Cliffs along South Point

These cliffs for the western side of Kalae with is southern tip of the island of Hawaiʻi The name comes from Ka Lae in the Hawaiian language which means "the point” though it is commonly spelled as one word, Kalae. In English it is called South Point or South Cape. It is the southernmost point in the United States. A confluence of ocean currents just offshore makes this a popular fishing spots. Fish such as red snapper and ulua are numerous. Reportedly hawksbill turtles and monk seals frequent the cliffs to fish though I didn’t catch a glimpse of either. What I thought was a seal, at first, turned out to be a scuba diver. I did watch plenty of local Hawaiians fishing, however. A few dangled perilously over the edge of the basalt cliff trying to get to the deep holes.

The current beneath the cliffs is swift and dangerous. The current is called the "Halaea Current", named after a chief who was carried off to his death. Authorities recommend not swimming along the cliffs, though I saw a few folks in bathing suits headed for boulder stern beaches.

Done