Captain Cook Monument and Kealakekua snorkeling spot!
And when you get here, there’s a good chance you’ll find some people there!
There is no real proper beach entry here.
And that’s a bit about the Captain Cook hike and snorkeling spot!
Know before you go! Know what it is when you see it!
- humuhumunukunukuapua’a (Hawaii state fish… it’s not as hard to pronounce as you might think!)
- Hawaiian white-spotted toby (cute little Hawaiian pufferfish!)
For another great Big Island snorkeling spot, be sure to consider snorkeling at Two Step too. Also see some more hikes on the Big Island with amazing ocean views!
If you’re interested in snorkeling on the Big Island, you may also be interested in these marine life in Hawaii!
- Punaluu black sand beach turtles on the Big Island
- Hookipa Beach turtles in Maui
- Waikiki turtles in Oahu
- Hookipa Beach seals in Maui
Headed to other islands in Hawaii? Also see:
HAPPY HIKING THE CAPTAIN COOK TRAIL AND SNORKELING AT KEALAKEKUA BAY!
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Where to stay near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Read the reviews at partner website!
- Volcano House (book sooner rather than later! This is THE lodging of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and it's in demand!)
- Lava Lodge at Hale Kilauea
- More budget-friendly option: Aloha Crater Lodge
Here are some ideas for your time on the Big Island!
Among the most popular things to do on the Big Island are Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Akaka Falls State Park, and Waipio Valley!
For Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the main road to drive is Chain of Craters Road and it will take you to see the best lava fields in Hawaii! Before that though (or after!) you will want to make a stop for the Thurston lava tube. You can also hike into a former lava lake by doing the Kilauea Iki Trail!
Other Big Island activities you may want to make time for are the best black sand beaches in Hawaii (including Punaluu black sand beach to see turtles maybe!) and the Papakolea green sand beach of Hawaii.
👇 Explore the Big Island map on google maps!
See the list:
- Things to do on the Big Island (for VIEWS!)
- Things to do in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- Things to do in Kona