Just over 10 miles south of Kailua Village in South
Kona on the Big Island is Kealekekua Bay
State Historical Park. The entire
bay is a marine conversation park that is just about the best location for
snorkeling, scuba and kayaking all in one spot.
The water is crystal clear, and besides schools of tropical fish, you’ll
have the opportunity to see Hawaiian green sea turtles, and maybe even some
spinner dolphins.
A trip to Kealekekua Bay is a definite “must do” if
you’re on the big island during your Holidays in Hawaii. But wait! There’s more…
Hawaii and
the UK Connected through History
Kealekekua Bay holds significant historical importance
that, ironically, connects Hawaii with Britain.
You see, Kealekekua Bay is where Captain James Cook first landed on the
Hawaii Big Island.
Cook was the first Briton to make contact with the
Hawaiian Islands, first landing in Kauai in 1778. The story of Cook and the Hawaiian Islands is
a strange one.
Kealekekua Bay was regarded by native Hawaiians as
sacred and belonging to that of the fertility God, Lono. It would appear that the Hawaiians attached
religious significance to the landing of Cook and his crew at the Bay. They were regarded as Gods.
On Cook’s second visit to the island, it was evident
that he and his crew were revered. The
second visit happened in the midst of a Hawaiian fertility festival dedicated
to Lono. For a month, Cook and his crew
took full advantage of the way they were revered and the significance of
“fertility” of the bay. They traded
metal and other goods in exchanged for sex.
However, then something went terribly wrong. One of Cook’s crew died and the Englishmen
were then known to be mortal. The
natives became restless and upset at being deceived. They formed a mob. Cook’s crew fired upon them but they were
forced to flee. One of the ships were
damaged in the withdrawal by storms and forced to return. The angry mob of natives did not relent and
Cook’s men were soon overwhelmed. Some
escaped. Other’s didn’t. Among the dead was Cook.
Hawaii and
the Captain James Cook Memorial Today
Today, two remnants of that near-ancient skirmish
still remain. One, a white obelisk near
the shores of Kealakekua Bay symbolizes and memorializes Cook’s death. The second, on the east side of the bay is a
sacred temple dedicated to the Hawaiian fertility god, Lono.
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