Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling Area

Kealakekua Bay is a beautiful place. By nature, a bizarre combination of walls built from lava stones with dead old trees in the most fantastic forms, paired with the crystal-clear water of the bay.
Dolphins, manta rays and tropical fish are commonly seen in these waters.

But the bay also has historical significance, as we found out at the other end after the hike. It was a place of worship where the Hawaiians paid homage to Lono, the god of fertility, at the annual Makahiki festival.

In 1779 it was here, at the childhood home of the revered King Hamehameha, that Hawaiians first met Captain James Cook.

In addition to the magnificent underwater forest, many colorful birds (yellow-green, red and some with only a red head) and numerous mongooses can also be seen on land. I didn't manage to photograph all the birds (:)

Excursions by boat or canoe are much more expensive!