Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park
Aloha, and welcome to Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park. This expansive and extremely scenic state park is located just 12 miles south of Kaika Village in South Kona. Kealakekua Bay is the site of the very first contact between Hawaiians and Westerners, today a traditionally religious and historic site visited by many locals and tourists daily. In 1770 Captain Cook arrived at this very spot, the first British explorer to establish contact with the Hawaiian islands. Captain Cook died just a year later in a local skirmish with natives, and today a large white obelisk stands on the shore in his memory. View the Captain Cook monument from across the bay and immerse yourself in all of its surrounding history, an excellent culture-filled and educational opportunity for your group.
The other great thing about this historic state park is the park itself. Enjoy the local marine life conservation district, perfect for snorkeling, scuba diving, and kayaking (there are areas to rent gear if wish to partake). The brilliant blue bay waters are filled with coral and schools of tropical fish right alongside the occasional sighting of locally popular Spinner dolphins. There are several different picnic areas and guest amenities within this gorgeous and historic hot spot, so save plenty of time to spend here this morning and maybe even bring a camera to capture all the historic beauty. On the east side of the park, the Hikiau Heiau stands a sacred temple regarding the Hawaiian god, Lono, for deeper cultural intrigue and Hawaiian discovery as well.
