Part 4: Captain Cook’s Bay
Sunday morning, we were up early so that we could catch another boat back at the Marina at Honokohau Bay with a small company called “Coral Reef Snorkel Adventures” who would take us on a 45 minute boat ride south along the coast for a morning snorkeling adventure at the bay where Captain Cook’s Memorial stands. This is a protected, no-fishing, secluded bay with minimal wave action and practical access only by boat. Along the way to get there, we saw some cardboard, a hubcap, plastic bottles and bags floating in the ocean and circled the boat to collect and remove them from the water. At Captain Cook’s Bay, we saw a huge number of coral reefs and reef fish, as well as a barracuda, a sea cucumber, and an octopus. There were lots of different types of butterfly fish, parrot fish, tangs, and triggerfish. We also saw Moorish Idols, Yellow-Stripe Goatfish, Hawaiian Sergeants, Black Dorgans and the easily recognizable Glasseye. After an hour and a half of the whole family snorkeling, (all 10 of us), we started our voyage back to harbor, stopping to check out a lighthouse, a golf course owned by Tiger Woods, and some lava caves opening into the ocean. We also watched some cliff divers, looked at coastal VIP homes, (including one owned by Oprah Winfrey), and saw the place of the last Hawaiian battle, as well as a rock weighing 10 tons that had be thrown 20ft up the cliffside by a huge wave.
After returning to the Marina, we went to shop at Ali’i Gardens Market and went to “Shaka Tacoz” for a lunch of Ono tacos (fish) which was delicious! After walking around the market, we returned to the house and sat in the hot tub to relax. We then walked to Magic Sands Beach which had a local volleyball game going on and lots of surfing with building waves. We stopped at the nearby Beach Shack for a beer while watching the boogey-boarders and the ocean. Then it was back home for a quick dip in the pool before getting ready for a family dinner in town at Kai’s Restaurant, where we all had pizza, fish, ribs, and coconut shrimp. The night finished with a silly game of cards and a relaxing nightcap.
