Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Rain, rainforest and Hawaiian heritage define Hilo, the old-fashioned harbor town on the windward side of the Big Island. Ranked among the wettest cities in the United States, it is wrapped in green, laced with waterfalls and set beneath the slopes of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, two of the largest volcanoes on Earth.
Hilo grew as a sugar port, and its weathered wooden storefronts along Kamehameha Avenue still recall plantation days. Tsunamis in 1946 and 1960 swept the bayfront, so today the waterfront is a ribbon of parks, and the Pacific Tsunami Museum tells the story. Each spring the Merrie Monarch Festival, the most prestigious hula competition in the world, fills the town.
Within minutes of downtown you can watch Rainbow Falls catch the morning light, stroll the Japanese gardens on Banyan Drive and browse tropical fruit at the farmers market. Akaka Falls lies a short drive up the Hamakua Coast, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is about 45 minutes away, making Hilo a practical base for the east side of the island.
An 80-foot waterfall on the Wailuku River that tumbles over a lava cave said in legend to be home of the goddess Hina. On sunny mornings the mist throws rainbows across the pool. The lookout is a few steps from the parking lot; arrive before 10 a.m. for the best chance of color.
Upstream from Rainbow Falls, the Wailuku River drops through a chain of round lava basins where the water churns as if it were boiling. A short path leads to a viewpoint over the pools and Peepee Falls. Swimming is strongly discouraged here, as flash floods and hidden currents are common.
About 11 miles north of Hilo, a paved loop of under half a mile winds through bamboo, ginger and orchids to views of 442-foot Akaka Falls and smaller Kahuna Falls. The path has steps, so wear good shoes. Non-residents pay a small entry and parking fee; combine it with lunch in the old town of Honomu.
A Japanese-style garden of about 24 acres on the Waiakea Peninsula, named for Hawaii's last reigning queen. Stone lanterns, arched bridges, pagodas and fishponds sit beside the bay, with Mauna Kea behind on clear days. It is free and open daily; come early morning, when locals walk and fish.
A small palm-shaded island linked to Liliuokalani Park by a footbridge. Families picnic on the lawn, swim in the calm protected water and jump from the old stone tower into the bay. Its Hawaiian name means island of life, as it was once a place of healing and refuge. Bring reef shoes for the rocky entry.
A museum on the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus that pairs the science of the Maunakea observatories with Hawaiian navigation, chant and creation stories. Exhibits explain wayfinding by the stars, and the full-dome planetarium runs shows through the day. Its landscaped grounds feature native Hawaiian plants.
Housed in a 1930 bank building on Kamehameha Avenue, this museum explains how tsunamis form and how the waves of 1946 and 1960 devastated Hilo's bayfront. Video interviews with survivors make the history personal, and volunteers who lived through the events sometimes share their memories. Allow about an hour.
The Mission House was built in 1839 by missionaries David and Sarah Lyman and is the oldest wood-frame building on the island, shown on guided tours. Next door, the museum covers volcanoes, minerals, island wildlife and the cultures of the people who settled Hawaii. Check tour times before you go.
Open-air stalls at the corner of Mamo Street and Kamehameha Avenue sell rambutan, lilikoi, papaya, orchids, local honey and island crafts. Wednesdays and Saturdays are the big days, when vendors fill both sides of the street. Arrive early for the best fruit, and bring small bills for the growers.
A few miles south of Hilo near Keaau, a road lined with macadamia trees leads to this visitor center. Windows look onto the processing and packing lines, a short garden path explains how the nuts grow, and the shop offers tastings of flavored nuts and treats. A quick, easy stop on the drive to the volcano.
A small park on the Keaukaha shoreline east of town, where a pocket of black sand meets lava rock and cold freshwater springs mix with the sea. Snorkelers often see green sea turtles and reef fish in the calm cove, and children explore the tide pools. Lifeguards are on duty; parking fills by late morning.
Set in a natural tropical rainforest just south of Hilo, this small free zoo keeps animals from rainforests around the world alongside native Hawaiian species such as the nene goose. Shaded paths wind through gardens of palms and orchids. It suits a relaxed hour or two, and donations help with animal care.
Top-rated local businesses in Hilo, with real reviews on WiserMap.
No reviews yet. Been to Hilo? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Hilo? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/P. Horálek, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: leahleaf, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Peter Gill / UK, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: dronepicr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: This file was created by Thomas Tunsch. It is not in the public domain and use o, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Hermann Luyken, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. Chu, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Romain Guy from San Francisco, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Farragutful, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Farragutful, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Farragutful, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: AlaskaDave, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Father of JGKlein, used with permission, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Charles O'Rear, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Charles O'Rear, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: AlaskaDave, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: NOIRLab/AURA/NSF/ T. Slovinský, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: NOIRLab/AURA/NSF/ T. Slovinský, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: NOIRLab/AURA/NSF/ T. Slovinský, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: NOIRLab/AURA/NSF/ T. Slovinský, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: NOIRLab/AURA/NSF/ T. Slovinský, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Yoshi Canopus, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: dronepicr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: dronepicr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: dronepicr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: dronepicr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: brewbooks from near Seattle, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: brewbooks from near Seattle, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: brewbooks from near Seattle, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Staecker, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: dronepicr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Kaleodu, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Hawaiian Homestead, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
