How to Kayak to Captain Cook Monument on the Big Island

Things to Know Before Kayaking to Captain Cook

Before you set out, there are a few things that are helpful to know — especially if you’ve never kayaked in ocean conditions before or have no idea what the Captain Cook monument is!

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 Hawaii in 1778 on the island of Kauai.

On February 14, 1779, Cook was killed at Kealakekua Bay after attempting to kidnap a high-ranking Hawaiian chief. The white obelisk you’ll see at the monument marks the spot where he died.

While this guide is all about the adventure, I think it’s important to understand the history of the place too — especially since you’ll be paddling through a bay that holds deep cultural significance.

Where is the Monument?

Depending on where you’re staying on the Big Island, it could take as little as 20 minutes (from Kona) or over an hour (from the Kohala coast) to get to the Captain Cook monument. The monument is located about 20 minutes south of Kailua-Kona, tucked inside Kealakekua Bay.

However, you can’t actually drive up to the monument, which is part of what makes this place so special. The bay is a protected Marine Life Conservation District and one of the best snorkeling spots on the Big Island.

To get to the monument, you can either hike 3.7 miles down the Ka‘awaloa Trail, kayak across Kealakekua Bay, or visit on a snorkel tour. We chose the kayaking option, but I’ll touch on the other two at the end of this post!

To kayak to the monument, you’ll need to launch from the opposite side of the bay and paddle about 20-30 minutes across before reaching the monument.

Below is a map later that shows exactly where to start, where to rent kayaks, and where the trailhead is if you’re considering hiking instead.

The map has also pins for 2 different kayak rental companies, which I will go over in the next section!

P.S. If you want to have a delicious breakfast with incredible views before your kayaking adventure, I highly recommend visiting The Coffee Shack! ☕🌿

What to Bring Kayaking

There are a couple items that will certainly make your 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 Blue Lizard 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!

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Choose Your Adventure: Renting Kayaks vs Kayak Tour

Due to the growing popularity of Kealakekua Bay as one of the top things to do on the Big Island, 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 water.

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 $65 for single kayaks, $90 for double kayaks, and $110 for triple kayaks. The rental cost is for up to 4 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 $10-15 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. We only needed about 3 hours for our trip!

They also have paddle boards available if you are interested in that!

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 ~$100 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, and don’t get too close to the edge.

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 directly into the ocean (no beaching the kayaks). 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 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.

We spent around an hour snorkeling around the monument, taking turns between the two of us (one person in the kayak and one person snorkeling).

Other Ways to Visit the Monument

Visiting on a Snorkel Tour

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 that takes you directly to the monument. There are a handful of different Captain Cook snorkel tours, and they range from $100-$250 per person, depending on which you choose.

Some of them only go to Captain Cook monument, while others include other snorkel spots or wildlife watching as well.

This 2.5-hour snorkel tour costs around $85 and includes a dolphin search, snorkeling in a sea cave, and then a stop at Captain Cook for the main reef snorkeling. It’s short and sweet but covers a lot in a half-day trip! Lunch is also included.

If you’re looking for something a little more luxe, this deluxe sail and snorkel tour to Captain Cook is done on a spacious catamaran, which means you’ll have room to lounge, eat, and take in the views while cruising the coast.

It’s a little pricier but lasts 4.5 hours and includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, plus a second snorkel stop at Red Hill, where you can see underwater lava formations! If I were going back to the Big Island, this is definitely the tour I would choose.

Or, if you’re visiting in the winter time, you might be able to combine your Captain Cook visit with a whale watching cruise!

Hiking to the Monument

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 to the monument is the Ka’Awaloa Trail and is a 3.7 mile out-and-back hike with over 1,200 feet of elevation changes. 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 doesn’t sound very fun!

I would only choose this option if you have experience hiking and don’t mind a little exercise before and after 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.

This was truly one of our favorite things we did during our one week on the Big Island. Our top activity, however, was night swimming with the manta rays! Check out my full guide to snorkeling with manta rays for more details!

Read More Big Island Blog Posts Below! ⬇️🌺
The Perfect ONE WEEK Big Island Itinerary For First Timers
Where To Stay On The Big Island (+ Big Island Hawaii Map)
30 INCREDIBLE Things To Do On The Big Island Of Hawaii
Whale Watching On The Big Island: Tours, Best Time, & More
Best Snorkeling On The Big Island Of Hawaii: A Detailed Guide
How To Kayak To Captain Cook Monument On The Big Island
A Guide To Night Snorkeling With Manta Rays In Kona, Hawaii
10 FREE Things To Do In And Near Kona, Hawaii
Best Luaus On The Big Island: A Complete Guide
Kona To Hilo: A Complete Guide To Driving Across The Big Island
20 INCREDIBLE Things To Do In Hilo, Hawaii (& Nearby)
A Guide To Exploring The Best Waterfalls On The Big Island

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