Captain Cook Kayak Rental: The Kealakekua Bay Experience

Are you considering a Captain Cook kayak rental?

You can only access Kealakekua Bay by water or a steep 8-mile roundtrip hike, so kayaking is actually one of the only ways to visit it.

Kealakekua Bay is a hidden gem nestled along the coast of Hawaii’s Big Island. This stunning marine sanctuary is a kayaker’s paradise, offering an unforgettable experience amidst its turquoise waters, vibrant marine life, and captivating history.

This protected bay boasts a rich history and is home to the Captain Cook Monument, commemorating the famous British explorer Captain James Cook’s place of death.

There’s no better way to explore this natural wonder than renting a kayaking (or paddleboard) to paddle and snorkel along the gorgeous seascapes.

If you are bringing your own kayak, or borrowing from a local friend, a permit is required to kayak in Kealakekua Bay. The permit is issued by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and is necessary for all watercraft activities, including kayaking, within the bay’s waters. The primary purpose of the permit system is to manage and protect the delicate marine ecosystem of Kealakekua Bay, which is a marine life conservation district.

To obtain a permit, you can visit the official DLNR website for the most up-to-date information on the application process and fees.

Exploring Kealakekua Bay

Kealakekua Bay holds great historical significance as the place where Captain James Cook, the first western explorer to make contact with the Hawaiian Islands, landed on the island of Hawaiʻi in 1779. Tragically, Cook met his demise in a skirmish with Native Hawaiians at this very bay, where a white obelisk stands as a memorial to his death.

Additionally, on the east side of the bay, you can find the Hikiau heiau (sacred temple) dedicated to the Hawaiian god, Lono. It is a luakini heiau, where the natives performed human sacrifices.

As you embark on your kayak adventure through Kealakekua Bay, you’ll be captivated by the diverse, natural attractions that surround you.

Spinner dolphins call this bay home, and are often seen putting on a show as you paddle across the bay.

With your Captain Cook kayak rental, most companies have a snorkel set to rent for you explore below the ocean’s surface. The bay’s clear waters offer a window into an underwater world teeming with life, so be sure to take advantage of the snorkeling opportunity.

Dip beneath the pristine waters, and be greeted by a kaleidoscope of colorful fish darting through the coral reefs. Listen to parrot fish crunching on rocks and hear dolphins clicking to each other. You are sure to spy a sea turtle or two as well.

Sun Protection – whether using reef safe sunscreen, UV shirts, and/or hats, be sure to protect yourself from the elements as being exposed for long periods of time can bring on heat stroke and dehydration

Bottle of Water – speaking of hydration, bring a bottle of water with you making sure your body is full of fluids

Snacks – there’s no burger drive-through in the bay, so it’s wise to bring a bit of nutrition with you in case you get hit with low blood sugar from all the paddling.

Waterproof Cases – if you want to take pictures of your amazing time on the water, protect your camera or phone in a waterproof case. You might also want a waterproof bag for keys and snacks. I use this combo set and I’m surprised how well the photos come out through the plastic phone case.

Seasickness Prevention – if you’re like me, bobbing up and down in the ocean will set your stomach over the edge. Take Dramamine, wear a wristband, or stick on a patch.

When is the Best Time to Kayak Kealakekua Bay?

Hawaii’s climate is pleasant year-round, but the dry season (April to October) typically provides more stable weather for your kayaking escapade on Kealakekua Bay.

The bay offers idyllic conditions for kayaking, but being aware of the weather is essential for a safe and enjoyable trip. Check weather forecasts before your journey and avoid kayaking during periods of strong winds or rough seas. You can also call your kayak rental company for current conditions.

Mornings often offer calmer waters and clearer visibility, making it an ideal time to venture out. But conditions can change in an instant. (refer to my personal experience below)

Storytime: How I Almost Died Paddling Kealakekua Bay

On my Big Island bucket list was to paddle across Kealakekua Bay and visit the Captain Cook Memorial.

The day was beautiful; sunny but not too hot. We had rentals reserved with Ehu and Kai.

Michael rented a kayak while I opted for the stand up paddleboard.

While getting the rundown on the how-tos and where-tos, we were shown a map of where we were going, how to stay clear of the dolphins, and landmarks to look for when we returned.

I thought it was weird to be given a big tree as a landmark in case we got lost coming back. We weren’t paddling that far, how were we going to get lost? But whatever, tourists can be dumb sometimes I guess.

We launched from the beach and away we went, out of the cove and around the corner to the ocean.

Once I got to open water I stood up on my board and enjoyed the view. The water was a gorgeous, clear blue…the stuff brochures are made of. Cliffs towered to the right of us and boaters dotted the bay.

I was having the time of my life.

Michael was faster in his kayak than I was on my paddleboard. (Keep this in mind if your rental party also mixes kayak and paddleboard rentals)

About 20 minutes into the paddle I started to feel a little weak and fell into the refreshing ocean. I got myself back on my board but I didn’t have much energy to stand up; so I statyd sitting down while paddling. It seemed to be taking pretty long to get to the memorial. We could see it almost from the beginning of the trip but it never seemed to be getting closer. I had to use markings in the cliff as a reference to measure how far or even IF we were making progress. It was slow going, but we were moving.

My body however became weaker and weaker. I realized then that I was getting seasick.

This was no good.

We were about 2/3rds of the way from the monument; I HAD to continue on.

Maybe I would get over it and feel better soon if I just pressed on.

How wrong I was!

It took us almost an hour to reach the monument and I was NOT feeling any better.

I was feeling so sick by the time we got there I couldn’t even appreciate looking at the monument. I wanted to get on dry land so bad but it was prohibited.

However, don’t quote me on this, I’m pretty sure if I had left my board with Michael in the water and swam to shore that would have been totally okay. I didn’t want to do that to him though because I knew if I got on land I may not be able to go back out on the water.

This bay is supposedly one of the best areas to snorkel on the island, so I had also rented snorkel gear. I didn’t want to waste coming all this way and not snorkel. Plus, I was hoping maybe floating in the ocean while I snorkeled might wane the seasickness away.

Again, wrong!

Snorkel masks always make me feel a little claustrophobic the first time I put them on. Since they seal up all your breathing holes I was now seasick with less oxygen.

I powered through maybe 15min of snorkeling. I was unimpressed with the view: just a lot of yellow tang and dull coral. The coolest thing I saw was a parrot fish eating off the coral and I could HEAR it’s mouth scraping it! That blew my mind.

The snorkeling did not help with the sickness. In fact, I was getting progressively worse; so much so, I had lost any energy to paddle. Michael and I tied my board to his kayak so he could pull me back. I lay on the board flat on my back while he did his amazing husband rescuing skills of paddling his wife to safety.

Then our nice sunny day began to take a turn. Clouds rolled in and winds started to blow. The growing waves jostled us, causing Michael’s towing to be whiplashy. This was not making me feel better.

Michael pointed out dolphins playing in the bay. I’ve always wanted to meet wild dolphins and there they were, not too far from us. Unfortunately I couldn’t even sit up for more than a few seconds to enjoy their frolicking before having to lay back down.

About halfway through the bay, the waves had gotten stronger and Michael could no longer pull my board. He told me I had to paddle myself. I knew it must be done, so I sat up.

This was gonna be near impossible; I could barely move. But at this point there was no other option.

And then, I got brief relief; I finally vomited. For an alleviating moment I gained enough energy to put some power into my paddling. However, it didn’t last long. A few moments later and I was starting to weaken again.

Michael was a bit further ahead of me leading the way. I watched as waves crashed fiercely against the jagged rocks near shore. He called out to me, encouraging me to keep going and to steer away from being sucked into the death boulders.

I began questioning how much danger I was actually in. This was the stuff of newsworthy deaths. Was I just sick and overdramatic? Or is this how people die in the wild, by underestimating the treacherousness of the situation? I was getting disoriented; I couldn’t tell how far from the rental bay we were.

Remember how I was making fun of being told to look for the big tree as a landmark? Well here I was, feeling lost, not being able to see the edges of the shoreline, but I located the giant tree and kept that as my guide.

Baby steps, that’s all I could do. One paddle on the left. One paddle on the right. My body continued to weaken. With every paddle I cried out like a woman in labor. Is this how I die? I prayed in earnest as I paddled: Please God, help me get through this.

Michael continued to coach me through the waters: telling me when I was heading too close to the rocks, encouraging my progress and to keep paddling. I know that if he wasn’t there with me I very likely may not have made it through.

Finally, by God’s miracle, we rounded the corner and I saw the beach with kayaks. We were in the home stretch. The waves however had continued to swell and this cove was funneling in all the big ones.

Michael went ahead of me; we were told to go through this part one at a time. I was still only able to take the board one paddle at a time but with the end in sight I had a little more pep.

After Michael landed at the beach; it was my turn to come in but my stomach had given up and I vomited again. This was the last burst of strength I needed to pull up to shore.

The rental guy knew I was sick because Michael had told him (and he probably saw me puke in the bay there). He asked if I just wanted to sit in the water and cool off. I wanted out of that water ASAP! So he took my board for me while I clambered to dry land and sat at the picnic table to recover. He also came and brought me some cold water as I rested.

It took me about 24hrs to recover from that day, but I’ve lived to tell the tale.

And that is my survival tale of my “near death” experience paddling Kealakekua Bay.

Someday I hope to redeem this day by getting back up on the saddle and trying again!

My experience is not the norm. Talk to most anybody who’s done this and they had the time of their lives without incident. Mine was an anomaly.

How to Get to Kealakekua Bay

If you are staying in Kona, getting to Kealakekua Bay is only about a 35-40 minute drive. Taking Hwy 11 is a bit more scenic with points of interest along the way. However, Mamalohoa Bypass Road will shave a few minutes, have less cars, and is less windy; it’s just not as pretty of a drive.

From Hilo, Kealakekua Bay is over a 2hr drive, with the fastest route being to take Saddle Road.

As with the Big Island in whole, you will need a car rental to get to the Captain Cook area. If you haven’t yet, you can book your car rental here!

Captain Cook Kayak Rental FAQs

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Epilogue: Kayak Rental in Captain Cook

Booking a Captain Cook kayak rental adventure on the Big Island is an exciting and unique way to explore Kealakekua Bay’s natural beauty and historical landmarks. Glide through the bay’s turquoise waters, encounter its vibrant marine life, while enjoying stunning views and experiencing the thrill of navigating the open waters.

Even though I had a harrowing experience, my brain only remembers the glorious parts and I am desperate to give it a second go.

Let me know how you enjoyed (or not) paddling Kealakekua Bay!

🛶 Continue your kayaking adventures in Hawaii here!