Kaʻawaloa Trail
Strenuous 3.8-mile round-trip hike. 1,300ft elevation change. Steep, rocky, little shade.
High Exertion
History on the Edge
Captain James Cook
Monument.
Kealakekua Bay Marine Sanctuary
Erected 1874 • Sovereign Soil
The White Obelisk
This 27-foot white stone obelisk stands in isolation on the shoreline, marking the approximate location where British explorer Captain James Cook fell during a skirmish with Native Hawaiians in 1779.
Sovereignty Note: Erected in 1874, the monument stands on a plot technically deeded to the United Kingdom, though managed today by Hawaii State Parks.
Marine Sanctuary
The waters surrounding the monument are part of a protected Marine Life Conservation District. The area offers some of the best snorkeling in Hawaiʻi due to high visibility and abundant coral reefs.
Protected Ecosystem
Access Protocols
Vessel Landing
Kayaks available from vendors. State permit legally required to land at the monument dock.
Commercial Tours
Departures from Keauhou Bay or Honokōhau Harbor. Easy access to reef without the hike.
Kaʻawaloa Point, Kealakekua Bay
Respect the history. Protect the reef.