Why Kealakekua Bay is protected
The bay is a Marine Life Conservation District and a state historical park. Here's what that means for your snorkel.
Kealakekua Bay is one of the most protected stretches of water in Hawai'i. It has been a Marine Life Conservation District since 1969, which means fishing and taking anything from the reef is heavily restricted. The shoreline is part of Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park.
What that means for you
Touch nothing and stand on nothing. The coral you're floating over is alive, slow-growing and easily crushed. Our guides will help you stay comfortable in deep water so you never need to put a foot down.
Wear reef-safe, non-aerosol sunscreen, or better yet a sun shirt. Ordinary sunscreen chemicals harm coral, and reef-safe sunscreen is required in the bay.
Give wildlife space. Turtles and dolphins are protected by law. Enjoy them from a respectful distance and let them choose how close to come.
The monument
The white obelisk on the north shore at Ka'awaloa marks the place where Captain James Cook was killed in February 1779. It was put up in 1874. We tell the fuller story, including the Hawaiian side of it, on the boat.