From KCD, turn left on (south) on Hwy. 19, (becomes Hwy 11). You will drive up to 2000 ft. elevation and through old villages such as Kainaliu, Kealakekua and Captain Cook, the heart of our Kona coffee growers. The ir coffee is widely considered the best in the world. If you are interested in the history of Kona coffee farms, ranches and other things, be sure to stop at the Kona Historical Society Museum between mile marker 112 & 111 on the makai side of the Hwy. 11 heading south in Kealakekua.
After you have traveled the distance of 12 miles, you will find a well marked intersection with a sign indicating Kealakekua Bay, make a right turn on to Napoopoo Rd. Follow it down , as it twists for four miles around the great pali, a very narrow and scenic road starting at the 2000 ft. elevation down to 3 ft in less thna 4 miles to the dive site at the old wharf.
If you feel that your body needs a second cup of coffee, make a stop at the old Mauna Loa Coffee mill about half way down Napoopoo Rd.

HISTORIC FOOTNOTES:

When Captain James Cook sailed into Kealakekua Bay on January 17, 1779, he was on his second visit to the Hawaiian Islands. This was his first visit to our island and his last visit to anyplace else. On, February 14, 1779, in an undignified scuffle, surrounded by thousands of hostile warriors, Cook was stabbed and died at the water's edge. Cook was killed over a small launch stolen from his ship, the Resolution.

THE OLD WHARF DIVE SITE:

The wharf was a part of a pier and general store warehouse in the early 1900's. Today it's just a large concrete foundation. The wharf area is used for additional parking for Nap`opo`o Beach, kayak launching, snorkeling and scuba diving. (Kealakekua Bay h as been designated by the state of Hawaii as an underwater state park, to protect its varied stocks of multi–hued fish.) The District is from the high water marks at Cook Point to Manini Beach Point.

1. TYPE OF ACTIVITY: Scuba, snorkeling, swimming and kayaking.

2. POTENTIAL HAZARDS:

• A. Surf: Bad weather and storms hundreds of miles away could cause surf, making this site unusable.
  
  
• B. REEF and SHORE LINE: There are no reefs off the wharf, but there are a lot of coral head outcroppings and a sandy bottom. The shoreline is made up of broken Pahoehoe lava rock and private homes making it very hard to walk about.

• C. WINDS: Southwest and west winds will sometime cause surf, make the wharf unsafe for all activities.

• D. CURRENTS: None noted near the wharf.

• E. ROADS: All roads are paved.
• F. SEASONAL WEATHER: Since Kona is just 20 degrees north of the equator it offers round mid tropical weather with summer high of 85° and a winter low of 65°. Ocean temperatures range from 76° to 82° for latest weather and conditions call or stop by KCD.

3. SKILL LEVELS: Beginner to Intermediate

4. SCUBA AND SNORKELING: Caution: Before and when entering or exiting the water at the wharf, look around for obstacles that could hurt you. Old nails, bolts, broken concrete and glass and specially Limu on the rocks and on the side of the wharf.

5. WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE SITE: Very good diving for the beginner, beautiful tropical fish, snorkelers and kayakers.

6. WATER DEPTHS: Just off the wharf, ten to thirty feet.

7. TYPE of TRANSPORTATION to the SITE: Any automobile will get there. No public transport is available other then taxicabs.

8. SITE FACILITIES: No showers, restrooms, water, telephone or picnic tales are available at the site, but facilities that are conveniently accessible at the nearby Kealakekua Bay Park (near Hikiau Heiau State Monument).

SPECIAL NOTE: On the map, I show another dive site (Kahauloa Bay): Little is known about this site, but has been told by the locals, it has plenty of coral and sea life reefs and valleys, plus rock ledges. Hazards: Sea urchins and s harp lava rocks, wave breaks. Parking can be a problem because most of the area at the site is private. Your best bet if you want to dive this site is to ask the property owner for permission. Respect their privacy and property.

Hawaiian Dictionary:
Palani: A surgeonfish, also the Hawaiian name for Frank.
Kuakini: Innumerable, the name of the person who was in charge of building Moku-`ai-kaua church in Kai-lua, Kona. (1823)
Ka-I-na-liu: Bail the bilge, the name of a canoe bailer for Keawe-nui-a-Umi.
Ke-ala-ke-kua: Pathway [of] the god.
Makai: Ocean side.
Napoopo`o: Door way of houses.
Pali: Cliff, steel hill.
Kimo: The Hawaiian name for James.
Kahuna : Priest, sorcerer.
Lono: One of the four major gods brought from Tahiti. (Hawaiian for Capt. Cook)
Otaheite: Old English navigation map word for the island of Tahiti
Owhyee: Old English navigation map word for the island of Hawaii
Lauhala: Pandanus leaf, especially as used in plaiting.
Poi: Hawaiian staff of life, made from cooked taro root.
Manini: Small striped surgeonfish (acanthurs triostegus).
Limu: Seaweed.
Hikiau Heiau: Temple (where human scacifices were made) where Capt. Cook was received as the god Lono: it's now a state monument.

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS:

Police, Ambulance & Fire..................... 911
Coast Guard search/rescue (toll free) ... 1+800.552.6458; 1+800.331.6176
Hyperbaric Center: (bends treatment) Honolulu ............. 1+808.587.3425
DAN: (emergency) .............................. 1+919.684.8111

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