Captain James Cook Monument

I had the opportunity to snorkel in several places in Hawaii, and I must say, this particular spot stood out as the best. Accessible through two routes, the first being a challenging hike and the second through guided tours, my recommendation is to opt for the unforgettable kayak journey to Captain Cook. Not only does this offer a unique experience of kayaking in the ocean, but it also leads to the ultimate snorkeling location. What made this adventure exceptional was the flexibility it provided. If you're fortunate, you might even witness a captivating dolphin show, as we did on both the kayak trip there and back. The beauty of this option is that there are fewer kayakers, allowing you to relish the serene ocean kayaking experience. While guided tours have their perks, such as providing snorkeling accessories and a set time limit, embarking on the hike independently requires you to bring your own necessary gear. However, the freedom and sense of accomplishment make it entirely worth it. This hidden gem will undoubtedly be a must-visit for me on my next trip. The combination of the challenging journey, breathtaking snorkeling, and the possibility of encountering dolphins makes it an unparalleled adventure 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 hike again. 👍🏻

Amazing snorkeling experience! This is one of several bays on the big island of Hawaii to snorkel and see coral reefs along with the multitude of beautiful fish and aquatic species. We saw rainbow fish, eels, and the dolphins put on an amazing show for us. Wild dolphins, no one trained them, and I am pretty sure they did it to poke fun at us humans. Highly recommend you take the snorkeling adventure of a lifetime.

This is one of the must see spots if you ever come down to big island! I highly recommend to do the hike instead of doing the boat tours. It makes the experience lot more rewarding! It’s about an hour hike which can definitely be painful if your not in decent shape but well worth enjoying the view walking down to the beach and definitely make sure to bring your snorkeling gear and water shoes. It’s just this massive magical pool with thousands of fish just roaming around you living their best lives. It’s definitely a must see spot. I also highly recommend reading up on the story of captain cook and how he was massacred and hence the monument.

Relatively straightforward trail (roughly 2 miles each way, took about an hour each way ). There are goats along the trail who are pretty timid, so try not to scare them. Once you get to the beach, the water is pretty shallow but there is an abundance of sea life — just keep an eye out for sea urchins and pufferfish! Be very careful on the slippery lava rocks, I fell and scraped my knee pretty bad and that was not fun on the hike back (which is a gradual ascent). Bring proper shoes for this hike, I contemplated just wearing my usual sandals but was so glad I wore my trail runners. There’s quite a lot of loose rocks so be careful