Pristine waters and fascinating marine life make Kona’s rugged coastline an unforgettable snorkeling destination. Discover the hidden wonders of the sea – from schools of tropical fish darting in the coral to curious octopuses peeking out from rocky crevices.
Explore the pristine waters of Kealakekua Bay to see the Captain Cook Monument and encounter dolphins and sea turtles in their natural habitat. Or take to the water at night to witness a mesmerizing dance of manta rays as they gather to feed on plankton.
1. Captain Cook Monument
The monument that commemorates the first westerner to set foot on Hawaii is actually one of the most interesting places for snorkeling in the whole state. The obelisk juts out from the water just below a beach where you can swim among tropical fish and explore coral reefs. It’s a popular spot for snorkeling in Kona and many tour companies run boat trips to the monument for visitors to enjoy. This is the easiest and safest way to visit this site if you want to avoid hiking.
The waters around the Captain Cook Monument are protected by a marine sanctuary and teem with tropical fish year round. It’s one of the most popular snorkel spots in the world and is considered an underwater wonder because of its pristine and clear conditions. It’s also home to sea turtles, manta rays and Hawaiian spinner dolphins.
When it comes to snorkeling Captain Cook Monument, entering the water is easy from a boat if you came on one or from the concrete wall that stands next to the monument. It’s not the best entrance point because it’s a bit of a steep climb, but it’s much better than trying to enter over the rocks somewhere else. If you are going on a kayak snorkeling tour you will have an easier time entering and the company will provide a ladder to help you get into the water.
You can hike to the monument, but it’s not recommended unless you are an experienced hiker who loves exploring tropical rainforests. The Ka’Awaloa Trail is a 3.7 mile (5.7 km) out-and-back trail that takes about an hour to reach the beach and monument. It’s a very scenic hike, but it can be brutally hot in the summer.
The easiest and safest way to visit Captain Cook Monument is on a snorkel tour boat. Many tour companies offer this option and they will pick you up from your hotel or resort in Kona. They will take you to Kealakekua Bay and snorkel the crystal clear waters that surround the monument, something known as going for Kona Snorkeling Tours. It’s a beautiful and fun experience for the entire family.
2. Place of Refuge
Puuhonua o Honaunau, which means Place of Refuge (phu-OH-nua oh-hun-ao-noo), is an important National Historic Park and sanctuary of Hawaii’s past. This is where you will find an amazing history lesson and some of the best snorkeling in Hawaii.
In ancient Hawaii, there was a strict set of rules called Kapu that needed to be followed at all costs. The rules were so important that breaking them was punishable with death. If you happened to break a Kapu law, your only chance of survival was an all-out run and swim for the Place of Refuge. Once there, the priests would perform a ceremony of absolution.
During your visit to the park, you will be able to see many heiau, or temples, and other ancient sites. The most impressive is the Great Wall that separates the refuge from the alii’s palace grounds. The massive wall is 1,000 feet long and over 10 feet high in some places, and it was built without any dressed stones or mortar.
Another interesting site is the Old Heiau Site, which may have been the first heiau for the refuge. Only a few remnants remain, but they are fascinating to explore as you imagine what the structure looked like when it was in use.
Visitors can also walk the 1871 Trail through a Hawaiian Heiau, agricultural areas, Holua sled courses and Keanae’s Cliffs. The hike is a great way to learn more about the history of the park and the people who once called it home.
The park also features a beautiful beach and some of the best SCUBA diving and snorkeling in Hawaii at Paea, or Two Step. Unlike the more popular Captain Cook Monument at Kealakekua Bay, this location offers easy ocean entry with very little sand.
If you’d like to take a guided tour of the House of Refuge, you can call ahead and book it. However, it’s best to make a reservation because the refuge staff like to be able to speak with you in person about what to expect on your visit. This makes the logistics of a visit much smoother.
3. Kailua Bay
This tranquil bay is one of the most popular snorkeling sites in Hawaii, featuring pristine waters, vibrant marine life, and convenient amenities. Its sheltered waters and calm environment make it ideal for snorkelers of all ages, especially beginners.
A variety of colorful coral reefs encircle the bay, and it’s also home to several sea turtles. You’ll find plenty of tropical fish, too, including the iconic humuhumunukunukuapua’a (Hawaiian state fish), parrotfish, and butterflyfish.
Snorkelers enjoy underwater visibility up to 100 feet in this marine sanctuary, which Rodale’s Scuba Diving ranked number one in the Indo-Pacific region. It’s the only underwater state park on the island, and it offers unique marine life that you can’t see elsewhere, such as flame angelfish and lizardfish.
The water at King Kamehameha Beach is usually very calm, as the outer reef takes much of the energy from waves crashing on to the shore. It’s a great place to practice proper reef etiquette, and to learn more about the marine life that inhabits this slice of paradise. This includes learning about the different fish species that live off of this protected shoreline, such as yellow tang, saddleback wrasse, manini, and spotted tobies. Occasionally, snorkelers can even encounter rarer fishes like christmas wrasse and Moorish idols.
Located on the north side of the Big Island, Hapuna beach is a picturesque white sand beach that’s a favorite among snorkelers. The sheltered waters are clear, and snorkelers can find lots of interesting coral around the rocky prominence inside the bay or around the rocky point on the southern part of the beach. If the water is too choppy for snorkeling, there’s plenty to explore on land.
Snorkeling is a great way to experience the beauty of Hawaii’s oceans and to make unforgettable memories. The crystal-clear water at Kealakekua Bay, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, and Molokini Crater will take your breath away. And don’t forget to slow down and look closely, as many of Hawaii’s most fascinating marine creatures move at their own pace. This includes octopus that change their colors to camouflage, eels peeking out of their hiding spots, and tiny cleaner fish zipping in and around the gills of larger fish.
4. Milolii
There’s nothing more awe-inspiring than exploring an underwater wonder. From the beautiful sculptures that line Grenada’s reefs to the world’s largest unfrozen freshwater lake that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, there is so much to discover beneath the surface.
There is something magical about Milolii, the last fishing village on the south coast of Hawaii. It’s a place where the kupuna (elders) are firmly determined to preserve their way of life from the changes that have swept through so many other parts of the island.
It is a hard-won battle, but one they’re winning. For decades, this tightly knit community has resisted bringing electricity or other modern conveniences into their homes. This protectiveness explains why from above Milolii looks like an Antarctic research station or maybe a Mars colony, with scattered houses on a stark lava plain where few visitors venture.
But on this bright July morning, the seaside pavilion at Milolii Beach Park is abuzz with kids. It’s the first day of the 2013 Lawaia Ohana Camp, and it’s crowded with chattering youngsters from nearby villages of Honaunau, Oceanview and from as far away as Hilo and Kailua-Kona.
The camp is organized by Milolii residents and supervised by kumu (teachers) from Kalanihale, an organization that created youth programs in response to the needs of the community. The group recently completed a process of creating a set of rules to manage Milolii as a community-based subsistence fishing area, with the goal of protecting and restoring the village’s natural resources.
The beautiful stretch of white sand at Milolii is a testament to the success of this effort, but the real magic lies in the surrounding waters. The sands of the Na Pali Coast are protected by an extensive barrier reef, offering an eco-friendly and low-impact way to enjoy the area’s scenic beauty. And kayak access to the beach adds a sense of adventure, as the journey requires navigating through a small channel in the reef.