Captain Cook

Captain Cook is a settlement on the western coast of Hawaii Island, situated near Kealakekua Bay at an elevated location. The community spreads across several square kilometers on terrain shaped by volcanic activity.

The settlement took its name from the Captain Cook Coffee Company, whose post office served as the central mail facility in the early 1900s. This coffee operation shaped the area's early development and gave the place its enduring identity.

The area maintains connections to Hawaiian ranching traditions, with local cowboys called paniolos continuing livestock management practices rooted in Mexican heritage. These customs shape how the community looks and operates today.

Hawaii Route 11 links the community to Kailua-Kona to the north and Naalehu to the south, providing direct access to other areas. The elevation means the climate here tends to be cooler than in lower coastal zones.

The settlement sits on active volcanic terrain within Lava Flow Hazard Zone 2. This geological feature places the area among other volcanically active regions on the island.

Location: South Kona

Elevation above the sea: 381 m

GPS coordinates: 19.49806,-155.90417

Latest update: December 23, 2025 00:55