Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island

The majority of Hilo’s attractions are about a 10-15 minute drive from the airport. Many of the activities below can be combined into one day. Parking is typically easy, with a combination of business parking lots, street parking and paid parking lots. Most people in Hilo like to reverse park and some places require it.

Shop Downtown

To cover the wide array of boutiques, bookstores, and places to shop for food and drinks in the downtown area, you’ll want to wear comfortable shoes and be sure to bring reusable shopping bags, a water bottle and an umbrella — there’s almost always a chance for rain in Hilo. Park near the Farmers Market as your hub. From there, head west along Kīlauea Ave. to find a cluster of stores including Locavore Store, Hilo Bottle Shop, Basically Books and Two Ladies Kitchen. After that, double back to the Farmers Market and take the stroll along Kamehameha Avenue to Kalakaua Street where you’ll find an assortment of cute boutiques, gift shops and a grocery store.

*Be sure to check hours of operation for the shops you don’t want to miss.

• Sig Zane Designs —Handmade aloha shirts. An institution in Hawaiʻi and respected leader in the community. $$$
• Aloha Grown — Agricultural themes made wearable with high quality shirts, bags, and accessories for the whole family. $$
• Simply Sisters by Lola Miller Designs — Boutique full of beautiful aloha wear, perfect for a special occasion. $$$
• Seaweed Snack Shop — A playful collection of souvenirs, toys, snacks, jewelry, accessories, and more. $$
• The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo — A random assortment of gifts, shirts, and other goodies, including some that are locally made. $$
• Basically Books — 40+ year-old bookstore that provides Hilo with an incredible collection of Hawaiiana through its books, toys, games, and other gifts. $$
• The Locavore Store — A grocery and homegoods store selling only locally produced food, beverages and goods. $$
• Hilo Bottle Shop —Local beer, spirits and wine, plus non-alcoholic drinks. $$
• Two Ladies Kitchen — Mochi made fresh daily. A local favorite. $
• Just outside of downtown
• Big Island Candies — Local flavors are highlighted through shortbread cookies, chocolate delights, and all sort of other treats. $
• Big Island Delights — Confections, cookies, and other treats make great snacks and tasty gifts. $

Visit the Hilo Farmers Market

The Hilo Farmers Market is one of Hilo’s biggest draws, with locally-grown produce, grab-and-go meals, handmade crafts and artisan-made food products. Although the market is open daily, Wednesdays and Saturdays are the biggest days with more than 200 vendors to choose from.

Stroll through Liliu‘uokalani Gardens

Liliʻuokalani Gardens is one of Hilo’s true gems. The Japanese-style gardens, named after Queen Lili‘uokalani who donated five acres of her own land to develop the public park, now cover 24 acres along Hilo Bay. It’s a great place to have a picnic and take a leisurely walk. Residents enjoy the park for exercise, walking their dogs and gathering with friends.

See Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls is known for the double, sometimes triple, rainbows that appear over the falls on misty, sunny mornings. There is no hike required to see the falls, just park and walk up to them. Admission to the falls is $5 for non-residants (children 3 and under are free) and parking costs $10 per vehicle. Kamaʻāina can enter and park for free with state ID.

Explore Downtown Exhibitions

For visitors who want to learn more about the environmental and cultural history of the area, the Lyman Museum, Pacific Tsunami Museum and East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center offer a variety of exhibitions to learn from and are located within a few blocks from each other.

Learn Hawaiian Wayfinding at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center

ʻImiloa Astronomy Center offers an opportunity for families to learn about the importance of astronomy and wayfinding in Hawaiʻi’s culture and history. There is also a planetarium and gift shop full of unique finds. Make sure to stop in Lehua restaurant for lunch or dinner.

Kayak to the King Kamehameha I Statue

Kayak or SUP the Wailoa River to the gold-clad statue of Hawaiʻi Kingdom’s first King and learn about Hiloʻs storied past.

Hit the Beach

Unlike the sandy beaches on the Kohala Coast, Hiloʻs beaches are covered in black lava rock and green grass. To the south of Banyan Drive lies a four-mile coastal stretch that includes five major beach parks, with additional smaller ocean access points scattered throughout. Many of these access points are fed by spring water, making the water much cooler than at other beaches. Most beaches have limited parking, so the earlier you arrive, the better you have a chance of scoring a spot. Note: Some beaches have rocky entrances into the ocean that may require water shoes.

Hilo’s beaches run along Kalanianaole Street, starting with Reeds Bay at Hawaiʻi Belt Road. Carlsmith Beach Park is popular for snorkeling and seeing honu, or Hawaiian sea turtles (make sure to stay at least 10 feet away from these guys). There are grassy areas for lounging when you’re not in the water. Onekahakaha Beach Park is one of the best swimming spots for kids and families in Hilo. A breakwater wall protects the sandy swimming area from the ocean, keeping waters calm. There’s also plenty of grass, shade and parking. You’ll find families celebrating special occasions here on the weekends. Richardson Ocean Park, at the end of the road, is a black sand beach (you can also find green sand here) with calm water suitable for swimming and snorkeling. From Hilo Bay, you can also kayak to Coconut Island.

Cruise the Weekly Night Market

Every Friday night from 5-8:30pm the corner of Waianuenue Ave. and Keawe St. in downtown Hilo turns into a mini block party complete with live music, craft vendors, and tables full of food and drinks. Food trucks offer up full meals, making this the perfect place to try multiple types of food from local vendors all at once.

Do it All Tour

Visit Liliʻuokalani Gardens, downtown Hilo, Hilo Farmers Market, Rainbow Falls, ʻAkaka Falls, the plantation town of Honomu Village, the King Kamehameha Statue and more with a tour of Hilo.

While Hilo isn’t home to big destination resorts, there are a handful of hotels including SCP Hotel ($180-$240 per night), Hilo Hawaiian Hotel ($150-$200 per night), and the Grand Naniloa Hotel ($200-$265 per night) all located along Banyan Drive, about 2.5 to 3 miles from Hilo airport, as well as some unique properties farther outside of town, such as The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls ($240-$1500 per night) and the beach front Arnott’s Lodge & Hiking Adventures ($350-$450). I recommend staying at least a night or two in Hilo in order to experience all that it has to offer.

Coconut Grill — For ocean views and homestyle cooking. $20-40

Hawaiian Style Cafe — For big portions of local favorites like corned beef hash and haupia or banana pancakes. $20-30

Café 100 — Home of the original loco moco. $10-26

Suisan Fish Market — A walk-up counter with high-quality poke. Order and eat by Liliʻuokalani Gardens. $15-20

Poke Market — Casual poke counter locals love. $16-25

Hilo Lunch Shop — Hidden gem that serves customizable bentos. $10-12

Dinner

Moon & Turtle — An ever-changing menu that reflects seasonality and availability of local ingredients. $$50-80

Temple Bar — Elevated bar food using local ingredients. Check out the nightly specials. Good selection of craft cocktails, beer and wine. $$18-24

Lehua — Located inside ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, Lehua serves farm-to-table cuisine featuring riffs on traditional Hawaiian dishes. $$24-60

Nightlife in Hilo is mostly mellow, with a few karaoke bars scattered around town and a handful of laid-back bars.

Pineapple’s Island Fresh Cuisine — Where you can drink your cocktail out of a fresh pineapple. $

Ola Brew — Locally made cold beer and seltzer. $$

Puna Chocolate Co. — Local bean-to-bar chocolate-infused cocktails. $$

Hidden Nēnē — Craft cocktails in a speakeasy setting. $$

Hale Kanikapila — Combines live music with craft beer and Hawai’i local style cuisine. $

ʻAkaka Falls (25 min north): A 442-foot waterfall with a .25-mile easy paved loop trail. $5 for Non-residents $5/person + $10 per vehicle for parking (both credit card only). Children under 3 are free. Kamaʻāina free entry and parking with ID.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (45 min south): Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, lava tubes and hiking trails.

Hāmākua Coast (45 min north): Scenic drive with waterfalls, Onomea Bay, Hawaiʻi Tropical Botanical Garden and ziplining at ʻUmauma Falls.

Panaewa Rainforest Zoo (15 min south): The only tropical rainforest zoo in the U.S. includes tigers, reptiles and an array of birds, including some endemic to Hawai'i. $5 to $12.

Kaūmana Caves (16 min west): A quick diversion that takes you underground to explore a few hundred feet of a lava tube. Be sure you’re wearing close-toed shoes for this one.

What is the best time of the year to visit? May and June are some of the drier months, which make them great for visitors looking to spend a lot of time outdoors. April is also nice, but the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival takes over the week after Easter and lodging and rental cars are difficult to find. August and September are peak months for hurricane season, so I recommend trying to avoid those months.

What airport do I fly into? Hilo International. Direct fights exist but are limited — currently there is one direct flight between ITO and Las Vegas. Most flights come into Honolulu first, then connect to Hilo. You could also fly into Kona airport and drive across the island to Hilo after spending a few days in Kona.

Is Hilo worth visiting? Yes, for at least a day. Skip only if you have less than 4 days on the Big Island and you're already going to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park separately.

How do I get from Kona to Hilo? Drive via Saddle Rd (Highway 200), about 90 minutes. Rental car required. Public transit isn't a good option for visitors.

Is Hilo kid-friendly? Hilo is very kid-friendly, though don’t expect an abundance of non-outdoor activities. Highlights include swimming, exploring the outdoors, and visiting the zoo. ‘Imiloa Museum makes a good stop on rainy days.

Is it always raining? Not always. Mornings are usually drier. Rain comes in waves, you can have blue sky one hour and a downpour the next. Bring an umbrella or rain jacket regardless of season.

Do I need to rent a car? Yes, although downtown Hilo can be navigated primarily on foot and by bike, bus or taxi/rideshare, to visit waterfalls and anything else outside of town you will need a rental car.

What's the difference between Hilo and Kona? The Kona side of the island is where most of the island’s resorts are located. It’s also sunnier and more dry. You can watch the sunset from beaches on the Kona side of the island. Hilo has a historic downtown, lush rainforest hikes, waterfalls and volcanoes. It is much more rainy on the Hilo side.

Can I plan to use rideshares and taxis while visiting Hilo? Yes and no. If you are looking for rides during the day, especially to and from the airport, you should be able to find one fairly easily. However, if you plan to go out for dinner or stay out late for cocktails, finding a ride gets more difficult the later it gets.

Where can I shop to stock up on snacks, drinks, food, and other provisions? Hilo is home to big box stores Target and Wal-Mart. Grocery stores include Safeway and local chains KTA Super Stores and Sack n Save (which both have great delis and poke bars).

8:00–9:00 AM — Rainbow Falls. 5 minutes from downtown. Walk 2 minutes from the lot; best rainbow effect between 8:00 and 10:00 AM when sun angles into the spray.

9:30–11:00 AM — Downtown Hilo. Walk Kamehameha Avenue. Take the Big Island Candies factory tour (includes free samples) and visit Basically Books. Grab coffee at Hilo Coffee Mill.

11:00 AM–12:30 PM — Hilo Farmers Market. Wednesdays and Saturdays are the big days. Come for apple bananas, papaya, poke, laulau and malasadas. Located on the corner of Kamehameha and Mamo.

12:30–1:30 PM — Lunch. Hawaiian Style Café for local plate lunch or Suisan Fish Market for poke bowls. Two Ladies Kitchen for strawberry mochi.

2:00–3:30 PM — Liliʻuokalani Gardens. Stroll the 30-acre Japanese-style park on Hilo Bay and cross the walking bridge to Coconut Island. Bring an umbrella just in case. Free.

4:00 PM — Head back or push north. If you're going back to Kona, take Saddle Road and prepare for at least a 90 minute drive. If you have more time, drive 25 minutes north to ʻAkaka Falls before you go.