# Ka Lae

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Historic Place in Hawaii County, Hawaii

United States historic place

South Point Complex U.S. National Register of Historic Places U.S. National Historic Landmark District Rocky cliffs of Ka Lae Location Big Island of Hawaii Nearest city Nā'ālehu Coordinates 18°54′40″N 155°40′52″W / 18.9111°N 155.681111°W / 18.9111; -155.681111 Area 710 acres (290 ha) NRHP reference No. 66000291[1] Significant dates Added to NRHP October 15, 1966[1] Designated NHLD December 29, 1962[2]

Ka Lae Point, with people getting ready to jump the cliff

Wind-blown tree

**Ka Lae** ([Hawaiian](/source/Hawaiian_language): *the point*), also known as **South Point**, is the southernmost point of the [Big Island](/source/Hawaii_(island)) of [Hawaii](/source/Hawaii) and [of the 50 United States](/source/Extreme_points_of_the_United_States). The Ka Lae area is registered as a [National Historic Landmark District](/source/National_Historic_Landmark) under the name **South Point Complex**. The area is also known for its strong ocean currents and winds and is the home of a [wind farm](/source/Wind_farm).

## Geography

The name for the southern tip of the [island of Hawaiʻi](/source/Hawaii_(island)) comes from *Ka Lae* in the [Hawaiian language](/source/Hawaiian_language) which means "the point".[3] It is often spelled as one word, Kalae, or called South Point or South Cape.[4] A confluence of [ocean currents](/source/Ocean_current) just offshore makes this spot one of Hawaii's most popular [fishing](/source/Fishing) spots. Both [red snapper](/source/Red_snapper_(fish)) and [ulua](/source/Giant_trevally) are plentiful here. Locals fish from the cliffs, some dangling perilously over the edge of steep [lava](/source/Lava) ledges. Swimming here, however, is not recommended, due to the current. In fact, it is called the "Halaea Current", named after a chief who was carried off to his death.[5]

The confluence of currents also means the area is prone to accumulation of [marine debris](/source/Marine_debris). Most of this coastline is very remote and difficult to access, and is probably the most debris-littered coast in the state, primarily due to its difficult access for debris removal. This debris poses an entanglement threat to wildlife and may refloat during storms. The shoreline is used by [Hawaiian monk seals](/source/Hawaiian_monk_seal) and hatchling [hawksbill turtles](/source/Hawksbill_turtle), both [endangered species](/source/Endangered_species). Efforts to clean the coastline are organized by the [Hawaii Wildlife Fund](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hawaii_Wildlife_Fund&action=edit&redlink=1) in conjunction with the [NOAA](/source/National_Oceanic_and_Atmospheric_Administration).[6]

Ka Lae is accessible via South Point Road, a 12-mile paved narrow road leading from [State Route 11](/source/Hawaii_Belt_Road) (Hawaii Belt Road), the turn off being about 7 miles (11 km) west of the village of [Nāʻālehu](/source/N%C4%81'%C4%81lehu%2C_Hawai'i) and east of [Ocean View, Hawaii](/source/Ocean_View%2C_Hawaii). The strong winds cause some trees to become almost horizontal with their branches all growing in the same direction near the ground. The road forks near its end, with one branch leading south to Ka Lae and the other east to [Papakolea Beach](/source/Papakolea_Beach), known for its green sand.

Ka Lae is [the southernmost point in the 50 United States](/source/Extreme_points_of_the_United_States).

## History

### South Point archaeological site

Ka Lae is the site of one of the [earliest Hawaiian settlements](/source/Ancient_Hawaii), and it has one of the longest archaeological records on the islands.[2] It is generally thought that this is where the [Polynesians](/source/Polynesia) first landed because the Big Island is the closest of the [Hawaiian Islands](/source/Hawaiian_Islands) to [Tahiti](/source/Tahiti), and Ka Lae would be the point of first landfall.[7] Ruins of an [ancient Hawaiian](/source/Ancient_Hawaii) temple (*[heiau](/source/Heiau)*) and a fishing shrine can be found here. In addition, ancient Hawaiians drilled numerous holes in the rock ledges to use for mooring their canoes. Tying long ropes to their boats, they would drift out to sea to fish without fear of being carried away by the strong currents.[8] Anthropologists from the [Bishop Museum](/source/Bishop_Museum) excavated the area in the 1960s.[9][10][11]

### Ka Lae Light

On March 5, 1906, a small lighthouse opened at the point. In 1908 about 10 acres (4.0 ha) were set aside for the [United States Coast Guard](/source/United_States_Coast_Guard) to build a house for a keeper. At the request of [William Tufts Brigham](/source/William_Tufts_Brigham) of the Bishop Museum, care was taken not to destroy the archaeological site. In 1929 a steel tower was built for the light, and in 1972 a new 32 foot (10m) concrete tower with solar power was built.[12][13]

A [NOAA Weather Radio](/source/NOAA_Weather_Radio_All_Hazards) transmitter broadcasts weather reports from [KBA99](/source/KBA99) with callsign WWG27 on 162.55 MHz.[14] A weather station also monitors wind speed.[15]

### Recent history

Old Kamaoa [wind farm](/source/Wind_farm) at South Point

South Point navigational marker

South Point Satellite Station

During [World War II](/source/World_War_II), the [US Air Force](/source/US_Air_Force) built a landing strip called [Morse Field](/source/Morse_Field_(Hawaii)) on the point. The airfield was closed in 1953.[16] In 1961 South Point was on the list of final sites to be considered by [NASA](/source/NASA) to launch crewed rockets to space, but was considered too remote[17] although it was later used to launch sounding rockets for testing of instruments at the Air Force's Maui Space Surveillance Center.[18] The low [latitude](/source/Latitude) of the location also made it (and nearby areas that are as remote) attractive as a site for private rocket launches, but these plans were dropped in the face of high costs and local opposition.[19]

A space tracking station was operated from 1964 to 1965, and in the 21st century the [Swedish Space Corporation](/source/Swedish_Space_Corporation)'s [Universal Space Network](/source/Universal_Space_Network) again established a remote ground station for space tracking and communications, now consisting of two 13-meter [parabolic antennas](/source/Parabolic_antenna) on the east side of South Point Road.[20] Also at Ka Lae are the large [shortwave radio](/source/Shortwave_radio) antennas of [World Harvest Radio International](/source/World_Harvest_Radio_International), which used callsign KWHR until 2009.[21]

In 1987 the Kamaoa Wind Farm began operation with thirty-seven Mitsubishi 250 [kW](/source/Watt) [wind turbines](/source/Wind_turbine) with an operationally typical total peak output of 7.5 MW.[22] By 2006 the turbines at [18°59′33″N 155°40′5″W / 18.99250°N 155.66806°W / 18.99250; -155.66806 (Kamaoa Wind Farm)](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Ka_Lae&params=18_59_33_N_155_40_5_W_type:landmark_region:US-HI&title=Kamaoa+Wind+Farm) were falling into disrepair, and they were finally shut down on August 15, 2006. At the end of August 2006, components for a new set of wind turbines were transported to South Point. The Pakini Nui project consists of 14 [General Electric](/source/General_Electric) wind turbines constructed at [18°58′20″N 155°41′21″W / 18.97222°N 155.68917°W / 18.97222; -155.68917 (Pakini Nui Wind Farm)](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Ka_Lae&params=18_58_20_N_155_41_21_W_type:landmark_region:US-HI&title=Pakini+Nui+Wind+Farm), about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the old Kamaoa wind farm. Completed in April 2007, Pakini Nui supplies up to 20.5 MW of power to the island [electricity grid](/source/Electricity_grid) of [Hawaii Electric Light Company](/source/HELCO).[23] The wind farm is operated by Tawhiri Power, LLC.[24] It is the southernmost wind farm in the United States.[25] The turbines of the old wind farm have been disassembled.

## Southernmost point

Ka Lae Point is the southernmost point of all fifty states in the [United States](/source/United_States), but technically it is not the southernmost point in the United States. The southernmost point of all U.S. territory is [Rose Atoll, American Samoa](/source/Rose_Atoll%2C_American_Samoa). However, [Palmyra Atoll](/source/Palmyra_Atoll) contains the southernmost point of all 'incorporated' U.S. territory, according to the doctrine of "incorporation" defined in the [Supreme Court](/source/United_States_Supreme_Court)'s [Insular Cases](/source/Insular_Cases). Palmyra's south point on Holei Island at 5°52'15" N [latitude](/source/Latitude) is officially the southernmost point of all [incorporated territory](/source/Incorporated_territory) of the United States of America.[26]

## See also

- [Hawaii portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Hawaii)
- [Weather portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Weather)
- [Renewable energy portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Renewable_energy)

- [Great Pacific Garbage Patch](/source/Great_Pacific_Garbage_Patch)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nris_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nris_1-1) ["National Register Information System"](https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP). *[National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places)*. [National Park Service](/source/National_Park_Service). July 9, 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nhlsum_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nhlsum_2-1) ["South Point Complex"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110511180124/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=182&ResourceType=District). *National Historic Landmark summary listing*. National Park Service. Archived from [the original](http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=182&ResourceType=District) on May 11, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Mary Kawena Pukui](/source/Mary_Kawena_Pukui); [Samuel Hoyt Elbert](/source/Samuel_Hoyt_Elbert); Esther T. Mookini (2004). ["lookup of *Ka Lae*"](http://wehewehe.org/gsdl2.85/cgi-bin/hdict?a=q&j=pp&l=en&q=Ka+Lae). *in Place Names of Hawai'i*. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, [University of Hawaiʻi Press](/source/University_of_Hawai%CA%BBi_Press). Retrieved September 20, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Kalae](https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/359521)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-coffeetimes_5-0)** ["Kaʻu"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161005061532/http://www.coffeetimes.com/kau.htm). Coffee Times. Archived from [the original](http://www.coffeetimes.com/kau.htm) on October 5, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Marine Debris Removal from the Waiohinu-Ka Lae Coast Hawaii Island"](http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/about/waiohinu_removal.html). *Marine Debris Program*. [NOAA](/source/National_Oceanic_and_Atmospheric_Administration). September 18, 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Ka Lae, Ka'u, Kailua-Kona"](http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/Hawaii_State_of/Hawaii_Big_Island/Kailua_Kona-772371/Off_the_Beaten_Path-Kailua_Kona-Ka_Lae_Kau-BR-1.html). *Kailua-Kona Travel Guide*. Virtual Tourist. October 5, 2002.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Bendure, Glenda; Friary, Ned (September 1997). "Hawaii — The Big Island". [*Hawaii*](https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanethawa00glen_0/page/327) (4th ed.). Australia: [Lonely Planet](/source/Lonely_Planet). pp. [327–28](https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanethawa00glen_0/page/327). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-86442-489-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-86442-489-2).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Kelly_9-0)** Kelly, M. (Marion) (1969). "Historical background of the South Point area, Ka'u, Hawaii". *Pacific anthropological records* (6). Honolulu, HI: Dept. of Anthropology, [Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum](/source/Bishop_Museum). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0078-740X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0078-740X). [LCCN](/source/LCCN_(identifier)) [77029164](https://lccn.loc.gov/77029164). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [659366796](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/659366796).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Emory_&_Sinoto_10-0)** [Emory, Kenneth P.](/source/Kenneth_P._Emory); [Sinoto, Yosihiko H.](/source/Yosihiko_H._Sinoto) (1969). "Age of the sites in the South Point area, Ka'u, Hawaii". *Pacific anthropological records* (8). Honolulu, HI: Dept. of Anthropology, [Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum](/source/Bishop_Museum). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0078-740X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0078-740X). [LCCN](/source/LCCN_(identifier)) [71029054](https://lccn.loc.gov/71029054). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [659366796](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/659366796).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Underwood_11-0)** Underwood, Jane H. (1969). "Human skeletal remains from Sand Dune site (H1), South Point (Ka Lae), Hawaii: a preliminary examination". *Pacific anthropological records* (9). Honolulu, HI: Dept. of Anthropology, [Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum](/source/Bishop_Museum). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0078-740X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0078-740X). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [659366796](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/659366796).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Minor light of Hawai'i - Ka Lae, HI"](https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=914). *Lighthouse Friends web site*. Retrieved April 15, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Love Dean (1991). *The lighthouses of Hawai'i*. [University of Hawaii Press](/source/University_of_Hawaii_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8248-1319-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8248-1319-2).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["NOAA Weather Radio WWG27"](http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/Maps/PHP/site.php?State=HI&Site=WWG27). [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration](/source/National_Oceanic_and_Atmospheric_Administration). Retrieved April 15, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["South Point, Hawaii ARC Wind Sensor"](http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/pages/display_arc.php?site=AR03). National Weather Service. Retrieved April 15, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Pauk Freeman (January 1, 2010). ["Morse Field, South Point, HI"](https://www.airfieldsfreeman.com/HI/Airfields_HI_Hawaii.htm). *[Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields](/source/Abandoned_%26_Little-Known_Airfields): Hawaii, Hawaii island*. Retrieved April 15, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Cliff Lethbridge (2000). ["Space Program Has A Space Problem And A New Spaceport Is Born"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120829045427/http://www.spaceline.org/capehistory/3a.html). *History of Cape Canaveral*. Archived from [the original](https://spaceline.org/capehistory/3a.html) on August 29, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["South Cape (Morse Field) Airport"](http://hawaii.gov/hawaiiaviation/hawaii-airfields-airports/hawaii/morse-field). *Hawaii Aviation Archive*. State of Hawaii Department of Transportation, Airports Division. Retrieved April 15, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Jonathan Eberhart (March 26, 1988). ["Hawaii: A Stepping Stone to Space?"](http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hawaii:+a+stepping+stone+to+space%3F-a06542759). *Science news*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Universal Space Network Expands Satellite Ground Stations"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140101000603/http://www.sscspace.com/universal-space-network-expands-satellite-ground-stations). SSC Group. September 19, 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.sscspace.com/universal-space-network-expands-satellite-ground-stations) on January 1, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Station Record - KWHR"](https://www.fcc.gov/ib/sand/neg/hf_web/KWHR.txt). [Federal Communications Commission](/source/Federal_Communications_Commission). Retrieved April 15, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["History of Wind Energy Projects in Hawaii"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080724062824/http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/ert/wwg/history.html). *State of [Hawaii](/source/Hawaii) Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism web site*. April 15, 2002. Archived from [the original](http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/ert/wwg/history.html) on July 24, 2008. Retrieved April 15, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Associated Press (July 20, 2007). ["Big Isle wind farm boosts grid"](https://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/07/20/news/story11.html). *[Honolulu Star-Bulletin](/source/Honolulu_Star-Bulletin)*. Retrieved April 15, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** [Tawhiri Power, LLC](http://www.tawhiri.us/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["Pakini Nui Find Farm"](http://www.tawhiri.us). *Tawhiri Power LLC web site*. Retrieved April 15, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** ["GAO/OGC-98-5 – U.S. Insular Areas: Application of the U.S. Constitution"](https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GAOREPORTS-OGC-98-5/content-detail.html). U.S. Government Printing Office. November 7, 1997. Retrieved March 18, 2018.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [South Point Complex](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:South_Point_Complex).

- ["South Point Hawaii"](https://web.archive.org/web/20040922121633/http://www.southpointhawaii.com/). *community web site*. 2004. Archived from the original on September 22, 2004. Retrieved April 15, 2010.

- [Pictures of Ka Lae](http://pahoahi.tripod.com/kona/kalae.htm)

- ["U.S. Wind Energy Projects - Hawaii"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100918151334/http://awea.org/projects/Projects.aspx?s=Hawaii). *[American Wind Energy Association web site]*. Washington, DC, USA: [American Wind Energy Association](/source/American_Wind_Energy_Association). December 31, 2009. Archived from [the original](http://www.awea.org/projects/Projects.aspx?s=Hawaii) on September 18, 2010. Retrieved April 15, 2010.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ka Lae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ka_Lae) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ka_Lae?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.