Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Captain Cook Monument Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Captain Cook Monument

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Vanessa L.

    This was my favorite hike on the island! Beautiful and fun reward in the end and such a great workout of a hike! There are 8 markers, indicating each about half a mile. Half of the hike was well shaded while the other half was full sun. When we arrived at the lot (there is cars parallel parked along the road surrounding the hike) around 1 pm, people were already leaving. Besides us, there were a couple groups heading down. While we were at the bottom only one couple arrived but left immediately only for pictures. Heading back up, there were a couple groups coming down so this hike is fairly popular. Whether youre here to just swim with the fishes or just see the monument. As an avid hiker, this took us about an hour down and an hour up. The views were spectacular. In some shaded areas, you get to see Alpine goats. In the non-shaded areas, you get a view of the ocean as you descend to the trail. At the bottom is the real treat. People have their own spots along the rocky shore to dive into the water. If you arent by the monument and are at the area that is on right of the monument, i recommend going into the middle as closer to the rocks there are a bunch of coral and sea urchins. Plus this is more open. If you are at the monument, there is plenty more space for you to dive in. Bring snorkeling gear! You will see a variety of beautiful fish here. I highly recommend bringing hiking shoes. I saw people struggling going up in just sandals. Its rugged terrain once you get to the sunny half of the hike so be prepared. I also highly recommend water shoes or swim fins so you dont possibly damage your feet on the rocks.

    Juls B.

    Hiked down to one of the most amazing snorkeling places I've visited. The 4 mile grueling hike is worth it for that crystal clear water. Not many fish but still several varieties and the terrain makes it otherworldly. I was so thankful to be there in such a beautiful scenic setting. Parking is a challenge as it fills up fast. This place is getting more and more popular as word gets out.

    Short covered trail
    Dane S.

    The descent and return climb are rated hard. It's definitely not for those with a bad heart, back, hips, knees, or ankles. The heat and humidity can be brutal. The majority of the trek is over loose volcanic rocks that can twist your ankle or knee with one false stop. If you fall, the volcanic rocks will rip your skin. The hike can take 1.5 to 4 hours depending on your fitness. Things you must take: 1-3 liters of water per person (More is better than less), a hat, closed toed shoes preferably with ankle support, and sun screen. Suggested items: sunglasses, basic first aid kit for scrapes, punctures, and cuts., plenty of snacks, bathing suits, snorkeling gear, towels, lip balm, sweat cloths or bandanna, and a flashlight. What to expect: tough rugged trail; amazing views that the majority of people will never see; beautiful clear water with numerous small fish; wild mongooses that are cute but will steal your snacks the minute you turn your back; various wild fruit trees including avocado and tamarind. This was one of the most strenuous hikes I've made. It was over 11,500 steps, over 1340 calories burned, and 57 flights of stairs. I recommend this excursion but with the warnings and suggestions above.

    Easy Part of the Hike
    Alyssa A.

    One of the BEST places to go snorkeling. My husband had come here years ago and loved it so much, we had to come back on this trip. There's only two ways to get here - by hike or by water (boat, kayak, etc). You can't just park here and expect to walk right to the water. That being said, we chose the hike (Captain Cook Monument/Ka'Awaloa Trail) - it's about a 3.7 round trip strenuous hike. It definitely had a good grade to it and a good chunk of it did not have shade cover. But you will get a beautiful view of the water and will probably see a bunch of wild goats. Definitely do this hike as early in the morning as you can because the sun can be brutal. And make sure you bring a good amount of water and some snacks. The snorkeling here was incredible. Beautiful coral and so much different sea life to explore. The water was a little rough to get into (so be careful) but was fine to swim and snorkel in once inside. This is a big stop for the boat tours, so even if there aren't that many people hiking down and on the shore, there's a chance there will still be a lot of people in the water. We were lucky enough to have a good day, and it was pretty empty. You'll have to leave your stuff on the beach when you go in, so definitely recommend bringing a water proof pouch to bring your valuables in with you. The hike to the water is downhill, so just be prepared for the rough hike back up when you're finished. Overall, if you're looking for great snorkeling, this is the best stop while on the Big Island.

    Yellow Tang
    Monica S.

    Tips: *Go early to get a parking space and to avoid the hottest part of the day. *There are no facilities here so we stopped off at the Shell Gas Station where we bought a few things used the bathroom outside. *Wear hiking boots as the trail has a lot of loose rocks causing you to slip or turn your ankle. *Experienced hikers are best suited for this trail. *There is no shame in taking frequent rest stops when returning uphill *Bring over a quart (liter) of water (per person) *Hide food well as there are a lot of mongooses patrolling the area. *En route to the monument, there are a lot goats and we saw a boar. *Bring your snorkel gear *Launching off the concrete barrier can be intimidating, but experienced snorkelers will have no problems. I wish Hawaii would make the launch easier so you have steps going into and out of the water rather than having sharp loose lava rocks to manage. *Because the water is clear, there are lots of sea life to be had including eels, octopus, and dolphins. *If any of the above doesn't sound interesting, go on a tour boat

    Cute goats on the trail down to the monument
    Sammy L.

    We hiked down the trail after parking on the side of the street. No restrooms and showers so make sure you bring everything you need. We like to bring a big gallon jug to rinse a bit before heading back up the trail, you'll want that after snorkeling. No garbage cans, so take everything back with you. The hike down to the monument is not too horrible, coming back up can be annoying if you don't get a good cloud cover. It's hot and dusty for some parts but mainly rocky. We wore flip flops, which I do not recommend. Wear some good hiking boots or tennis shoes. Sunblock and a ton of water is what you'll mainly need. We took our five year old and so we packed a bunch of snacks and it was enjoyable to just chill by the water. Snorkeling can be a real hit or miss as far as being able to see a lot of fishes, turtles and dolphins. If you are lucky you'll experience a bunch of marine life. I believe there are a lot of other beaches you could snorkel at without the hike that'll also be worth it. If you want some exercise the hike is great! Just be careful about the rocks. Enjoy!!

    Ivy S.

    We rented a boat and took it out to snorkel at the Captain Cook Monument. You park your boat in the deeper waters which are about 400 yards from the coast line. Then you swim over to the shallower waters to snorkel. It had been raining a lot the day before so the snorkeling waters were kind of cloudy. We saw a lot of fish swimming around. The colors were muted but it was pretty cool to see. The waters were warm and nice to swim in. The water wasn't crowded. There were a few boats and from what I can tell quite a few people meandering around the monument. We were with locals and we were told that you are not allowed to go on the monument. From our view from the boat, there were quite a few ham and eggers traipsing all over the monument. Practically climbing it. We never got on the land out of respect. From a boat its beautiful and water fine, jump in!

    Feb W.

    Did this hike for 2 hours in and out without water and yeap ain't a good idea. tbh, we didn't search for this hike at all on how long or what to expect on the trail. This is the last shot before heading to Hilo. And no we did not see the actual monument coz we are so confused and people who's their doesn't even point us where to go despite the confusion on our faces looking for Captain Hook's monument. I still recommended you to hike this as this is only an easy-moderate hike. The trailhead though ain't that comfy. A tall wild grass welcomes you and the trail gets narrower as you forward. The view is great though and will make you gasp! Just make sure to wear proper gear and bring lotsa plenty of water! This is also a spot for snorkeling and people hiking here got their own. Water is pretty clean and I heard that you can rent a kayak instead of hiking the trail which I think is better way to do it. Overall a nice hike to do when in Kona. Mahalo for reading & happy juandering fellow yeeps.

    Goat on tree
    Bryson C.

    Really cool! So me and my family decided to go see this because our guide app told us about it. It was a decently tough hike but it was worth it. The hike back up around 11:00am was grueling. We were being roasted by the sun and it's eat stepper than you'd realize on your way down. Snorkeling was great and water felt good. Just make sure you are PLENTY hydrated and bring water and sunscreen. Remember that the sun is more direct nearer the equator and the up to an hour or more it may take to get back up with little shade and direct sunlight, could cause you to overheat or burn which isn't fun. Trust me, you don't want to find out for yourself.

    Hiking
    James C.

    Awesome hike and amazing snorkelling just remember to wear your proper shoes! We saw goats, pigs and chickens on this hike, took about an hour to go down and 45 minutes to get back up. The snorkelling was amazing, huge schools of yellow Tang and other fish which would swim right up to you sooner even nibbled my toes! I would have given 5 stars if there was a ladder or better way to get in the water, we got rashed up pretty bad by the lava rocks.

    Goats along the trail
    Nicholas H.

    The trek was not easy, but doable for us. The views at the end were beautiful, but we definitely should have packed snorkel gear. Also, we should have packed some band-aids, or just brought some swim shoes, because the lava rock chewed up our feet. Dont recommend if you're not in decent shape or used to hiking. Also, don't bring a bunch of stuff, because it is a long hike. Most of the other reviews were helpful.

    End of trail

    See all

    Photo of Nate S.
    0
    49
    38

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Juls B.
    133
    438
    1270

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Don't hike this unless your an experienced hiker and bring lots of water and your scuba gear !

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Ivy S.
    142
    2169
    6181

    3 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 3
    Love this 16
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Feb W.
    188
    642
    9193

    4 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 4
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Paul N.
    292
    1480
    4275

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Della Lee G.
    173
    181
    1675

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J B.
    1
    973
    1467

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Lance O.
    47
    71
    73

    7 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vince N.
    665
    2398
    12577

    11 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nolen V.
    30
    16
    21

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Captain Cook Monument

    Review Highlights - Captain Cook Monument

    The hike is very strenuous - it's true.., however the snorkeling at the bottom is amazing and secluded!

    Mentioned in 18 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Ehu & Kai Adventures - My teenager was happy the whole time!

    Ehu & Kai Adventures

    4.8(405 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    Memorable, unique, exciting experience with a friendly, helpful attendant to get you on your way…read more We saw dolphins and tons of fish. It took us about 30 mins each way to get there and back. Five stars with the caveat that no one was there when we arrived at 9:00 am (the time we booked online). After about 10 minutes or so, the employee appeared (didn't get his name, unfortunately). As other reviewers note, this place is just a table at the end of a road with a bunch of kayaks and a guy who will rent them to you. Don't expect storage for your belongings or bathrooms. Parking is along the street. All that being said, they give you this info in advance, so you should be prepared. We had our own snorkel gear (or did before I lost mine in the ocean later that day ha ha) so we only needed the kayak and dry bag. A dry bag is necessary (see "lost my gear in the ocean"). The employee gives you all the info you need to find your way to the snorkeling area and back. He said they "lose" about one party a day who overshoots the entrance to the cove when returning and they have to go rescue them. Don't be that person! Once at the snorkeling spot near the monument, you'll see lots of other people and boats, but once you're underwater, you won't notice them - it's like swimming in an aquarium. You need to keep your kayak with you at all times, so if you're paddling with someone else, consider taking turns holding the kayaks and snorkeling. You aren't allowed to dock or approach the shore (this is a hard rule - surly tour guides will yell at you if you get too close). Keep in mind that getting in and out of a kayak in the open ocean is not the same as doing that on the shore or in shallow water. There's no shallow water here at all, so practice in advance or consider taking a tour boat if that's not something you're comfortable with.

    We rented a kayak here to get out to Captain Cook Monument and had such a great experience. The…read moreshop was super easy to find, check-in was quick, and even when we accidentally booked the wrong day, they fixed it with zero hassle. They set us up with everything we needed, including waterproof bags, and gave really clear directions on the paddle route, landmarks, where the best snorkel spots were, and how to make sure we found our way back. Made the whole trip feel stress-free. The paddle out was beautiful, the snorkeling was amazing, and honestly renting from here just made it all so much smoother. Pro tip: bring snacks -- there's nowhere to eat around there once you're out on the water. Highly recommend them if you're planning to kayak to Cook's Monument. Easy, friendly, and super helpful. ‍

    Photos
    Ehu & Kai Adventures - Awesome experience

    Awesome experience

    Ehu & Kai Adventures - Paddling across the bay, enjoying the views of the historic protected site!

    Paddling across the bay, enjoying the views of the historic protected site!

    Ehu & Kai Adventures

    See all

    Sea Quest Hawaii - Exploring the South Kona Coast

    Sea Quest Hawaii

    4.9(1k reviews)
    5.5 mi

    We did a Captain Cook snorkeling tour with Sea Quest Hawaii today and were very impressed. Erin,…read morethe phone representative, was friendly, patient, and answered all my questions, which made me choose this company. Captain Natalie and Assistant Anna were fantastic, knowledgeable, funny, and very attentive throughout the trip. Captain Natalie shared interesting stories about Captain Cook and the surrounding lava caves, and she even helped me with my snorkeling gear and inflating the vest. The snorkeling spot near Captain Cook Monument was incredible, and we saw so many fish. They also provided fresh fruit, chips, cookies, and soft drinks. Thanks to Captain Natalie and Anna, all six of us had a great time and would highly recommend this company.

    Hands down one of the coolest things I've ever done. We popped over to the Big Island with cousins…read morefor Spring Break and didn't book until a couple days out because of weather. Thankfully, they had space for our entire group for the sunset time (615pm check-in) and we didn't have to wait for the late-late slots. Online booking was easy-peasy (no kama'aina discount, unfortunately). We checked in (parking is street parking and there are several boats leaving from the same area, so it can be a bit of a challenge) pretty easily - there were folks out front directing us where to go for Sea Quest. I decided the $35 for the GoPro rental was a steal compared to trusting my waterproof phone pouch and I have no regrets - you can leave the camera running the whole time and they give you the SD card at the end. It was no trouble to do that once we got there, as I didn't add that when booking. They have a decent gift shop and the keiki in our party bought themselves some stuffed souvenirs. We got fitted for shorty wet suits and prescription masks if needed, and then waited for them to split us into boats and groups. We were accompanied in the water by Wylen (sorry if I butchered the spelling) and Abram, and they had the perfect blend of aloha, humor, and information. Super chill, but you also knew they meant business about Rule Number 1. From there, we boarded the boat, a small zodiac-style craft, for the 5 minute journey to Manta Village. The website made it seem like we could leave things on board, but that really wasn't the case. We left all bags, clothing, towels in a secure room on shore, slippers got collected on the pier, and small things like eyeglasses were stored in a bin on the boat. No trouble, but I wouldn't plan to take anything with you on the boat. Getting into the water was easy, and we had one keiki who was a little apprehensive about everything - they took great care to lower him into the water, and when he wanted to go back to the boat a little early, they accompanied him back to the ladder no problem. There were plenty staff around to help and also identify the mantas by their markings. And there were SO MANY mantas! We had an amazing evening watching them - I lost count and forgot many names, there were so many swimming past. We had 30-40 minutes in the water and we had multiple mantas around us the whole time. I thought the time was plenty - by the time we had about 5 minutes to go, my stomach was ready to be back on land. My only regret is not stretching my triceps beforehand - I was not expecting my arms to be so sore after holding onto the bar around the light board! We paid $135ish plus fees per person (all ages) and it was the highlight of the trip, for sure.

    Photos
    Sea Quest Hawaii - Exploring Sea Caves and Lava Tubes

    Exploring Sea Caves and Lava Tubes

    Sea Quest Hawaii - Up Close & Personal with the Manta Rays on the Night Manta Experience

    Up Close & Personal with the Manta Rays on the Night Manta Experience

    Sea Quest Hawaii - Expedition South Kona

    See all

    Expedition South Kona

    Big Island Bees - Inside our Museum and store.

    Big Island Bees

    4.9(449 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Women-owned & operated

    We did the Big Island Bees tour - 100% your time and the drive. Our guide/beekeeper grew up on…read moreher family Bee farm in the mainland. She was extremely knowledgeable about beekeeping. She shared her knowledge regarding be keeping, hive management, and the lifecycle of bees. She identified drones, workers, and the queen. She also explained Big Island Bee's rotates their bee hives into three unique environments which provide distinctive flavors of honey. and the process used for honey is extraction for sale. Big Island Bee's honey is 100% pure honey. (No attatives, it was interesting to learn that some producers of honey add corn syrup an and other adjectives) And she provided information regarding the year-round, honey production that is available in Hawaii, including the fact that big Island bees rotates their hives into three unique environments which provide distinctive flavors of honey. The honey tasting offered a great sampling of the honeys produce by the bees by the and good people at Big Island Bees. This is a great activity for everyone of all ages.

    The cutest local honey producer! The honey tasting was lovely and the staff were really…read moreinformative. The flavor of this honey is out of this world, if I lived on the big island I would buy up so much of their honey! Lots of cute little gift items and gift sets. The vanilla ice cream was very sweet with good flavor. The bees in a hive at the very end of the store were something interesting to look at. Great stop great product reasonably priced, other stores on the island sell this product but at a marked up price, here you are going right to the source! Super cute and charming honey production facility.

    Photos
    Big Island Bees - Beekeeping tour

    Beekeeping tour

    Big Island Bees - Honeybees on a piece of comb.

    Honeybees on a piece of comb.

    Big Island Bees - Our bee farm museum and honey store.

    See all

    Our bee farm museum and honey store.

    Hawaii Forest & Trail - Hike Kilauea Volcano to find red hot lava!

    Hawaii Forest & Trail

    4.8(366 reviews)
    15.2 mi

    I cannot say enough wonderful things about Wilson and the Mauna Kea Summit & Stars excursion…read more Wilson was incredibly well spoken and knowledgeable and I learned so much! He did all of this while navigating steep roads (not all paved) and feeding us amazing chicken stew, cookies, and hot cocoa. This was a truly memorable and magical trip and the weather was just perfect! Everything was well organized and I cannot recommend them enough

    We went on an almost 100% full (flower) moon. It was special to see the terminator line on the…read moreCelestron telescope - it had such great definition! The color of Mauna Kea with the moon shining on it was so magical all around us. There were some clouds that cleared pretty well by the end of our star gazing. We were the last ones up there so it got dark enough to see more than you'd expect with the moon. Jeff, our awesome tour guide, used a laser pointer to help us see the constellations we usually can't back at home. The images on the digital telescope like nebulas, the moon & star clusters were an amazing addition to have as keepsakes. My husband and I felt he made the tour a great balance of learning and fun. He had the group feeling like family before we even left from the pickup lot. Things to consider: I do recommend following the moons cycles booking this tour/your trip if this is especially important for you to see as many stars as possible. The sunset and views of the observatory's make it awesome anyways :) I struggled with altitude sickness around 12,000 ft. Jeff had made sure to let us know beforehand if we experienced any issues to speak up. I was hesitant as I know it would mean turning the whole tour around, but some tingling turned to dizziness and then a brief fainting. He immediately stopped the bus and helped ground me and make sure I was completely okay & coherent before letting me know our options for the tour. We made it up to the top with 2 more (included in tour) stops and I felt better with each one having more time to acclimate :) Thank you Jeff!! You handled this so professionally and I appreciate your check-ins for the rest of the trip. It's cold even with parka and gloves. It's so worth packing warm shoes and layers. The bus had ac and heat so that was great! Do it if you can! Awe-inspiring! Such an unreal environment that makes you wonder about so many things. Just take the precautions seriously, move slow and breathe deep.

    Photos
    Hawaii Forest & Trail - Take a dip in a private waterfall on our Hilo Tropical Waterfall Tour.

    Take a dip in a private waterfall on our Hilo Tropical Waterfall Tour.

    Hawaii Forest & Trail - Explore pristine lava tubes when you venture with Hawaii Forest & Trail.

    Explore pristine lava tubes when you venture with Hawaii Forest & Trail.

    Hawaii Forest & Trail

    See all

    Captain Cook Monument - landmarks - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...