Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park
Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park
Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park
4
6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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4.0
40 reviews
Excellent
16
Very good
16
Average
5
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Jane D
Madison, WI144 contributions
Feb 2019
Some Hawaiin residents told us aboout this beautiful small park where you have a view across the bay of the Captain Cook Memorial. Locals hang out here. You pass the way to the painted church so we went there afterwards.
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
packedandready2go
California1,035 contributions
Mar 2023
The drive down from the main highway is beautiful with lots of lush foliage. There are two ways to enter the water if you want to snorkel. One way is on the northern side near the state park small building. You have to make your way over loads of slippery rocks here. The other way is where the kayaks enter the water. On the side closest to the bay there is a narrow passage where you can go down to the water's edge to don your snorkel fins. Though short be forewarned that it is steep getting out of the water and you might need to pull yourself up by the blue rope on the right hand side. The snorkeling is good with lots of large tropical fish. I even saw a huge moray eel. I did not spot huge schools of fish. On the other hand there were very few other snorkelers. The scenery is beautiful and historic.
Written 17 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian L
Ocala, FL325 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
We didn't spend a lot of time here as there was very little to see. The only interesting thing was the religious site Hikiau Heiau. You could also see the James Cook Monument in the distance. If you look at my photos, you're just seen what I saw. But based on other reviews there seems to be more to do around here. It just wasn't on our list of activities to do.
Written 5 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
subterranean_jack
Phoenix522 contributions
May 2022
This was historically a place of sanctuary, and it exudes calmness and peacefulness. If you're yearning to escape the tourist traps, this is the perfect place to relax. Very scenic stop for an hour, just to walk around. Nice gift shop too.
Written 6 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BuccaneerDave
Nanaimo, Canada6,643 contributions
Mar 2013 • Family
Parked just off the highway and hiked down the path and down the hill to the Captain Cook Monument. Great spot. Very picturesque. I'd recommend good walking shoes and not flip flops as you end up walking on crushed lava after you go through the 'jungle'.
I didn't snorkel but others in the group did. From my shoreside vantage point saw schools of yellow tang in the water everywhere. Lots of colourful fish visible from the pier.
Others in our grup talked about the great visibility and lots of fish and especially coral to be seen. Another group of snorkellers were following a 6' reef shark.
Hike on the way back is a bit steep for the first third so taking it slow and easy is the best suggestion.
A great spot to visit but you do need to be a bit fit, have good foot wear and bring all your essentials (food, water, hat, sunscreen, you know, the essentials)
I didn't snorkel but others in the group did. From my shoreside vantage point saw schools of yellow tang in the water everywhere. Lots of colourful fish visible from the pier.
Others in our grup talked about the great visibility and lots of fish and especially coral to be seen. Another group of snorkellers were following a 6' reef shark.
Hike on the way back is a bit steep for the first third so taking it slow and easy is the best suggestion.
A great spot to visit but you do need to be a bit fit, have good foot wear and bring all your essentials (food, water, hat, sunscreen, you know, the essentials)
Written 3 April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
404HappyTraveller
Saskatchewan, Canada481 contributions
Feb 2020
This is at the end of an interesting and pretty drive down from coffee country to the ocean’s edge. It’s a really pretty bay, and one can see why the ancient Hawaiians revered this spot. There’s a bit of local history on some historical markers with some interesting old photographs, and there were a few people in the water, but mostly it was a great place to just stand at the water’s edge and gaze out over the bay. You can see the Captain Cook Memorial Marker out along the edge of the bay, but it’s not accessible from the harbour.
Written 22 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill C
Hillsborough, NH303 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
We found this spot by chance (“I wonder where that road goes”). It is a nice little park with restrooms and a picnic area. I wish there was more information about the heiau at the site. I looked it up later and found it has an interesting story. It was built as a luakini (human sacrifice) heiau. It was originally more than 250 feet long and 100 feet wide. A smaller stone platform is built on top of the main platform and is believed to have been the location of the lele (altar). This was the spot where Captain Cook first met with the Hawaiian chiefs in 1778. When we were there, there were small crabs scurrying around the rocks. Others have reported dolphins here, but we did not see any. The Captain Cook monument is visible across the bay.
Written 3 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
molelady
Florence, KY304 contributions
Feb 2015 • Family
The bay is beautiful and snorkeling here is great. If you kayak over to the Captain Cook memorial you can stand on the spot where he was killed. Snorkeling at that spot is really good. In the state park there is an historic site of worship here where it is rumored human sacrifice had occurred. We spotted whales at this site.
Written 12 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anna M
Encinitas, CA575 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
We spent the morning snorkeling at Two Steps, a reef just before the Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Monument. We decided to drive to the end of the road (#160 off #11) to see the monument erected to Capt. Cooke where he was killed. The road ends and we were in the State Park! We looked across the bay and spotted the tall white spire. The only way to access the monument is by kayak or boat or a very long swim. We stayed on shore and cruised around the tiny park. There are bathrooms, a picnic area, a sacred Hawaiian stone heiau which is off limits, and nice shady grass. No beach here,the waves crash up onto the very rocky shore. It is a picturesque spot. Good snorkeling, but enter the bay where they rent kayaks....safer.
Written 26 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BurienTraveler2014
Burien, WA2,063 contributions
Sept 2014 • Couples
This park needs more road signs lol. After a long windy road drive, we found it. I really wanted to go swimming here. The water was so beautiful. However, with my bad knees, no way. The only way you could get to the beach was to walk over large rock like boulders. Also, their was no lifeguard on duty either. We saw a people who had managed to rock over the large rocks. Lucky them. On the backside of the restrooms, was this amazing garden. I took so many pictures of the beautiful bright colored flowers and some of the strangest looking plants I have ever seen. I even tried getting pictures of these little yellow birds and bright colored butterflies, but they where all too fast . This was a beautiful park that offered a covered picnic area, restrooms, beautiful plants in a garden and bright blue water to swim in. I just wish their was a better walking path to get to the water. If you get the chance I hope you visit this place , it's beautiful.
Written 2 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm interested in snorkeling the bay but not comfortable in cold water, would you recommend a wet suit?
Written 22 February 2018
It’s really only cold for a second! Honestly. I think you are fine without one...
Written 19 March 2019
Hi TripAdvisor community,
On the 27th of May (2016), I am planning on visiting the Kona area for the purpose of undertaking a Manta Ray Diver course for one day. I am getting into Kona at 6:45am from the Hilo Hele-On Bus. I am desperately want to visit Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park and the Captain Cook Monument. My diving starts at 3pm, would it be possible to visit Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park in the morning before my dive starts?
If so, is it possible to catch a taxi from Kona to the park and back? How much approximately in cost? How long do the hike take to get to the bay. And what is the opening time in the park? I would be going to the park asap in the morning, hopefully arriving around 7:30am. And any park fees, if so how much for a concession?
Thanks team!
Written 25 April 2016
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