Landmark· Hawaii (Big Island)· Hawaii
Napo'opo'o Beach Park and Hikiau Heiau
19° 28.6′ N · 155° 55.2′ W
At the south end of Kealakekua Bay, the boulder beach where Cook first came ashore on January 17, 1779 sits below Hikiau Heiau, the luakini temple to Lono where Cook's crew held the first Christian service in the islands. Snorkeling off the beach is good on calm mornings, and spinner dolphins are often seen early.
Practical
Coordinate from To-Hawaii.com's pin for the beach park. The 6-acre park has shade, grills and tables; the old sand beach eroded to boulders and the area was hit hard by the March 11, 2011 tsunami. Rocky entry. Hikiau Heiau (19.47556, -155.91936) is reached by a trail behind the beach; do not climb on it. Napo'opo'o wharf may not be used to launch permitted vessels; the State Parks permit rules apply to kayaks and paddleboards here.
Best for
Shore access to Kealakekua Bay history
Nearby
- Kealakekua Bay State Historical ParkRight here
- Kealakekua Bay Anchorage0.3 NM away
- Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins (50-yard rule)0.4 NM away
- Captain Cook Monument (Ka'awaloa)0.8 NM away
- Ka'awaloa (Captain Cook Monument) Trail0.9 NM away
- Kona Coffee Living History Farm0.9 NM away
- Manago Hotel Restaurant (Captain Cook)0.9 NM away
- Choicemart (Captain Cook)1 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).