It's a 3.8-mile hike each way with 1,400 ft in elevation change. If you're not in great shape or don't hike often then please take into consideration how hard this might be for you. There are no bathrooms, there is nowhere to get water. Please make sure you bring at least 2 liters of water. Don't wear hiking sandals, wear sneakers with good tread or hiking boots. The hike is beautiful with many different environments that you pass. Jungle, tall grass, lava rock mountains, and ocean. When you get to the bottom, snorkeling is amazing. Crystal clear water, amazing coral reef with tons of fish and activity. The way down isn't too bad, but the way up... awful. Physically the hardest thing I've ever done, I thought I was going to die. Felt like I was going to pass out. Make sure you go when it is not too hot (I was very lucky it wasn't the middle of the day). Go in the early morning when it's cool, don't risk doing it in the evening because if you get stuck in the dark I can't even imagine how hard it would be to get back to the top. Very dangerous. If you're still reading this, take this review seriously. I read one about someone thinking they were going to die and I laughed it off, don't do what I did. I don't regret going, but I would never ever, ever, do it again. read more

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Great, but strenuous hike if you are used to it and snorkeling at the bottom is nice! Start early and bring all you need with you.

The snorkeling is great. If you make the mistake and do the hike down and back, it is a miserable experience. Ruins the good day of snorkeling. Take a boat if you are going there. read more

There are no signs for the trail down to the statue. Parking is on the road. The walk is about 20 minutes going and 30 minutes coming back, so allow for that time here. The trail is very nicely groomed but wear hiking boots or sneakers. Watch out so you don't trip on pebbles. Do the hike in early morning or late evening. If you have asthma, make sure you bring your inhaler. I forgot mine. read more

Captain Cook Monument - The trail to the statue. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

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In my opinion this is the best place to go snorkeling in the Big Island. Simply rent a kayak around the area and enjoy a few hours exploring all of the fishes that surround these coral reefs. I will say that there are a lot of snorkel cruise ships that go to this location, so it is not as remote as others will have you believe. You will have to share the place with a lot of other people, but it is a tradeoff that is well worth it. read more

Must visit place if you are interested in Snorkeling. It is not very commercialized and you will see a few locals and tourist. If you are lucky there are lots of dolphins you'll get snorkel with. And of course there are sea turtles as well. It's a beautiful place. To go to visit the actual monument you need to do that through a kayaking tour or need prior permission if kayaking self. Definitely visit this place with snorkeling gears!!! read more

We took a boat ride just to go snorkeling here! Worst snorkeling spot ever!! Do not agree with the hype. But the boar ride was fun!

It's a long hike on the way back so save some energy but it's very well worth it. The landscape and views are stunning. The water when you make it down it absolutely beautiful with some bright and brilliant sea life. Pack light but plenty of water and good shoes and don't forget your snorkeling gear! read more

Snorkeling area: 5 Stars Monument itself: 1 Star For one of the world's richest countries, whom has statues galore all over its "Empire", this was the lamest dullest monument for one of their people. A small white obelisk...is that the best they could come up with? read more

I snorkeled here twice. One of the best snorkeling spots in big island. To reach here, you need to hike about 2 miles (1400 feet down to the beach). If you don't want to hike, many tour company bouts take here, but of course it's not free. read more

Visited here 27 years ago on Honeymoon and place just as beautiful as remembered. We hiked in and out and can't stress how strenuous it was late in the day after snorkeling but it was well worth it. Boating in is the mode our children have said they will do next time:) read more

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****Must See*** There are three absolutely must see snorkeling areas on the Kona side and the Captain Cook Monument is one of them. As you may have read already, there are only 3 ways to get there: Hike, kayak or take a charter. We heard a lot about the hike and by that point in the day, we weren't eager to go 2 miles through "the hardest hike of our lives" as some people have described it. We did go and take a look at the entrance to the hike and it wasn't something we were about to enter. We then drove around to figure out what's the best way to get there. You can rent a kayak form some of the neighboring stores which I think would be cheaper or you can take a kayak from one of the locals (single was $40 and double was $60). I found this option to be the most palatable and easy. For experienced kayakers I think you can get from that little cove to the monument in about 20-30 min and others it will take about 40 min. But guess what guys, it's well worth it!! You can't actually dock there so you'll have to hold onto the rope that your kayak is attached to and snorkel with it. Not as annoying as it sounds. You should be able to see the bottom when you get to the right place. You'll pull up pretty close to the shore to get there. If we had hours and hours to search around, we could spend the entire day snorkeling up the side of the shore. There were some awesome fish/shells and other creatures that we didn't see at the other places. We snorkeled right by the monument for about 45 min-1hr and we had our fill (plus we were cold) but each new section we investigated had something new to see. Unfortunately we did not see any dolphins. If you venture just 3 meters out, there is a massive drop where I presume the dolphins come in and sleep. By far my favorite place to snorkel but in terms of cost/ease, Honaunau is my preferred place to snorkel. If you haven't been by here, you must give it a look! Allot an entire day to fully appreciate this area! read more

Didn't see a single pirate ship or mermaid. Very disappointed. Also, too many tropical fish for my taste; took away from the interesting coral formations. read more

This place is epic. There's only 2 ways to get to it- hike the 3.8 miles in or take a tour boat ride there. We hiked it- the weather looked promising for it, with drizzle and some clouds. The pictures I posted are of the hike leading up to this Monument. Half way through this hike I thought of turning around, I wasn't sure my kids would be able to handle the trek back up. Going in it's all down hill with a few whip lashes to the face with long scratchy grass which wasn't so pleasant as well as the mosquitos. I sprayed myself with bug spray but still got bit and it got hot. I always pack snacks for the kidos when hiking it keeps them busy so they were fine until the near end they were done. It is so worth the struggle, beautiful clear water, 20 + dolphins in the distance flipping out of the water. So much coral and colorful fish everywhere and since it is difficult to get to, very few people occupy the space here. It is my favorite snorkeling area in Kona for sure. Take lots of water- even in drizzling weather it gets hot with the humidity. There are so many rocks at the half way point (4 marker) all the way down to the end on this trail and it's very difficult to walk even in water shoes. Bring the hiking shoes to protect your ankles. Bring your snorkeling gear- there is no point to reach the end of this and not see the beauty of the sea below. Even when I sat at the edge of the little pier I could see everything crystal clear outside the water but going under is beautiful. The snorkeling plus the hike back up will exhaust you- bring lots of water- it is amazing the few people I saw attempting this trail without any. It's good for kids if they have experience hiking- otherwise I wouldn't recommend it. The water near the edge of the pier came to my mouth in some parts and deeper in other and I"m 5'5. There are lots of star fish and other sea life creatures attached to the rocks so you don't want to step down. I think arm floats or something to keep you afloat when you get exhausted would make it easier. The tour boats that came in dropped people off and I noticed some of them to have those long skinny floats and they were out there for a long time because of those things. The water is calm except at the shoreline there is lots of pull around the rocks- avoid the rocks. read more

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The hike is quite a hike. Bring snorkel gear, it's worth it. Here's what you need to know: The hike is 3.8 miles each way. It's long and not easy. There are places to rest in the way. There's quite a bit of wildlife. Birds (of course) pigs, mountain goats. I was surprised by how much there is to see. The beginning of the trail is very overgrown and you don't see much... but later you get a breathtaking view of the coast. read more

You must! You must go! There are a few ways to get here, but I highly *highly* recommend renting a kayak and bringing snorkel gear. We were able to rent and launch a kayak right on the bay, although I did see there were some more legitimate businesses in town. Our rental was $70 for the kayak and 2 sets of snorkel gear, for "unlimited" time (it took about 2 hours). Our kayak guy had about 10 kayaks or so, as well as snorkel gear for rent. He launched us right into the bay, and it took about 40 minutes to kayak across to Cpt Cook memorial. You cannot dock your boat, so we took turns being tied to the boat and going up to the memorial... which honestly isn't THAT big of a deal. Sure, it's historic and all that, but where it's really at is the coral reef under/attached to the memorial. HOLY COW!! Snorkeling was seriously magical here. The water was unbelievably clear, and there were so many fish! It was the highlight of my trip to Big Island. Seriously, the coolest thing I did all trip! read more

This was an amazing experience! The decent on the Ka'Awaloa Trail with incredible views and some of the best snorkeling we've experienced on the island so far. Before your trip: a word of caution. This is a VERY CHALLENGING hike. Tour books and hiking sites like All Trails underrate its difficulty. We recorded 2.2 miles and approximately 1400 vertical feet EACH WAY (down then back up.) A sign at the trail head cautions hikers that "many have suffered injuries and required rescue." Wear sturdy hiking shoes, NOT reef walkers or flip-flops. Also, think of how much water you'd normally take on a hike and triple it. I'd recommend no less than 3 liters per adult. There is no fresh water along the trail or down at the beach. Although the shoreline is beautifully shaded, the trail is very exposed, so wear sun protection, but leave your beach umbrellas and chairs at home. This trail does not mess around. I would not recommend it for anyone who is not in reasonably good shape, has joint issues, a heart condition, is pregnant, small children or anyone who cannot tolerate a strenuous workout. There are plenty of boat tours available for those who would like to visit the monument and snorkel but cannot make the hike. read more

This was our very first stop after landing and it was amazing! Our three year thrust right into the water and there were seat turtles. Best beach on the island that's not touristy. read more

Captain Cook Monument - Sea turtle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

Do not follow the link on the above directional guide because that takes you to a private road follow the signs

Fantastic choice! Snorkeling in these waters is absolutely amazing, but watch out for the urchins in the bottom, so watch your step and preferably bring some water shoes and fins. Another piece of advise, the hike down is very easy, but the hike up is more complicated than average for a similar distance. The pounding sun makes it so... Bring a lot of water, but don't drink too much on the way down. I'd split my water in a 10/90 ratio, and also try to get an energy rich snack before you hike back up. Looking at all the fish is totally worth the effort. You can see many fish of different colors and sizes and even the legendary hunuhununukunukuapua'a!! Some guy that we talked to, told me he saw dolphins the day before, but I didn't see any while I was there. Still quite impressive!! read more

We didn't see the monument, but we did go on the hike and it was amazing! Strenuous but highly recommend, bring an extra bottle of water and some snorkel gear :) read more

Great Location - If you're Fat, Weak or Lazy the hike down and back my kill you... I'm serious, the sun is coming over the hill at 7:00am in March and it's BLAZING on the way up...Hiked all over the PNW, this is at least 1500' of elevation gain inside 2 miles. Bring water read more

Fun hike - great experience. It's hard to recognize when you are there - even with the good directions offered by the Big Island Hikes website. There is a sign at the top of the trail, but the trail doesn't look like much. But it points straight down hill for more than a mile, before making a long curve to the left toward the monument in the last three quarters of a mile or so. The top of the trail is through tall grass which some nice people cut back every once in a while. When we went, maybe half of the top half of the trail was grass taller than we were, and you had to look straight down to see the trail. Don't worry, you are on the right path. The bottom portion of the trail is through a lava field with views of the ocean and bay - no shade and will be hot on a hot day. You get some shade at the bottom, just before you get to the monument. Go into the trees - and the monument is to your left after you get in there. It's a steep trail - straight up the hill, no switchbacks, so be in relatively good condition. It's not long - so it's doable. Enjoy. If you read a guidebook, it will describe the precise spot where Captain Cook was drawn and quartered just off the trail. Cool. read more

Captain Cook Monument - Light at the end of the tunnel. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

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Do NOT hike this if you are even the slightest out of shape. Lol. The best snorkeling we found on the island but the 2 mike hike straight up a mountain in 90 degree weather was horrible. Just a warning because there was no review on YELP that warned me :) read more

It was great! We kayaked with Kona Boys company that can land on the "beach" there is no easy way to get in and snorkel without a company, the bay is pretty calm and the fish are every where. I would strongly encourage you to use a company that has the permit to land so you get to see it all, spinner Dolphins are all over the bay and swam back with us to the other side. read more

An extraordinary snorkeling and kayaking spot you can visit without an appointment. Just go there, rent all the gear you need from a vendor in a truck, and get in the water! Very clear, warm, deep water, and an array of fish make this a perfect way to spend part of a day snorkeling. The beautiful coastline is excellent to explore by kayak. read more

We set out to see this and more or less wanted to do some active hiking. We first followed our GPS which took us to the tourist location to see the monument from afar. The beach there was cool, but not what we had set out for. The directions for the hike on Yelp are spot on and after using those we easily found the start of the trail. Caution: bring plenty of water and wear shoes or hiking boots. We had tennis shoes and plenty of water. Our goal was to hike down the trail to see the ocean, stay for a bit, and then hike back up in time to be back for a wedding at the resort we were staying at. We set out a little before noon and realized that it was going to take longer than we had expected. The trail was exactly as we had hoped and was very rugged! We went down the trail for about 40 mins and we were about 15 minutes from the bottom according to some locals. Everyone that we met, fit or not, was huffing and puffing on their way back up. We decided we had better turn around or we might miss the wedding and it took about an hour and ten minutes with several stops along the way to hydrate. All in all, it was a cool experience and def worth doing if you plan for it. Take water and dress appropriately. It's going to be warm and dusty. We did see a few w sandals and little children going down and probably wouldn't recommend either. If you're feeling adventurous though, this would be a good stop! read more

Beautiful water and area for snorkeling. Just be prepared if you decide to hike to the monument. My husband and I didn't realize how hard the hike would be and we only had water shoes and a small bottle of water. The hike down was rough but beautiful. The hike back up was torturous. You're on volcanic rock for a lot of it. Need proper shoes and lots of water. There is a park just across the bay that is accessible by car, but you probably can't make it to the monument unless you're prepared for a swim. There are also cruises that will take you out to it. It's about a 4 mile round trip hike, but mostly on the mountain. read more

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We parked just south of the opposite side of the Bay. We rented a kayak for $50 all day not from the "big" guy but from "just a guy" and it was AWESOME! It was a good 25 minute pretty heavy rowing sesh over to the prime snorkeling spot. Be prepared to not beach your kayak. We hopped on and off the kayak away from the shore. The water is incredible! The fish were amazing. Best snorkeling it lives up to its reputation. read more

We read some mixed reviews about the hike down to the monument, but knew the snorkeling was great, so decided to do it on our trip this past week. So worth it! I recommend doing this hike in the winter, as I can imagine the way up in the heat of the summer would crush even the most fit. The hike down took us 40 minutes. We were three 48-50 year olds and 2 teenagers. There was no complaining on the way down. The path was clear with occasional brushing by various tall grasses on our arms, no bushwacking needed. We did not come across any dead pigs, as other reviews have mentioned, would have rather enjoyed that, however. Also saw about 3 bugs total, the no-bite-people kind, and nobody suffered any bug bites. Oh, except for one waspy looking thing under a fallen tree that we had to go under right near the shoreline, that one was a little meh. The snorkeling was AMAZING and so worth the hike back up! We saw a manta ray! 3 sleeping white tip reef sharks!!! as well as an abundant amount of all kinds of reef fish, and a very healthy reef! The boats all left by about 1pm, then we had the place mostly to ourselves. Clouds rolled in, making the hike back up at least bearable. If you like a good work out, you will appreciate the hike up. It took us 1 hour, with several rest stops. It is a steady uphill but nothing too steep. Great leg and glute work out! We were pretty done by the top, but glad we did it! Nothing some wusubi, icecream and guava cake couldn't fix! Will do it again next time, for sure! read more

do not hike here unless you feel like dying..not kidding..it's so worth it to go on a boat rather than hiking it..