Hilo

Understand

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.

Climate

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.

Get in

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.

By plane

Go Hilo International Airport (ITO)

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.

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By car

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.

Direction signs are fairly good on the Big Island, though not always with much advance notice for the driver. Traffic drives slowly (usually 25-35 miles per hour), and it's ordinary for unobstructed traffic to go slower than posted speed limits.

If you don't have a car, hitching a ride is very easy on the Big Island.

By bus

Get around

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.

Stay safe

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.

Respect

• Haole = White person: Though many think that "haole" just means white person, it refers more to an attitude than anything else. Hilo is a workaday town that sees few tourists. Locals aren't as accustomed to tourists as they are in the resort areas, so respecting the local people and culture is very important. Treat the locals with respect, and the same respect will be returned to you. There are a few Native Hawaiians who have a generally negative attitude to Haoles, and may express this attitude through looks or comments. You are best to simply ignore comments to avoid provocation. You may also find that other Native Hawaiians are quite friendly and warm if you take the time to speak with them and be friendly, yourself.

Locals refrain from wearing aloha outfits, either full body attire or partial outfits. Clothes are very casual to resort casual at best.

Go next

• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - The entrance to the park is in Volcano Village, roughly 40 minutes' drive from downtown Hilo. Many people can spend several days exploring all that the park has to offer. There are a number of excellent hikes, showcasing most of the flavors of Hawaiian geological activity. Of course, the thing that most people come to see is the active flow zone of Kilauea. Entrance fees are consistent with other U.S. National Parks.