Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park
Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park
Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park
4
6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
39 reviews
Excellent
16
Very good
16
Average
4
Poor
2
Terrible
1
ticoalra
Jefferson, MD310 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
The view was beautiful and it was an adventure getting here. The road from the Kona area is steep and winding and the last bit is one lane. The park is small but beautiful. It was a quick stop for us but so gorgeous!
Written 1 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
subterranean_jack
Phoenix531 contributions
May 2022
This was historically a place of sanctuary, and it exudes calmness and peacefulness. If you're yearning to escape the tourist traps, this is the perfect place to relax. Very scenic stop for an hour, just to walk around. Nice gift shop too.
Written 6 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
packedandready2go
California933 contributions
Mar 2023
The drive down from the main highway is beautiful with lots of lush foliage. There are two ways to enter the water if you want to snorkel. One way is on the northern side near the state park small building. You have to make your way over loads of slippery rocks here. The other way is where the kayaks enter the water. On the side closest to the bay there is a narrow passage where you can go down to the water's edge to don your snorkel fins. Though short be forewarned that it is steep getting out of the water and you might need to pull yourself up by the blue rope on the right hand side. The snorkeling is good with lots of large tropical fish. I even saw a huge moray eel. I did not spot huge schools of fish. On the other hand there were very few other snorkelers. The scenery is beautiful and historic.
Written 17 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ITRT
Virginia38,566 contributions
Apr 2022
The Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park covers most of the shoreline of Kealakekua Bay. At the northeastern end is the state historical park. The park includes a parking area, picnic pavilion, grills, restrooms, showers and Napo’opo’Beach. The beach has no sand and a rocky coastline. According to local history, this is where Captain James Cook set foot on the Big Island. The native Hawaiians believed he was Lono, the god of agriculture and fertility of the land, and treated him royally. An ancient Hawaiian temple site, Hiki'au Heiau, is in the beach park. A few people were snorkeling.
Written 17 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Davidsquash
Kingston, Canada300 contributions
Mar 2020
The beach here is large rocks. Hard to enter with flippers on. The shore break is small and somewhat sheltered.
There are minimal places to put a towel down.
Excellent swimming in the bay though. People did see dolphins, we missed them, no noticeable current despite it being a very windy day.
There are minimal places to put a towel down.
Excellent swimming in the bay though. People did see dolphins, we missed them, no noticeable current despite it being a very windy day.
Written 8 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
404HappyTraveller
Saskatchewan, Canada430 contributions
Feb 2020
This is at the end of an interesting and pretty drive down from coffee country to the ocean’s edge. It’s a really pretty bay, and one can see why the ancient Hawaiians revered this spot. There’s a bit of local history on some historical markers with some interesting old photographs, and there were a few people in the water, but mostly it was a great place to just stand at the water’s edge and gaze out over the bay. You can see the Captain Cook Memorial Marker out along the edge of the bay, but it’s not accessible from the harbour.
Written 22 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jane D
Madison, WI145 contributions
Feb 2019
Some Hawaiin residents told us aboout this beautiful small park where you have a view across the bay of the Captain Cook Memorial. Locals hang out here. You pass the way to the painted church so we went there afterwards.
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
juvemeister
Port Orchard, WA441 contributions
Dec 2019
As first time visitors to the Big Island, we found ourselves just driving along the west coast to see what we could see, and we ended up winding and wending our way down to this beautiful state park located on an expansive bay. A wonderful find. Loved the historical architecture, the backdrop of the steep hills, and the inviting bay churning with life. Parking is a bit tight, so some creativity and cooperation with other visitors is required. On the positive side, restrooms are available. There is much to see here above the water level, but as we discovered after our visit, this was a place where we should have brought snorkel gear. Do not be deterred by the drive in and out. It is winding and a bit grueling in places, but take the time to appreciate the beauty of your surroundings and all will be good.
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laurie S
Denver, NC1,559 contributions
Oct 2019
We found this place on our Shaka guide audio tour of the Big Island, otherwise we would not have stopped here. There is a small parking lot and then the views. The "beach" is beautiful smooth large stones but not something I would have ventured on to after the path ends. There were some young people sitting on the rocks and venturing into the water, but the waves looked very rough to me and not a place to swim.
We enjoyed the views, read the historical plaques and left. Maybe a 10 minute visit and not worth the drive.
We enjoyed the views, read the historical plaques and left. Maybe a 10 minute visit and not worth the drive.
Written 24 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amybthompson
Kailua-Kona, HI321 contributions
Mar 2019 • Solo
This was a cool place to look across and see the Captain Cook monument. There were lots of dolphins in the bay playing and jumping. There were some locals there fishing. A lot weed smoking in this area. There is a bathroom in the park.
Written 4 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
samanthakbarnett
Seychelles23 contributions
Hi TripAdvisor community,
On the 27th of May (2016), I am planning on visiting the Kona area for the purpose of undertaking a Manta Ray Diver course for one day. I am getting into Kona at 6:45am from the Hilo Hele-On Bus. I am desperately want to visit Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park and the Captain Cook Monument. My diving starts at 3pm, would it be possible to visit Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park in the morning before my dive starts?
If so, is it possible to catch a taxi from Kona to the park and back? How much approximately in cost? How long do the hike take to get to the bay. And what is the opening time in the park? I would be going to the park asap in the morning, hopefully arriving around 7:30am. And any park fees, if so how much for a concession?
Thanks team!
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Frequently Asked Questions about Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park:
- Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling Tour - 4 hour Kona Zodiac Adventure (From ₹ 10,717.38)
- Morning Kealakekua Snorkel Tour (From ₹ 14,666.72)
- Kona Snorkeling - Beat the Crowd to Kealakekua Bay (From ₹ 13,959.34)
- Kealakekua Bay Small-Group Snorkel Experience from Kailua-Kona (From ₹ 9,081.82)
- Big Island - South Island Coastal Loop Driving Tour (From ₹ 1,665.56)
- Hotels near Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park:
- (0.01 km) Oceanfront 4 BR for 12! Weddings/Receptions!
- (0.01 km) Oceanfront Home - Kealakekua Bay - KAYAKS INCLUDED
- (0.06 km) Lawai'a Sea Lodge Downstairs - Ocean Front - Hosted - KAYAKS INCLUDED
- (0.06 km) Lawai'a Sea Lodge Cottage - Ocean Front - Hosted - KAYAKS INCLUDED
- (0.11 km) Oceanfront*Hot Tub*Kayaks*Snorkeling*Dolphins*Gorgeous Location
- Restaurants near Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park:
- (1.81 km) Shaka Tacoz
- (2.87 km) The Coffee Shack
- (1.82 km) Manago Hotel & Restaurant
- (4.79 km) Ka'aloa's Super J's
- (5.72 km) Gypsea Gelato