Captain James Cook Monument — Attraction in Hawaii

Went hiking here with my wife. 75 minutes down, and 80 minutes up, and that's for two out of shape people who don't usually hike (but are still very able bodied). I would caution older folk from this hike unless they are used to hiking.

The trail is very obvious and is 2 miles long. It is marked by quarter mile markers starting at 1 and going all the way down the hill to 8. They are QUARTER MILE MARKERS, not a mile each. The hike down and back is a 4-mile round trip.

Qtr Mile 1-4 is through lush vegetation, and Qtr mile 5-8 is through lava rocks. Highly recommended to have a very sturdy pair of walking shoes. All out hiking boots aren't necessary, but you need to have stable feet. The lava rock portion you need to really watch your footing (lots of loose rock that you can slip on as they are semi round and prone to slip on each other).

Down at the end of the trail, there is an entrance to the water, and if you vear LEFT at the bottom of the trail, you will come to the Capt. Cook monument.

If you plan on swimming here, I would HIGHLY recommend having those tough beach shoes you can wear in the water. I had every intention of swimming with my wife but while the entrance to the water would have been moderately easy (you can just jump off thr face off the concrete pier), exiting the water would have been very different. There is a very large population of spiny sea urchins that cover both "exits" on either side of the concrete pier. It would have been rather difficult to get out unless you have the proper beach grip shoes (I don't know what they're called, maybe diving shoes with rubber bottoms?).

All in all, we decided to play it safe and just enjoy the views without risking the entrance and exit to the water, and then hiked back up. I plan on taking a tour boat to this spot next time, or having rubber shoes to walk on the rocks as it was a really beautiful spot to snorkel. The water is so clear you can even see the fish from the shore.

Parking: You can park at the top of the hill anywhere along the road just before the hike entrance (except for a few spots). When we came back up, there were probably 15 cars along the road. We parked a little closer up the hill near the street stoplight on the dirt.

Side note: they are several goats along the path. Some were directly in our way. Just approach them normally while saying, "Hey, goat, hey," and they will get out of your way as you approach them. Except the guardian goat. Don't mess with him.

Would...

05/08/2025 (Thu) We chose to reach the Captain Cook Monument by hiking down the trail rather than joining a boat tour, since it's said that landing on the shore is not allowed for those arriving by sea. (We’ve shared more about the hike itself in our post on the Captain Cook Monument Trail, so we’ll skip those details here.)

Once we arrived, we were amazed by how clear and inviting the water was. Even from the shore, you could easily spot schools of fish swimming close to the shallows. The water temperature was pleasantly cool, and as a snorkeling spot alone, it’s truly hard to beat. Swimming here felt like being in a giant aquarium — you can explore both shallow and deeper areas depending on your comfort level, and the marine life is abundant and diverse. While many tour boats were anchored offshore, they don't approach too close to the monument itself, so the area never felt crowded. 🐟🐠🐡 One thing to be aware of, however, is that the site is completely undeveloped. There are no lifeguards, no restrooms, no food stalls, and not even trash bins. Be sure to bring plenty of water, reef-safe sunscreen, and definitely wear water shoes, as the shoreline is rocky and uneven. 🐟🐠🐡 Also, watch out for the local mongoose population. These clever little animals will go after any food they can smell. We’d been warned to keep our backpacks zipped, and although we thought we were careful — even using zip-lock bags — we returned from the water after 20–30 minutes to find our backpack opened and our snacks completely gone.🤣 Mongoose here are quick and determined, so keep your bags sealed and secured, ideally off the ground.🎒 🐟🐠🐡 Despite that little surprise, the experience was nothing short of magical. The natural beauty of Kealakekua Bay, the calm waters, and the chance to swim among so many colorful fish made this one of the most memorable parts of our trip. It’s a place we’d love to return to — even with the demanding hike, it’s absolutely...

Beautiful snorkeling. You can see amazing corals and every imaginable tropical fish. Here you can easily relive Finding Nemo 1, 2 and 3 (featuring The Rock as a sea urchin). It is a bit crowded with tour boats, but that's expected. Go early if you want to avoid this, and yes, 9am isn't early. Be prepared to see a lot of sunscreen-ed bodies. Snorkeling here is a must. Some of the best on the island. With everything beautiful there's a draw back. If you plan on hiking to it, pack lots of water and be ready for a strenuous walk. It's a constant incline down to the water and the 2 mile hike feels closer to 3 miles. Along the way you'll go through three landscapes. The first is low lying trees with lots of shade, I called this the "this isn't bad" section. The second is Hawaii's chaparral, grassland and shrubs, or the "I like this nice breeze" section. The last is the lava fields, with little shade, the "welp there goes my fair skin" section. The way down was fairly easy, especially if you start early before the heat. Be mindful of the loose rocks and maybe grab a hiking stick. Once there, you will be greeted by lots of shade. Find a good place to nest, snorkel, and refresh yourself. Look at all the nice beach butts and bellies, don't be alarmed that will be you one day. The way back up is much more difficult. You first go through the lava fields with the heat beating down. Make sure to reserve lots of water. Recommend at least 1 liter per person (that's what we went through and we're still breathing). Take your time and keep your eyes down. Overall, this is a must. Just be smart, pack water, listen to your body, take rests often, and take a...