Hilo and Island Favorites
Hilo Food scene
Big Island Candies
585 Hinano StMust stop - makes for great gifts too.
Suisan Fish Market
93 Lihiwai StBEST and FRESHEST poke in Hawaii!
Hilo Farmers Market
Mamo StreetBest shopping for produce
And pop up take out food
Local favorite
Tempura, teriyaki - family friendly japanese food
huge portions
46 locals recommend
Miyo's
564 Hinano StLocal favorite
Tempura, teriyaki - family friendly japanese food
huge portions
Best deal happy hour (ribs are amazing)
Tuesday night Lobster!
55 locals recommend
Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill Hilo
64 Keawe StBest deal happy hour (ribs are amazing)
Tuesday night Lobster!
Very popular restaurant
local seafood, burgers, pasta
9 locals recommend
Pineapples Island Fresh Cusine
332 Keawe StreetVery popular restaurant
local seafood, burgers, pasta
Great views while dining, upscale atmosphere.
Good drinks, great service and food is solid - range of prices $$-$$$.
Very good desserts.
137 locals recommend
Hilo Bay Cafe
123 Lihiwai StGreat views while dining, upscale atmosphere.
Good drinks, great service and food is solid - range of prices $$-$$$.
Very good desserts.
Cafe Pesto - Hilo
308 Kamehameha AveKamana Kitchen
1235 Kilauea AveHawaiian Island Cafe
41-1537 Kalanianaʻole HwySightseeing near Hilo
Located in the center of HIlo, easy parking and very accessible.
Rarinbows best seen in the morning
337 locals recommend
Rainbow Falls
Located in the center of HIlo, easy parking and very accessible.
Rarinbows best seen in the morning
Incredibly special place; historical ruin
Small admission price (check hours online)
Lots of reef and natural wildlife
Very swimmable beach next to park
Long drive from Hilo; consider one night Kona side.
270 locals recommend
Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park
State Highway 160Incredibly special place; historical ruin
Small admission price (check hours online)
Lots of reef and natural wildlife
Very swimmable beach next to park
Long drive from Hilo; consider one night Kona side.
Famous snorkeling spot
No easy access
Best to book a snorkeling tour or rent kayaks
33 locals recommend
Captain Cook
Famous snorkeling spot
No easy access
Best to book a snorkeling tour or rent kayaks
Hilo and very easy access Japanese gardens
Local swimming spot for kids in lagoons
103 locals recommend
Liliuokalani Park and Gardens
189 Lihiwai StHilo and very easy access Japanese gardens
Local swimming spot for kids in lagoons
Very easy walk around the viewing spots, two waterfalls. Easy hike.
20 locals recommend
ʻAkaka Falls State Park
Very easy walk around the viewing spots, two waterfalls. Easy hike.
Hilo gem!
Educational museum with interactive elements
Kid friendly
Beautiful space
38 locals recommend
Mokupāpapa Discovery Center
76 Kamehameha AveHilo gem!
Educational museum with interactive elements
Kid friendly
Beautiful space
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
One of the main attractions. Other worldly
Waipio Valley Lookout
Unbelievably magnificent.
Hilo Breakwater
Kalanianaole Street
Pepeekeo Maikai Scenic Route
28481 Sugar Mill RdBoiling Pots
1766 Wailuku DrLocal sight seeing. No swimming allowed please mind the wet trails.
Hilo-side Swimming
Coconut Island
Located in the hotel area, tip of HIlo
Very easy to park
often see turtles in the water. Best Hilo spot for snorkeling.
176 locals recommend
Richardson Ocean Park
2355 Kalanianaole StVery easy to park
often see turtles in the water. Best Hilo spot for snorkeling.
Carlsmith Beach Park
1815 Kalanianaole StGreat reef beach
Familiar recreation stop with kid-friendly wading & tidal pools, picnic shelters & play equipment.
65 locals recommend
Onekahakaha Beach Park
74 Onekahakaha RdFamiliar recreation stop with kid-friendly wading & tidal pools, picnic shelters & play equipment.
Scenic oceanfront park with a sizable grassy field & shoreline of lava rocks, plus turtle sightings.
9 locals recommend
Keaukaha Beach Park
27 Apapane RdScenic oceanfront park with a sizable grassy field & shoreline of lava rocks, plus turtle sightings.
Surfspot. Swimming recommended on the river side. 3 minutes from our house.
81 locals recommend
Honoli'i Beach Park
Surfspot. Swimming recommended on the river side. 3 minutes from our house.
Beaches farther from Hilo
Nice beach, intimate and beautiful
Sheltered areas to sit in the trees
But not a deep beach
109 locals recommend
Waialea Beach
Old Puako RoadNice beach, intimate and beautiful
Sheltered areas to sit in the trees
But not a deep beach
Consistently listed as one of the best beaches on the island
very long white sand beach
lifeguards present (be careful of riptides currents are strong here)
241 locals recommend
Hapuna Beach
Consistently listed as one of the best beaches on the island
very long white sand beach
lifeguards present (be careful of riptides currents are strong here)
Kua Bay
Just ten minutes from Kona airport often our first stop after arrival.
Harder to access but worth the effort. Two hour drive from Hilo. On we there just hike or hire the trucks to access beach (about $20 per person round trip).
Amazing scenery.
43 locals recommend
Green Sand Beach Trailhead
Harder to access but worth the effort. Two hour drive from Hilo. On we there just hike or hire the trucks to access beach (about $20 per person round trip).
Amazing scenery.
Two Step
Snorkeling spot
Very dramatic. Rigorous hike, or an adventurous offroad cab system. Allow for a long day trip.
43 locals recommend
Green Sand Beach Trailhead
Very dramatic. Rigorous hike, or an adventurous offroad cab system. Allow for a long day trip.
City/town information
Hawi
Small town in the remote northern part of the island - charming
Honokaa
Historic town, en route to Waipio Valley
One of the larger towns for shopping/dining and midway stop point between HIlo and Kona side
78 locals recommend
Waimea
One of the larger towns for shopping/dining and midway stop point between HIlo and Kona side
Now the larger tourist center of resorts, condos and shopping areas and nice restaurants.
27 locals recommend
Waikoloa Village
Now the larger tourist center of resorts, condos and shopping areas and nice restaurants.
Hilo
Our hometown.
Kailua
White sand beaches and sunsets -- popular tourist side.
City advice
Customs and culture
Visiting Locals
Shoes are taken off in every home at the door.
Drinks, snacks, or something is brought to share. Very rare to go empty-handed.
"Talking story" is typical where you might get in a long chat just about anywhere, but especially when socializing.
Getting around
Transportation
A car is essential to see the Big Island.
KOA (Kailua-Kona) and ITO (Hilo) are the airports. It's a two-hour drive from one to the other. It might be most efficient to bookend travel if your car arrangements can be one way.
Ways to save
Saving Tips
If booking any excursion, check Groupon to see if they have a deal. Before you buy, call and make sure they will accept the coupon for the exact event/days you would like.
Local (Kama'aina) discounts are available for hotels, parking, etc. But you must show a valid Hawaii ID.
Senior discounts in Hawaii are 55 and older.
What to pack
Must Pack
Slippahs (a.k.a flip flops--called slippers here)
Bathing Suit
Snorkel gear if you have it
Light Raincoat
Layers -- especially if traveling to Waimea, Volcano, Hawi or Hilo where it's colder. (also very cold at the top of Mauna Kea)