How to Kayak to Captain Cook Monument on the Big Island

Planning a trip to the Big Island of Hawai’i? One of the best activities to do on the island is to kayak to the Captain Cook monument. Located in Kealakekua Bay, the water around the Captain Cook monument boasts some of the best snorkeling on the island.

There are a few different ways to get to the Captain Cook monument. This guide will focus on kayaking to the monument, but I will touch on the other two ways at the end of the post!

In addition, I’ll cover where to rent kayaks, how to get to the monument, and what you might see along the way! So keep reading to help plan your incredible kayaking adventure!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link or book through an affiliate program, I receive a small commission at no cost to you! 

Everything you Need to Know About Kayaking to Captain Cook Monument on Hawai’i’s Big Island

Who is Captain Cook?

First question – who the heck is Captain Cook? Well, the answer is not so pretty! Captain Cook was a British explorer, cartographer and naval officer and the first Westerner to make contact with the Hawaiian Islands. He first landed in the Hawaiian Islands in 1778 on the island of Kauai.

On February 14, 1779, Captain Cook was killed by Hawaiians at Kealakekua Bay after trying to take high chief Kalaniʻōpuʻu hostage. There’s obviously a lot more history involved, but that’s a quick summary!

Where is the Monument?

As seen on the map below, the Captain Cook monument is located about 20 minutes south of Kailua-Kona off Highway 11. The monument is within Kealakekua Bay, the Big Island’s only underwater state park. The bay is home to tons of marine life, like dolphins, turtles, and manta rays!

The map has also pins for 2 different kayak rental companies, which I will go over in the next section! Lastly, the map also has the location of the trailhead that leads to the monument (more on that later).

What to Bring Kayaking

There are a couple items that will certainly make your kayaking experience better, so let’s talk about what to bring on your kayak trip to Captain Cook.

1. Reef-safe sunscreen: An absolute must when snorkeling in Hawai’i is reef-safe sunscreen. Hawaii has actually passed a law banning the distribution and sale of products containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, which have been proven to damage coral reefs. So make sure you are NOT wearing sunscreen that contains these chemicals. Brands like COOLA and MANDA are both great options that do not contain any toxic chemicals!
2. Hat and Long-Sleeve Shirt: You will be out out the water for several hours on this kayaking adventure, so it’s important to protect yourself from the sun! I recommend wearing a baseball hat at the very least, but a wide brimmed hat like this one is even better! In addition, bring a long sleeve dry-fit shirt to protect your arms and shoulders! Instead of a shirt, I wore a long-sleeve bathing suit top which worked great!
3. Polarized Sunglasses: Aside from protecting your eyes from the sun, polarized sunglasses will help you spot wildlife in the water, as they help reduce the sunlight glare on the surface! You don’t need to spend a ton of money if you don’t want to. An inexpensive pair like these will work just fine.
4. Water and Snacks: If you are going on a guided tour, water and snacks will likely be provided. If you’re renting kayaks on your own, you’ll need to bring them yourself. Make sure to bring plenty of water in a reusable water bottle like this one!
5. Water Shoes: Now I don’t mean those dorky water shoes you’re thinking of.. I just mean shoes that can get wet, like rubber sandals. My go-to are these Reef sandals!
6. Go Pro: If you plan to snorkel, I highly recommend bringing a GoPro to capture some underwater photos and videos. At the very least, a waterproof snorkeling phone case will work too! I also highly recommend this floating hand grip, which will make sure you don’t lose your GoPro even if you drop it underwater!

Renting Kayaks vs Kayak Tour

Pros & Cons

Due to the growing popularity of Kealakekua Bay, the Hawai’i Division of State Parks now requires permits for those looking to take any type of vessel within the Bay. This includes kayaks, boats, paddle boards, etc. This requirement is to protect the area from further damage caused by humans!

Luckily, you do not need to obtain a permit yourself if you rent a kayak from a company with a permit OR go on a kayak tour! In terms of pros and cons, there’s a few to consider for both options. Obviously renting kayaks will be cheaper than going on a tour, and you’ll be able to explore at your own pace.

Going on an organized tour, however, will allow you to learn more about the area and history from a guide. Plus, you’ll have a better chance of seeing wildlife with an expert! The biggest perk, however, is that going on a tour will allow you to land the kayaks along the protected shoreline of Ka’awaloa.

On the other hand, if you rent kayaks yourself, you cannot land your kayak on the shore. This means you will have to tow your kayak with you as you snorkel. It’s doable, but not the most convenient! We just took turns snorkeling while the other stayed in the kayak.

Kayak Rentals in Kealakekua Bay

If you’re looking to kayak to Captain Cook on your own and not go with an organized tour, you have a couple options. There are plenty of kayak rental spots around the Captain Cook area. However, most of them are located off the Māmalahoa Highway, which is about 15 minutes away from the waterfront.

Only two kayak companies are located on the actual Kealakekua Bay, which means you don’t have to transport the kayaks downhill to the bay. I highly recommend renting from one of these two companies: Ehu and Kai Adventures or Kona Kayaks.

We personally rented with Ehu and Kai and had a great experience! They charge $45 for single kayaks, $65 for double kayaks, and $85 for triple kayaks. The rental cost is for up to 5 hours and includes a dry bag, backrests, life vest, paddles, plus snorkel gear for a small fee. You can book directly online and choose your pick up time!

Kona Kayaks has over 100, 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor and is another great option. Their costs are $5 cheaper than Ehu and Kai for each type of kayak, and their rentals are for up to 8 hours. However, I wouldn’t let this sway your decision, as it’s very unlikely you’ll be kayaking for more than 5 hours!

Kayak & Snorkel Tours in Kealakekua Bay

For those who want to go on a guided kayak tour to Captain Cook, the two companies I recommend are Kona Boys and Big Island Kayak. Both offer different options and have pros and cons, so I’ll go over both below!

Kona Boys has two different tour options, one from 7:00am to 11:30am and one from 11:30am to 3:30pm. The morning tour costs $199 per adult and goes out Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The afternoon tour costs $119 per adult and goes out daily. Both tours include a certified guide, kayaking and snorkel gear, and water, and the morning tour also includes lunch!

Personally, I would choose the morning tour for a few reasons. The crowds at the monument are significantly lower in the morning, so you won’t be in the water with tons of other snorkelers. Plus, you’re more likely to see wildlife in the morning, and it won’t be as hot!

Big Island Kayak is another highly rated company that offers kayak/snorkel tours. Similar to Kona Boys, they offer a morning and afternoon tour, but both are a little later (8:30am and 12:00pm). Unlike the 5 hour tours with Kona Boys however, these tours are only 2.5 hours long. They both cost $110 per adult and include kayaks, snorkel gear, bottled water, and snacks.

In addition to their normal, group kayak tour, Big Island Kayak also offers longer, private tours. The cost is $1200 and can include up to 12 guests. This is really only worth the money if you have 12 people, or if you are willing to pay extra to have the guide all to yourself!

Note: Reservations are required for all of these tours, and they often sell out quickly! I highly recommend making reservations well in advance of your trip, especially during peak winter season!

The Journey to the Monument

Alright, you’ve decided whether you are renting kayaks or going on a kayak tour. Either way, you’re ready to start the actual kayak journey to the Captain Cook Monument. As you can see on the map below, you can’t launch kayaks anywhere close to the monument, which means you have to kayak across Kealakekua Bay!

The yellow line on the below map shows the direct route across the bay from where you’ll launch your kayaks if you rent with Ehu and Kai. This is obviously the quickest route, but not the one our guide recommended!

For one, the waves are rougher in this area, which means it’s going to be a harder paddle! Also, you’re more likely to see wildlife closer to the coast. I recommend sticking to the red dotted lines; however, just remember you cannot dock your kayak anywhere along the coast.

If you stick to the coast, it will probably take you around an hour to get to the monument. I will say that if you’ve never kayaked before, it might be a little challenging for you. Ocean kayaking is different from kayaking on a lake with no waves. If you come across large waves, try to keep your kayak parallel with them and don’t lean your body too far one way or another.

As you make your way across the bay, you might even see Hawaiian spinner dolphins, sea turtles, or manta rays if you keep your eyes peeled!

It’s important to note there are some rules you need to follow if you do see dolphins. It is illegal to get within 150 feet of Hawaiian spinner dolphins. If you see dolphins within this range, you should not pursue them or try to get closer!

We were lucky enough to see dolphins during our kayak to Captain Cook, and they came right up to our kayaks (we did not actively pursue them).

Snorkeling at the Monument

You’ll know you’ve arrived at the monument when you see a tall, white obelisk! In addition, you’ll be treated to some of the most insane, crystal-clear blue water.

If you’re on a kayak tour, you’ll be able to park your kayaks along the shore, get out and walk around. If you rented kayaks yourself, you’ll have to get out of the kayak in the ocean. It’s not as hard as it sounds! Just be careful not to flip your kayak over!!

Under the water’s surface, you’ll see a ton of different tropical fish, like beautiful yellow tang, and stunning coral heads. If you want to see sea turtles, I recommend swimming into the deeper water and look on the sea floor!

The water gets very shallow in some areas, so make sure to keep an eye on the depth and the tides pulling you in and out. Make sure to swim north of the monument for the best snorkeling (in my opinion) and enjoy the beautiful scenery and Hawaiian landscapes! As the day goes on, the snorkel boats will start to arrive, which is why I recommend getting here as early as possible.

Other Ways to Visit the Monument

Aside from kayaking, there are two other ways to get to the Captain Cook monument! First up, you can skip the kayaking altogether and book a snorkel boat tour like I mentioned above. There are a handful of different Captain Cook snorkel tours, and they range from $100-$200 per person.

Some of them only go to Captain Cook monument, while others include other snorkel spots or wildlife watching as well. Make sure to check out my full guide to Snorkeling on the Big Island for more information!

The third and final way you can get to Captain Cook monument is by hiking. Aside from being the cheapest option, there’s not many other pros, unless you just love hiking. The trail is called Ka’Awaloa and is a 3.7 mile out-and-back trail.

The journey to the monument is all downhill on a mix of dirt, gravel and lava rock in partial shade. Most people recommend closed-toed shoes for the hike, and while they say the hike down isn’t bad, you’ll have to hike all the way back up after snorkeling, which is not fun! I would only choose this option if you have experience hiking and don’t mind a little exercise before your snorkel!

Hiking down to the monument is one of the top free things to do in Kona. Make sure to check out my full list for the other 9!

Final Thoughts

That wraps up my Guide to Kayaking to Captain Cook Monument on the Big Island of Hawai’i. If you’re planning a trip to the Big Island, you should absolutely add this adventure to your itinerary! The snorkeling around Captain Cook Monument is often claimed to be the best snorkeling on the Big Island. Plus, you might get the opportunity to see dolphins, sea turtles, and manta rays all in one place!

If you’re planning a trip to the Big Island, make sure to check out my other posts about this incredible island!
Ultimate One Week Big Island Itinerary
Best Waterfalls on the Big Island
30 BEST Things to Do on the Big Island
Guide to Snorkeling & Diving with Manta Rays
Guide to Whale Watching on the Big Island