Big Island Drive: Is South Point worth the stop?
 

Will be heading over from Volcano to Kona Coast on a liesurely drive along the southern route. Other than the geographic bonus for saying you did it, is South Point worth getting off the main road for? How long is the drive from the main road?

It is about 10 miles on a ONE lane road (not a two lane road). There isn't much there, but it is the southern most point in the US. If you have the time, you can go to the only green beach, but that does take a 4 wheel drive or mile walk.

I can't recall exactly how long the drive is, but I don't think it was much more than 20 minutes or so. When you get to the end of the road that leads from the main highway, you'll come to a small parking lot with a shed next to it; the shed has some photographs and a bit of information about the Green Sand Beach. The people there will tell you it's impossible to drive down to the beach; apparently (we believed them and didn't try it) this is not true. However, if you drive away from the parking lot, off to the right you'll see a smaller road that leads to the edge of a cliff. There are some fishermen's shacks right on the edge, which they use to fish from; the shacks protect them from the high winds. It's a beautiful view from up there. The water is so clear you can even see the fish swimming way down below. We were glad we stopped. On the way back, we stepped out of the car just to listen to the windmills at the wind farm; it was a surreal sound - whispery and mysterious. We felt it was worth the extra time, and we did the same thing you're doing in terms of a leisurely drive.

Aloha bpdnole,

DITTO what meesthare said! I found South Point and Green Sand Beach to be highlights of our trip to the BI... just very surreal and definitely worth the experience. Have fun! ((R))

IMHO, its worth a trip to South Point just to check out the Kamoa wind:-" farm. Recommend stopping at nearby Punalu`u :PBake Shop for malasadas and also visiting Punalu`u Black Sand Beach Park.:S-