Kealakekua is a census-designated place located in Hawaii County. The population was 2,019 at the 2010 census. It was 1,645 at the 2000 census. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities on the nearby beaches. You can go stand-up paddleboarding, surfing, or diving.
Kayaking
Kealakekua is a piece of paradise on the south Kona coast. It is home to some of the best snorkeling in the state. It also is part of the Kona Coffee Coast, which is a lush tropical region that contains many pre-contact cultural sites.
There are many ways to explore this bay, including by kayak. You can rent a kayak and go on a guided tour, or rent one for your own enjoyment. If you’re a beginner, a guided kayak tour is a good option.
If you’d like to try kayaking in Kealakekua Bay, you should first check if the kayaking tour company has a vessel permit. There are restrictions on the places where kayaks can be launched and landed, and kayaks that are not on a vessel must have a valid permit to transit the bay.
You can also opt for a guided kayak tour to explore the central Pacific waters. These tours begin from Kealakekua Bay and continue across the bay to Captain Cook Monument. Once at the monument, kayakers can snorkel below. Another option is to try kayaking on the Wailoa River. This trip provides a new perspective on the riverside wildlife, including bird species and fish.
Surfing
Several surf spots are found in Kealakekua, including Banyans and Honolii Harbor. Both are local spots where experienced surfers can catch a great wave. Honolii is a river mouth that provides consistent surfing year round. For beginners, there are several places in Kealakekua that offer surfing lessons.
When surfing, be sure to stay safe. There are hidden dangers like rip currents, sea urchins, rocks, and even sharks. Also, it is important to be considerate of other surfers and the environment. When surfing, the best place is the beach where you’re most comfortable.
Surfing has a rich history in the area. It is believed to have originated in ancient Polynesia and later thrived in Hawaii. Originally, the sport was only for the ali’i, Hawaiian royalty. The first king of the island, Kamehameha I, was well-known for surfing. However, after 1819, the kapu system was abolished and commoners were allowed to take part in the sport. The popularity of surfing spread throughout the Hawaiian Islands and was fueled by the efforts of David Kalakaua, who restored the culture.
Kealakekua Bay also offers snorkeling. There is a special picnic area for visitors and the reefs are incredibly beautiful. You can see schools of tropical fish and even Hawaiian Green Sea turtles. There are also historical relics of an ancient temple on the island. Kealakekua is an excellent place to visit for young couples, and for people who enjoy water sports.
Stand-up paddleboarding
Stand-up paddleboarding is a popular way to enjoy the Big Island’s coastal waters. It can be a relaxing and meditative experience. Beginners should consider taking lessons or joining a tour to learn the basics. Paddleboarding is a good way to see the tropical scenery and view coral reefs.
There are several great locations for stand-up paddleboarding in Kealakekua, from pristine beaches to the untouched jungles of the South Kohala Coast State Park. In addition, you can paddle out to a marine sanctuary that shelters spinner dolphins.
For beginners, the Mauna Lani Beach Club is a great place to learn about SUP. You can rent a SUP for a half-hour or an hour, and a paddleboarding instructor will teach you all the basics. For more advanced paddlers, you can also rent a paddle board from a local company like Mauna Lani Sea Adventures.
The bay around Kealakekua is also an excellent place to go snorkeling or stand-up paddleboarding. Its waters are pristine, and you can spot hundreds of fish and other aquatic life. The best time to go SUPing is early in the morning, as the bay tends to get rough during the day.
Diving
One of the best places to dive in Kealakekua is Black Rock, located around a lava formation. This dive site is home to the Triggerfish, the state fish of Hawaii. Its official name is Humuhumunukuapua’a. The dive site is particularly beautiful at night.
You can also see the green sea turtles, which congregate in this area to clean their shells. These creatures are known to be gentle, so you should avoid harming them – it’s illegal to harm them. This dive site is also home to some of the biggest sharks in the world, including a pregnant female tiger shark and Kona’s famed 16-foot Laverne.
Kealakekua Bay is home to a world-class coral reef. This makes it one of the best snorkeling locations in Hawai’i. The area also has a rich history. It is the site where Captain James Cook first encountered the indigenous Hawaiians. Diving in this area is a great way to learn more about the Hawaiian culture. The bay is located 12 miles south of Kailua-Kona.
The Old Airport dive site is also a must-visit dive site. It has over 250 species of fish and is great for snorkelers and novice divers. It’s also surrounded by a national park, which means you can dive in pristine conditions and explore the surrounding nature.
Temple
There are a number of places that you can visit in Kealakekua, including the Hikiau Heiau (ancient Hawaiian temple), which is located on a broad stone platform. This temple was dedicated to the war god Ku. The site is surrounded by a stone beach, though it is too rocky to swim on. Visitors are not allowed to climb the ruins or enter the temple.
There is also an old temple called Puhina o Lono Heiau, where Native Hawaiians performed the burial ritual for high-ranking chiefs. Captain Cook was buried here, but the Native Hawaiians took off his flesh and used his bones for burial. The ceremony was performed at this temple, which is located on the shore of Kealakekua Bay. Thousands of people come every year to pay respect to the Lono.
The temple’s leadership changed over the years. After Bishop Chiko Richard Matsumoto passed away, Reverend Matsumoto took over. He was then succeeded by Mrs. Tomoko Ozaki, a former student of Mr. Suzuki. She is the first woman from outside Japan to join the Rissho Kosei-kai.
Boat tours
Boat tours in Kealakekua Bay offer a variety of options for visitors to the Big Island. Many of these excursions feature a historical theme, with a focus on the island’s geology and Hawaiian folklore. Some tours include a dinner and live entertainment onboard.
Visitors to Kealakekua Bay will experience the stunning beauty of the bay and its vibrant marine life. Many operators provide floatation devices and other safety equipment to guests. Kealakekua Bay is located about 19 kilometers south of Kailua-Kona, making it convenient for travelers to get there by car.
Kealakekua Bay is a popular place for snorkeling and other water activities. Many of these tours last for a full day. They may include stops at a Kona coffee farm, a bee farm, and tastings. Many tours also include visits to ancient Hawaiian sites and temples.
Tours to Kealakekua Bay include wildlife viewing and snorkeling. Tickets for a four-hour tour cost about US$140. Afterwards, you can opt for a longer trip and enjoy lunch onboard. You can also choose between a day tour and a night tour.
Diving at night
Diving at night in Kealakekui is a fun way to experience the beautiful sunset and nightlife. Divers will also have the opportunity to observe manta rays, which are nocturnal creatures that only come out after dark. The diving guide will be able to tell you all about them and what they do at night.
Kealakekua is located on the west coast of the Big Island and is a popular spot for snorkeling and diving. The area is home to stunning coral formations and an abundance of sea life, including butterflyfish, trumpetfish, and goatfish. Diving in Kealakekua will also allow you to see the stunning night skies and unspoiled coast.
If you’re looking for something more advanced, you may want to try blackwater diving. This diving is performed in incredibly deep waters, usually more than sixty feet below the surface. The divers are tethered to lines dropped from a boat. The lines often end at 15m (50 ft), but divers can often stay at a deeper depth. This allows them to observe plankton, which attracts marine life. Blackwater dives are usually pelagic (open-ocean) sites, meaning that pelagic (deep-water) creatures migrate at night.
Diving at night in Kealakekui is one of the most popular things to do in Hawaii. Many people have been lucky enough to see mantas during the day, but diving at night allows you to experience them at a completely different time. The mantas are nocturnal, and they can come closer to the light than they do during the day.
