KA LAE (SOUTH POINT), HAWAII'S BIG ISLAND
Travel to the southern tip of Hawaii's Big Island and gaze out at the endless Pacific Ocean. You're standing at Ka Lae, or South Point, the southern most point in the United States.
It is believed that the first Polynesians to arrive in the Hawaiian Islands disembarked here in Ka Lae somewhere between 400 and 800 A.D. To get to this rocky shoreline you need to take the narrow South Point Road 12-miles past open plains and windmills. There is a small heiau (sacred place of worship) near Ka Lae so visitors should treat the area with great respect.
QUICK FACTS
Name:
Ka Lae or "South Point"
What is it:
The southern most point in the U.S., believed to be the point where the first Polynesians landed on Hawaii
What to do:
Hike, take scenic photos
What to bring:
Camera, food and water
Directions:
Take Hawaii Belt Road (HI-11) south. Turn down South Point Road and follow it 12 miles to the coast.
Admission:
Free
