Captain Cook, Hawaii

History

The area surrounding present‑day Captain Cook has been inhabited for centuries and includes several sites significant to Native Hawaiian history. In 1779, British explorer Captain James Cook made landfall at nearby Kealakekua Bay during his third Pacific voyage. Cook was killed there on February 14, 1779, following a conflict between his crew and local residents.

The modern community developed much later. In the early 20th century, the Captain Cook Coffee Company established a post office in the upland agricultural zone above the bay. Under postal naming conventions of the period, the post office name became the name of the surrounding settlement, and the community has been known as Captain Cook since that time.

Geography

Captain Cook is located on the west side of the island of Hawaii at (19.498211, −155.904275). It is bordered to the north by Kealakekua and to the south by Honaunau-Napoopoo. Hawaii Route 11, part of the Hawaii Belt Road, passes through the community, leading north 12 mi to Kailua-Kona and south 47 mi to Naalehu. Hawaii Route 160 diverges from Route 11 in Captain Cook, leading south by a winding road 4 mi to Napoopoo on Kealakekua Bay.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Captain Cook CDP has a total area of 33.3 km2, all of it land.

Most of Captain Cook lies between the 800 ft and 2000 ft elevation, which makes it ideal as a coffee-growing region. It sits on the top of an ancient fault which created the famous Kealakekua Bay. Prior to the 1960s, most of Captain Cook was part of the vast Kealakekua Ranch, founded in the 1850s by English immigrant Henry Nicholas Greenwell.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,429 people in 1,258 households residing in the CDP. The population density was 281.1 PD/sqmi. There were 1,386 housing units at an average density of 113.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 31.44% White, 0.67% African American, 0.38% American Indian & Alaska Native, 27.65% Asian, 10.67% Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander, 2.16% from other races, and 27.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 9.51% of the population.

There were 1,258 households, out of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them. The average household size was 2.73.

In the Captain Cook CDP, 20.6% was under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 11.6% from 25 to 34, 15.4% from 35 to 49, 28.3% from 50 to 64, and 17.1% was 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 101.1 males. For every 100 males there were 98.9 females.

For the period 2011–2015, the median estimated annual income for a household in the CDP was $66,276, and the median income for a family was $73,661. Male full-time workers had a median income of $35,833 versus $42,344 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $38,885. About 10.2% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

Lava zones, redlining, and insurance issues

Captain Cook shares much in common with the District of Puna. Both districts are situated on active volcanoes and contain large sections of land that are in Lava Flow Hazard Zone 2. Additionally, new lava hazard zones 11, 12, and 13 are being established to account for current flow activity to reduce redlining.

Points of interest

• Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden
• Koa Coffee Plantation
• Kona Coffee Living History Farm
• Rodney J. T. Yano Memorial Hall

Education

Hawaii Department of Education operates Konawaena Elementary School in the CDP.{{Multiref2

Two schools, Konawaena Middle School and Konawaena High School, are on a campus partially in Captain Cook CDP and partially in Kealakekua CDP.{{Multiref2

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Captain Cook CDP, Hawaii".
3. (April 2020}}{{cbignore). "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Captain Cook CDP, Hawaii". U.S. Census Bureau.
4. (March 18, 2022). "Canceling Captain Cook? Resolution seeks to rename South Kona town". Hawaii NewsNow.
5. "Captain Cook killed in Hawaii". History.com.
6. (2011-02-12). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
7. Bobby Command. (July 4, 2007). "Federal money proposed for ranch: $4 million would ensure easement". [[West Hawaii Today]].
8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
9. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1): Captain Cook CDP, Hawaii". U.S. Census Bureau.
10. "Selected Economic Characteristics: 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP03): Captain Cook CDP, Hawaii". U.S. Census Bureau.
11. "Home". Konawaena High School.
12. "Home". Konawaena Middle School.
13. "KONAWAENA MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUS MAP". Konawaena Middle School.