KAILUA-KONA — A new plaque memorializing the spot on Hawaii Island where Captain James Cook lost his life is back on the historic Captain Cook Memorial Awili Landing at Kaʻawaloa — the first plaque’s original location.
“Near this spot Capt. James Cook met his death, February 14, 1779,” the plaque reads.
The original plaque dates to 1928. It disappeared in 1956. The British Consulate installed a second in the Hawaiian Islands, which was damaged during an attempted theft in 1985.
A new granite plaque was installed in 1990 after donations from private individuals. That plaque had been removed from its location after it became dislodged during a high surf episode.
Geoff Hand from Adventures in Paradise Boat Tours assisted staff from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of State Parks-West Hawaii in transporting the 260-pound plaque and construction materials from the Keauhou boat ramp.
Preparation took place on the existing concrete block by scrubbing it free of algae, along with the drilling and bolting of four stainless steel holes that now hold the plaque and concrete block in place.