Shot in Hawaii on Big Island at Ka Lae the southermostpoint in all USA
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Ka Lae

Top choice in Hawaiʻi the Big Island


Ka Lae, the southernmost point of the Big Island, feels palpably unwelcoming, yet hauntingly peaceful. It is mostly an empty grassland fringed by restless rocky shores all scoured by relentless wind. Standing near the actual point, you can imagine the ancient Polynesians landing here, fighting violent surf after months at sea to arrive at...this. But, despite the challenges, early Hawaiians made Ka Lae (South Point) their home, their legacy found in rock walls, mooring holes and burial sites scattered throughout the area.

One of the things that kept people here is the confluence of ocean currents just offshore which make South Point one of Hawaiʻi's most bountiful fishing grounds. It's also one of the most dangerous: the Halaʻea current doesn't hit land again until Antarctica. It was named after a greedy chief who regularly confiscated other people's hard-earned catches. A group of fed-up fishermen decided to answer his demands by simultaneously filling his canoe with every last fish. His boat capsized and the chief was carried away by the current to face his watery judgment.

On land, keep an eye out for the endangered ʻohai shrub, a member of the pea family. Its oval leaf clusters smell like tangerines and its flowers are often used to make leis. There is no sign or plaque for photographic purposes – see that furthest volcanic rock in the sea? That's the southernmost point!


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Hawaiʻi the Big Island attractions

1. Kalalea Heiau

0.17 MILES

Testament to the area's important fishing grounds, this ancient temple and shrine is where Hawaiians left offerings in return for a bountiful catch. Some…

2. Boat Hoist

0.25 MILES

Bolted to the top of the 40ft cliffs on the western edge of South Point, a boat hoist provides access to small fishing vessels bobbing in the sheltered…

3. Lua ʻO Palehemo

0.26 MILES

An old saying goes: 'If you have seen all Kaʻu, but have not seen Palehemo, you have not seen Kaʻu.' This is likely less about the brackish historic…

4. Morse Field

0.76 MILES

The landing strip of Morse Field was a fuel stop for a trans-Pacific air ferry route until the attack on Pearl Harbor, after which the army tilled it up…

5. Pakini Nui Wind Farm

1.48 MILES

Fourteen turbines operated by Tawhiri Power LLC harvest the South Point winds to power approximate 18,000 homes.

6. Green Sand Beach

2.7 MILES

This legendary beach on Mahana Bay isn't really that green, but it is a rare and beautiful sight. Its color comes from crystals of olivine, the mineral…

7. Kamaoa Wind Farm

5.57 MILES

The rusty carcasses of 37 windmills from the failed Kamaoa wind farm lie next to their foundations along South Point Rd.

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