Ka Lae, Hawaii: The Southernmost Point of the U.S.

Ka Lae, or the Point in the Hawaiian language, on the southern tip of the Big Island of Hawaii is also the southernmost point of the U.S.

^{Last updated: February 25, 2025}

Ka Lae, the Big Island of Hawaii | Roads and Destinations — *Ka Lae, Hawaii: The southernmost point of the U.S.*

The Southernmost Point of the U.S.

The southernmost point of the U.S… By definition, it’s one point, one place. Yet, America has different points of view when it comes to defining its own territory, located the closest to the equator.

Ballast Key, a small island in Monroe County, Florida, is often dubbed the southernmost point of the country. It’s true with one correction. Ballast Key is the southernmost point of the continental U.S.

Repeatedly, Rose Atoll in American Samoa claims the spot of the southernmost point of the United States. Technically, American Samoa is not the 51st state of the country. The tropical islands in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and New Zealand, are an unincorporated U.S. territory.

That leaves us with only one place. You can find the true southernmost point of the U.S. halfway across the Pacific Ocean. Nestled off the tourist path, Ka Lae is one of the most remote places on the Big Island of Hawaii and the southernmost point of the United States.

How to Get to Ka Lae

Ka Lae looks like an empty stretch of land perched on a steep cliff whose walls drop into the ocean abruptly. It may even look barren. Yet Ka Lae has its own beauty.

The southernmost point of the U.S., or as it’s officially known as the South Point Complex, is a National Historic Landmark at the far end of South Point Road. Ka Lae (which means the Point in Hawaiian) is located 12 miles south of Hawaii Route 11 (Mamalahoa Highway). The closest town, Naalehu, sits farther northeast, 16 miles away from the South Point.

South Point | Roads and Destinations — *South Point*

Ka Lae: The Southernmost Point of the U.S.

The South Point Complex has a tremendous historic value. According to archeological discoveries, ancient Hawaiians first settled on Ka Lae more than a thousand years ago. The ocean below the towering cliffs was rough. The currents were powerful. Swimming at the southernmost point of the Hawaiian Islands was dangerous. But the ocean below it abounded with fish.

Many of the challenges that the ancient Hawaiians faced are still present at Ka Lae. And so are the reasons that enticed the first settlers. Despite its roughness, the South Point has been known as an excellent fishing location for centuries. The fierce currents below Ka Lae bristled with large tropical fish.

Locals with fishing rods placed at the edge of the cliff were the first sight we saw at Ka Lae. Similar to their ancestors, Hawaiian teenagers cast their lines into the ocean and waited for the big fish to start biting. The South Point may be an important geographical site of the country. For locals, though, it’s one of the best places on the South Shore of the Big Island to catch mahi-mahi, marlin, and ahi.

Cliff Jumping at Ka Lae

The southern point of the Big Island is famous for yet another reason. Located within a short distance from Hawaiian scenic beaches, including Papakolea Beach, Ka Lae with the rough currents below doesn’t entice with its swimming options. Yet its sheer bluffs draw daredevils that use them as a cliff jumping point.

Need to Know: Cliff jumping at Ka Lae can get dangerous. It’s certainly not an activity for everybody.

Papakolea Beach

Papakolea Beach is a one-of-a-kind attraction on the Big Island of Hawaii. In fact, there are only four beaches of this kind in the world. Famous for its green sand, the place sits only 2.5 miles east of the South Point Complex. You can drive or hike to it from here.