The island was named after the famous explorer Captain Cook. He landed at Kealakekua Bay on his third expedition of the Pacific Ocean in 1778. In 1850, after Cook was killed by Hawaiians for forcing a chief to return a boat, the island was founded in his memory by Henry Nicholas Greenwell. After Cook's death, James King was made lieutenant and given the job of describing the island. In 1779, King gave the first written description of the sport surfing. Surfing was practiced by Hawaiians as far back as 1779, and is currently one of Hawaii's most popular water sport activities. And, Hawaii has other water sports for tourist to enjoy.
Captain Cook is not accessible by car. Most tourist use a kayak to reach the island instead. A kayak rental agency can be found in your Captain Cook, Hawaii Business Directory. For safety reasons, tourist often rent a two person kayak to make their voyage instead of a single kayak. While renting your kayak, you should also rent snorkeling or SCUBA equipment for your underwater adventure.
The scenery to the island is lined with grassy mountains, lava rocks, and green beaches. And, the underwater life is the best in Hawaii. The cove has an assortment of fish, Blue Tail Wrasse, Moray Eels, and Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles. But, beware of the Crown of Thorns Starfish while diving. It can sting with its long spines if touched accidentally. The island's shallow waters make it ideal for snorkeling and SCUBA diving. The reef south of the monument has a drop-off of 80 feet. Waters north of the monument are shallow with good visibility making them perfect for snorkeling. Tour guides are available to help you plan your vacation if you search the Captain Cook, Hawaii Yellow Pages and Captain Cook, Hawaii Business Directory.
Written by Lyndsey Morgan
