Kealakekua Bay

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Kealakekua Bay

An illustration of the heiau at Kealakekua Bay, by William Ellis

Cook Monument on the northern shore of Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii

Kealakekua Bay is located on the Kona coast of the island of Hawai'i about 12 miles south of Kailua-Kona.^[1]

The sheer cliff face overlooking the bay was once the burial place of native Hawaiian royalty. A child would be given the bones of the deceased royalty to place in one of the many volcanic holes in the cliff and the child would then be lowered by a rope down the cliff face. Once the bones were buried, the rope was cut, sending the child to his or her death and keeping the location of the burial a secret. It was considered an honor to be chosen for this task.

The area is a marine life conservation district, outlawing fishing there and making it a popular area for diving and snorkeling.

[edit] Captain Cook

Main article: James Cook

Captain James Cook and his ships, the Resolution and Discovery, first sighted Kealakekua Bay on the morning of January 17, 1779. Unbeknownst to him, he had entered the bay during the height of a local religious festival in honor of the god Lono. Some Hawaiians believed Cook was an incarnation of Lono since his ships resembled a symbol used to represent Lono. Cook and his crew stayed for several weeks, returning to sea shortly after the end of the festival; but after suffering damage during a storm, the ships returned two weeks later on February 14, 1779. After some Hawaiians took one of Resolution's small boats, Cook attempted to lure a Hawaiian chief aboard until the boat should be returned. A skirmish ensued during which Cook was struck in the head and stabbed, on nearly the very spot where he had first set foot on the island. A large white stone monument to Cook, deeded to the United Kingdom and off-limits to swimmers, snorkelers and boaters due to the possibility of damage to the reef, marks the approximate location.^[2]