Destinations
Gateway Town · Hawaiʻi Island
Hilo
Green, rainy, and refreshingly unpolished, Hilo is old Hawaiʻi with a waterfront. Waterfalls tumble right in town, the farmers market overflows with tropical fruit, and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is just 45 minutes up the mountain.
Hilo · Ua · Rainbows ·
Hilo · Ua · Rainbows ·
Must-Sees
Waiānuenue (Rainbow Falls)
A powerful waterfall just minutes from downtown. Come in the morning for the best chance of a rainbow in the mist.
Free
Liliʻuokalani Gardens
Japanese-style gardens with stone lanterns and bridges on the Banyan Drive peninsula.
Free
Hilo Bayfront
Stroll the historic downtown and bayfront. The Pacific Tsunami Museum tells the story of the waves that shaped this town.
Downtown
Eat Like a Local
Hilo Farmers Market
Open most days, with the biggest markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Try lychee, rambutan, and fresh coconut in season.
Downtown
Café 100
A Hilo institution that claims to have popularized the loco moco, with dozens of varieties.
Hilo
Big Island Candies
Famous for chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies. You can watch them being made.
Hilo
Insider Tip
Hilo is one of the wettest cities in the United States, and that’s what makes it so green. Showers often pass quickly, so pack a rain jacket and keep going.
Parks From Hilo
Hilo is the closest town to Kīlauea’s summit. Go early to beat the crowds, or go after dinner to watch the glow if the volcano is active.
