south shore

we started our drive south down the kona coast...

we had several overcast days.  but minimal rain.  but, the bays and views were still amazing!

looking down in to more lava fields.

kealakekua bay.  a great snorkeling spot.  

the white monument on the left is the "spot" where captain cook first landed in hawaii.  and named them the sandwich isles, after his friend, the earl of sandwich.  

waves.

the "spot" where the first Christian church service took place.  

a funeral.

black lava rocks and black sand.

the sand crabs were even black!

st benedicts painted church.

all beautifully, intricately hand painted inside.

panels depicting scenes from the Bible

the front of the church.

more of it.  

the view from the front of the church.

more of the front of the church.

driving down to the southern most tip

ka'e point.

the next piece of land is antarctica, 7000 miles away...

the wind and the waves were amazing.

more of ka'e

people liked to jump from here...

beautiful rolling hills.

we spent several hours driving down to the southernmost point of the us.  and enjoyed being the southernmost people in the us for a good 10 minutes!  but really just enjoyed being able to turn off whenever we saw something we wanted to see more of.  it was a fun day of adventure and exploring!!