Body Glove Cruises, operating off Kona, has launched a new Captain Cook Historical Cruise based on information provided by the Kona Historical Society. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to KHS and other non-profit organizations for restoration and preservation of Hawaii's culture.

The three-hour cruise aboard the 65-foot catamaran Kanoa II will depart daily from Kailua Pier to Kealakekua Bay, about 12 miles south. The cruise, themed “;Porthole to the Past,”; acknowledges the area's significant Hawaiian historical structures, some dating back hundreds of years.

Sites include the Ahu'ena Heiau, Pa o 'Umi Point, the Hollua Slide, Kuamo'o Battlefield and Kealakekua Bay. The bay is the site of the Captain Cook Monument, marking the place where Capt. James Cook first landed in Hawaii in 1778 and where he was later killed in a skirmish with Hawaiians. The site is now a Hawaii marine life sanctuary.

Along with the historical aspects of the tour, guests will enjoy scenic views of the Kona Coast and encounters with ocean marine life, such as spinner dolphins, turtles, manta rays and whales, including humpback whales in the winter season.

Call (800) 551-8911 for cost.