Captain Cook, Hawaii Guide
Captain Cook, Hawaii Guide
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Address , Captain Cook, HI 96704
 
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Complete guide to the city of Captain Cook, Big Island, Hawaii.
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• General: Educational • General: Guide • General: History
Guide Series: Hawaii City Guides
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Captain Cook Location


Captain Cook is a city located on the west (leeward) coast of Hawaii's Big Island in the South Kona district, just a bit south of Kailua-Kona and directly south of Kealakekua. The 13 square mile area is right along the coastline and easy to access via the main road which is the Mamalahoa Highway (11).

Captain Cook History


With a name like Captain cook, you can probably guess that this area is steeped in rich history. If you're guessing that this is named after the famed explored, Captain James Cook, then you are correct. If you're unfamiliar with the Captain be sure to read The History of Captain James Cook to get up to speed.

The short version is that Cook was the first Westerner to land in Hawaii and this area was his second stop in the islands. What started out with the locals looking at Cook as a god ended up in a major skirmish that ultimately led to Cook's death in the Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park when Cook tried to kidnap King Kalaniopuu. The Captain Cook Monument next to the bay memorializes his life and achievements.

Captain Cook Attractions


Without a doubt, one of the biggest draws to this area is the amazing and gorgeous Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park. The bay is home to a variety of snorkeling boat tours due to the clarity of the waters here. If you're visiting the Big Island, the area is not to be missed and you should also check out Hikiau Heiau while you're there.

Due to it's elevation, Captain Cook is an ideal area for growing coffee. The Koa Coffee Plantation located there produces 100% estate Kona coffee. The Kona Coffee Living History Farm here is an open air agriculture museum. It depicts the lives of early Japanese immigrants and their daily lives during the years of 1920 to 1945.


Another attraction is the Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden. It is a 15 acre garden that charges a small fee for a guided tour where you will see over 200 species of endemic, indigenous, and Polynesian-introduced plants. The garden is named for kama'aina botanist Amy Greenwell and is run by The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum.


If you're into history, the Captain Cook Monument can be seen in person via the Captain Cook Monument Trail Hike. The H.N. Greenwell Store Museum provides a look at life in an 1890's general store while Greenwell Farms Inc. provides educational and free tours of their coffee farm. Big Island Bees is a fun stop to see beekeeping and honey tours and buy a jar of honey made from their own bees.

View all that Captain Cook has to offer here.

Captain Cook Fun Facts


Captain James Cook, who the city is named after, was an expert map maker. He also pioneered methods for warding off scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of Vitamin C, that plagued many voyagers. NASA's third shuttle, Discovery, was named after Cook's HMS Discovery ship and the Endeavour shuttle was named after this ship he used for his first circumnavigation of the globe.