End Of The Earth

About ten years ago, Carl and I spent a week in Kailua-Kona. Both of us are scuba divers and the area boasted a type of night dive unlike any other, a chance to observe manta rays feeding up close and personal. Our dive boat took us a short distance from the harbor and we anchored just off shore from this beautiful resort, the Kona Reef, where they shine huge spot lights into the water. The light attracts plankton and the plankton attracts the manta rays which in turn attract divers. It was an incredible experience, one not easily forgotten, to watch these massive but graceful creatures glide through the water in a sort of ballet while their gaping mouths gather the tiniest of sea creatures as their meal. We can only try to be that agile in their world. The ironic part- the hotel we stayed at last evening was that same hotel of ten years earlier. The name and ownership had been changed but each evening the light still shines in the harbor, the boats still anchor, the divers still watch in awe from the murky bottom and the rays still gather to do their dance. Our trip back to Volcano should have been quick, with only a planned stop or two for the occasional photo opportunity. It was nothing of the sort because along the way there were numerous reasons to stop, lunch, free samples of coffee and mac nuts and a detour to the southern most point in the United States. What’s that? You say we’re in Hawaii and not the Florida Keys. You’re right. The geographical southern most point in the whole United States is South Point, Hawaii and it is a rugged windswept cliff that is constantly pounded by waves. It also happens to be some of the best fishing on the island according to the locals.