Captain Cook Tour: Hawaii Edition

During a conversation with a historian friend, the subject of Captain Cook and Hawaii came up. Here are the must see places in Hawaii:

1. Cook landing site (Kauai): This is where Cook first landed on the Hawaiian (nee Sandwich) Islands in January 1778. It's at the present site of the town of Waimea. The spot is on the west side of the Waimea River at Lucy Wright Park.

The river in the foreground is the Waimea. The island in the background is Niihau. This picture was taken from Russian Fort Elizabeth.

2. Cook statue (Kauai): While you're in Waimea, stop by the Captain Cook statue. It's along the main street of town (Kaumuali'i Highway) on the mauka (inland) side.

3. Cook's Last Stand (Big Island): This is where Captain Cook was killed in February 1779. There are a number of ways to get to the site on the South Kona Coast, where an obelisk sits on a small plot of land that is technically British territory. You can hike down from Highway 11 along the rough Captain Cook Monument Trail, you can drive to Manini Beach and kayak over, or you can take a snorkeling tour that stops at Kealakekua Bay.

Picture taken from Manini Beach. White obelisk is in the middle of the photograph, in the distance.

4. The town of Captain Cook (Big Island): After your tour, stop off at Captain Cook, a town of about 3,200 people. It is one of the few places in the state with an Anglo name. The Manago Restaurant inside Hotel Manago serves great pork chops.


CKY