Captain Cook Monuments
Address:
Description:
Captain James Cook, the first westerner to discover the Hawaiian Islands, set foot on Kaua'i at 3:30 p.m. on September 20, 1778. Kaua'i was the first island he came ashore on, and that's why the small town of Waimea has dedicated two monuments to him.Captain Cook's Landing at Lucy Wright Beach Park consists of a modest marker attached to a boulder on the beach that celebrates his landing. A life size statue of the explorer is located in Hofgaard Park, a strip of grass located between Highway 50 and Waimea Road.
Some revere him with praise for his "discover" of the Hawaiian Islands (remember, the Hawaiians did that first) and some see him as the first person to begin the downfall of the Hawaiian culture. Either way, its true that his mapping of the Pacific Ocean changed the course of history.
