Located three miles north of Pu’uhonua o Honaunau, you will find Napoopoo Village on the south end of Kealakekua Bay, a tiny oceanfront community exuberating a surreal Hawaiian utopia of yesterday that features lush tropical landscapes and gorgeous shorelines. Residents are very close here, many of whom are part of long family lineages tied to the area – adding to the area’s unique character.
Of course, the most spectacular part of the area is Kealakekua Bay which stretches one-mile end-to-end and is considered by many as one of the best snorkeling locations in Hawaii. Most notably, however, Kealakekua Bay is where Captain James Cook first landed in Hawaii – and where he later lost his life after a skirmish broke out between his crew and the native Hawaiians who populated the area in 1779. Later in 1878, the 27-ft Captain Cook Monument was erected on Kealakekua’s north shore in memory of Captain James Cook, one of the world’s greatest circumnavigators.
There are many other fun activities to be had here in addition to snorkeling and sightseeing, such as dolphin sightings, kayak tours, and standup paddleboarding to name a few.
Extending mauka (up the mountain) from the village, Napoopoo Road winds 4.5-miles up the relatively steep slopes to an elevation of 1,300-ft near both towns of Captain Cook and Kealakekua. Along the way, you will see many beautiful homes lining both sides of the road from top to bottom – all with unparalleled ocean views.
