Hilo, HI Road Trips

Although the largest city on the Big Island, Hilo has a small population (44,186 in the 2020 Census) and a relaxed pace of life. It is on the rainier, less touristy east side of the island, and the city itself is not a huge draw for tourists, although there is an excellent farmers' and craftsmen's market on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. In addition to the attractions within city limits, there is good snorkeling nearby, extremely lush botanic gardens in the area and Volcanoes National Park is a splendid day trip. Hilo has a warm, somewhat muggy tropical climate with over 100 inches of rain a year, making it the rainiest town in the United States outside of Alaska. January and February are the only months with fewer than 20 rainy days on average.

1 Pacific Tsunami Museum, 130 Kamehameha Ave, ☏ +1 808 935-0926, fax: +1 808 935-0842, [email protected]. Weekends 10AM-2PM. Serves as a living memorial, and a reminder for a generation yet to experience such fright. A tsunami, Japanese for "harbor waves" are a fact of life in Hawaii, especially Hilo. On 1 April 1946, and 23 May 1960, Hilo suffered devastating tsunamis that reshaped its social and economic structure. $15/adult, $10/concession, $5/child, under 5 free. (updated Apr 2025) 2 The Lyman House Museum, 276 Haili St, ☏ +1 808 935-5021. M-Sa 10AM-4:30PM. This museum features a restored missionary house. They also have a small collection of local artwork, historical exhibits, and the 9th-best mineral collection in the United States. Tours at 11AM and 2PM. $10/adult, $8/senior, $3/child, $21/family, $5/student, plus cheaper rates for locals. (updated Sep 2018) 3 Rainbow Falls. If you don't have time to make it up to Akaka Falls, or you don't like hiking, Rainbow Falls is worth a visit. Try to visit early in the day. You have a better chance to see the rainbow created by the mist. Drive up Waianuenue Avenue from downtown, following the signs. If you pass the hospital, you have gone too far. Very wheelchair accessible, but the Boiling Pots will require some hiking. (updated Apr 2015) 4 King Kamehameha Statue (in Wailoa State Park off Kamehameha Ave). Erected in 1997 at Wailoa State Park, the statue of King Kamehameha is perhaps the most impressive of the four found throughout the state.

Many of the activities that are available are strictly daytime, and focus on the ocean. Surf culture is big, and boards may be rented from 1 Orchidland Surf, located in the Bayfront district. Stan, the owner, will be happy to fill you in on where to go as well as the current conditions. 2 Richardson's Ocean Park (at the end of Kalanianaole (Highway 19)). This is a popular spot for family cookouts, and has occasional waves. Snorkeling is a popular activity here. You can also find people relaxing on the beach or in the grass reading and visiting. 3 Four Mile. A popular swimming spot, also located on Kalanianaole, before you get to Richardson's. Though there is no 'beach', it is rather like a large salt water swimming pool, with a sandy bottom, protected from the ocean by a reef. The brackish water is colder, a mix of the ocean and fresh water springs. (updated Apr 2015) Paradise Copters. Flights over macadamia nut plantations to the lava flows at Kilauea. Because Kona is twice as far from the volcano as Hilo, tours that leave from Kona are generally 2 hours long and accordingly more expensive. You may choose to drive 2¼-hr to Hilo if money is a consideration. Morning helicopter flights tend to have the least cloud cover, but also book first. If taking photos, wear dark clothing to avoid reflections from windows. A special mention should be made about the "doors off" helicopter tour, which lets you smell the lava and feel its heat. 4 Kaumana caves. Fun to explore and it's free. You should bring your own flashlight.

Hilo is known for its locally-made ice cream. It's some of the best on earth and can be found several places, including Hilo Homemade Ice Cream downtown at 41 Waianuenue Avenue. The Hilo Farmer's Market, on the corner of Kamehameha Avenue and Mamo Street, has lots of cheap eats. If you love tropical fruit, this is the place to go. There's a great tamale stand in the west corner of the market serving very tasty $2 tamales. Market open daily 7AM to 5PM, with extended hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The small town of Pahoa offers The Pahoa Market, which is a flea market open on Sundays and has more prepared food. Take Highway 130 on the way to Pahoa. 1 Blane's Drive-Inn, 150 Kino'ole St, 217 Waianuenue Ave. Falling into the category of "plate lunch" place, Blane's has a large, inexpensive menu. Perfect for a heavy lunch after surfing for a couple of hours. A plate lunch usually consists of two scoops of steamed rice, a scoop of macaroni salad, and your choice of a variety of extremely fattening delicious goodness. For the less adventurous, they also serve up burgers, fries, chili, etc. They are famous for their loco mocos. 2 Cafe 100, 969 Kilauea Ave, ☏ +1 808 935-8683. In honor of the famed 100th Infantry Army Battalion, Mr. Miyashiro who served in the 100th during World War II, established this local restaurant with his wife in 1945. Destroyed twice by the devastating tsunamis, Cafe 100 offers good food at a great price.

Hilo is a small town, and as such, there is not a lot of public drinking to be done. Despite a very lackluster nightlife, almost every bar has a cover charge. Still, there are a few places to wet your whistle, and maybe catch a live act. 1 Detour, 124 Makaala St. A relatively new bar catering mostly to an Asian/Hawaiian clientèle. There is a dance floor with music supplied by a house PA system, there is no DJ. There is a bar/lounge area with pool tables, darts, TV's and sofas and a separate dance floor area. Fights tend to be common here also. On weekends there is typically a $7 cover charge. 2 Cronies, 11 Waianuenue Ave (downtown cnr of Waianuenue and Kamehameha). Until 9PM. General sports bar not a spot for nightlife. 3 Hawai'i Nui Brewing Company (Mehana Brewing Company), 275 E Kawili St (Across the street from the Community College), ☏ +1 808-934-8211. M-Sa 09:30-17:30. Also known as Hilo Brewing Co, this company is the result of merger between Hawai'i Nui and Mehana. Small batch craft beers are brewed at this location, 6 are rotated on tap for tastings. They can not serve pints at this location, only tastings. They also sell logo wear, 6 packs, individual cans of beer, growlers and fills or kegs rentals. They are the only brewery in the islands that produce and bottle all of their beers on site. Their hours vary by season and during events. (updated Mar 2019) 4 Bear's Coffee, 106 Keawe St. Good waffles, lame hours. 5 Just Cruisin Coffee, 835 Kilauea Ave (cnr of Kilauea and Pauahi Sts (by the new State building)).

1 Arnott's Lodge, 98 Apapane Rd, ☏ +1 808 339-0921, [email protected]. Ranges from hostel bunks and campsites to three-bedroom suites with kitchens. The owner also runs tours and hikes in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. $30-140. 2 Big Island Hostel, 804A Kilauea Ave, ☏ +1 808-731-6731, [email protected]. Within walking distance of Hilo farmers market. Aircon in every room. Free wifi, parking, linens, lockers. $50+ per dorm bed. (updated Jun 2019) 3 Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel, 87 Banyan Dr, ☏ +1 808 935-0861, fax: +1 808 935-7903. Inexpensive rates and excellent location, but poor value due to old, unclean, noisy rooms and spotty service. Should be considered only as a last resort if everything else is booked. 145 rooms. $99-119. 4 Pakalana Inn, 321 Punahoa St (adjacent to Hilo Farmer's Market and Wailoa Park, across from Agasa's Furniture and Music, above Koji's Bento ande Hilo Guitars), ☏ +1 808 935-0709, [email protected]. 5 nice, newly restored rooms in the second floor of an old building in downtown Hilo. Free Wi-Fi, ocean or mountain views, key-less doors, very short walking distance to all the downtown Hilo offerings. Be there Wednesday or Saturday mornings for the Hilo Farmer's Market action. $99-139. 5 Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, 71 Banyan Dr, ☏ +1 808 935-9361, fax: +1 808 961-9642. Older hotel of 286 rooms that has as of 2015 been renovated and with great views. It is clean and the staff are friendly. Internet access in rooms, but the TV is 15 inches. $157-308.

Most of the visitors bound for Hilo will arrive via one of the inter island airlines (Hawaiian), or as a day stop from one of the frequent cruise ship visits. Unless you're sailing your own craft, this is only way of getting in by sea, as inter-island boat services were suspended in 2009. 1 Hilo International Airport (ITO IATA). Is the main airport serving Hilo and the eastern side of the Big Island. The majority of flights to Hilo originate from Honolulu via Hawaiian Airlines. There is also one flight from Kahului daily. The airport terminal is rather small, with a relaxed atmosphere. Long lines for security are unlikely. From elsewhere on the Big Island: for visitors, this would mean taking the Mamalahoa Highway (HI-190), the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (via a right turn) and the Saddle Road (HI-200, but without signposted route numbers on the road) across the interior of the island from Kailua-Kona at the western end, where the other commercial airport is located. Allow at least 2 hours for that trip, which goes through some curvy, hilly terrain. Alternatively, you can take the Hawaii Belt Road (HI-19) around much of the northern shore of the island, going inland through Waimea. You may find this an easier drive, and possibly a more pleasant one if you'd like to go through more villages and see fewer starkly beautiful views of Mauna Kea and other hilly inland scenery. To be on the safe side, you should allow at least 2.5 hours for the northern route, though you may want to stop in one or more towns along the way.

Many of Hilo's points of interest are concentrated in quite a small area in the western end of Kamehameha Avenue. There you can get around by foot easily. However, some natural attractions, beaches and shops are a mile or more away from there. The county's Hele-On Bus system ($2 fare) serve Hilo International Airport eight times per day (except on Sunday). However, virtually all visitors rent a vehicle from one of the many rental agencies upon arriving at Hilo International Airport. It's a good idea to make car reservations in advance, as special events or active conditions at the Volcanoes National Park can quickly deplete the supply of available vehicles. If you do plan on taking the buses, look up the schedules ahead of time and keep in mind that they will leave on time from the beginning of their routes (usually the Mo'oheau Bus Terminal in downtown Hilo) but will possibly be delayed for subsequent stops depending on traffic, weather and stops. As an alternative, taxis are also available at the airport though renting a car is almost always more practical. There are also a few bicycle shops on and around Kamehameha Avenue, if you would like to rent or buy a bicycle.

Hilo is generally quite safe. There are usually homeless people loitering around public parks and sometimes they can be a little eccentric, so keep your distance. If an earthquake were to strike and a tsunami warning were issued, if you are at the beach, there would be tsunami evacuation signs to guide you to a safe distance.