Hilo
Around Hilo
Photo: Thomas Tunsch · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Hawaii · 209k people
Hilo
Locals say Big Island
Hilo · Kailua
Where lava meets the sea and aloha is a way of life.
Volcanic redLava blackRainforest green
Aloha and welcome to the Big Island! Whether you're on the rainy Hilo side or the sunny Kona coast, there's always an adventure waiting. Come for the volcano, stay for the aloha.
Clubs for Hilo
No clubs for Hilo yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Hilo. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Hilo. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Active volcano with lava viewing and crater hikes
- Akaka Falls State Park Towering 442-foot waterfall in a lush rainforest
- Lyman Museum Natural history and Hawaiian culture exhibits
- Pacific Tsunami Museum Exhibits on tsunamis and Hilo's history
- 'Imiloa Astronomy Center Interactive astronomy and Hawaiian culture
- Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park Sacred place of refuge with ancient temples
- Outdoors Hike the Kilauea Iki Trail
- Outdoors Snorkel at Two Step
- With kids Pacific Tsunami Museum
- With kids 'Imiloa Astronomy Center
- Evenings Manta ray night snorkel
- Evenings Stargazing at Mauna Kea Visitor Center
- Locals love Farmers markets
- Locals love Coffee farm tours
Through the year
- Ironman World Championship October Annual triathlon in Kailua-Kona
- Merrie Monarch Festival April Premier hula competition in Hilo
- Kona Coffee Cultural Festival November Celebrates Kona coffee harvest
- Big Island Film Festival May Independent films in Waikoloa
Tropical climate with dramatic variation: Hilo is lush and rainy, Kona is sunny and dry. Best: Early morning or late afternoon to avoid heat.
Talk like a local
- “Da kine”
- thing or stuff
- “Howzit”
- how are you
- “Brah”
- friend
- “Pau”
- finished
Getaways
- Kahului (Maui) Short flight to Maui's central valley
- Honolulu (Oahu) City life and Waikiki
- Kapaa (Kauai) Lush gardens and Napali Coast
Local flavour
Rooting for University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (football, basketball) from Honolulu, PWHL (no local team, but some follow the league)
Eat and drink
- Poke Fresh ahi poke bowls
- Loco moco Rice, hamburger patty, egg, and gravy
- Plate lunch Two scoops rice, mac salad, and a protein
- Shave ice With ice cream and azuki beans
- Kona coffee Grown on the slopes of Hualālai and Mauna Loa
- Macadamia nuts Locally grown and roasted
Where people go
- Farmers markets Fresh tropical fruit, flowers, and local crafts
- Coffee farms Kona coffee country on the slopes of Hualālai
- Volcano national park Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, active volcanoes
- Black sand beaches Punaluʻu and other volcanic shores
- Lava fields Vast expanses of hardened lava, both old and new
- Rainforest trails Hilo's lush, misty hiking paths
- Heiau Ancient Hawaiian temple sites
Heritage and traditions
The Big Island is proud of its deep Hawaiian roots, active volcanoes, and the spirit of aloha that welcomes everyone to its diverse landscapes.
This time of year in Hilo
- Kona dry season May to October Sunny and dry on the west side.
Say it like a local: “Howzit?” — How are you? / What's up?
Festivals
- Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival February Celebrates Japanese heritage with taiko drumming, bon dancing, and cherry blossoms.
- Kohala Country Fair August A celebration of paniolo (cowboy) culture with rodeo events, crafts, and local food.
- Hawaiian Cultural Festival at Pu'uhonua o Honaunau June Features traditional crafts, hula, and storytelling at the historic place of refuge.
- Hilo Lei Day Celebration May 1 Lei-making contests, hula, and music to celebrate May Day.
- Kona Brewers Festival March Local craft beer and music, a popular community event.
Landmarks with a story
- Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site Ancient temple built by Kamehameha I, a national historic landmark.
- Mookini Heiau One of the oldest and most sacred temples on the island.
- Huliheʻe Palace Former vacation home of Hawaiian royalty, now a museum.
- Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park Ancient fishponds and petroglyphs.
Food traditions
- Imu cooking for lūʻau Traditional underground oven that slow-cooks kalua pig for feasts.
- Mochi pounding at New Year Japanese tradition of making mochi rice cakes, a symbol of good luck.
- Huli-huli chicken Rotisserie chicken marinated in a sweet-soy sauce, often sold at fundraisers.
- Saimin Noodle soup with local ingredients, a comfort food.
- Laulau Taro leaves wrapped around pork or fish, steamed.
Music and arts
- Slack key guitar (ki hoʻalu) Unique fingerpicking style with open tunings.
- Hula Traditional dance, especially celebrated at Merrie Monarch.
- Paniolo music Cowboy songs with Hawaiian influence.
- Lauhala weaving Craft of weaving leaves into mats and hats.
A little history
- around 1000 AD Polynesian voyagers arrive
- 1779 Captain Cook killed at Kealakekua Bay
- 1810 Kamehameha I unifies the islands
- late 1800s Sugar plantations boom
- 1946 Tsunami devastates Hilo
Rivalries
- Hilo vs Kona East vs west side friendly rivalry
- Game day Outrigger canoe paddling
- Game day Rodeo in Waimea
- Outdoors Visit the green sand beach
- Outdoors Swim with manta rays at night
- With kids Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo
- With kids Rainbow Falls
Residents speak Hawaiian Creole English (Pidgin), a mix of Hawaiian, English, and immigrant languages, with a relaxed, friendly tone. Common words include 'da kine', 'pau', and 'talk story'.
Only here
- Green sand beach (Papakōlea) - one of only four in the world.
- Active volcano you can hike to - Kīlauea's lava flows are accessible when safe.
- Kona coffee belt - the only place in the US where coffee is commercially grown.
- Mauna Kea observatories - the world's largest astronomical observatory site.
New here? A few tips
- Pack for both rain and sun: Hilo is rainy, Kona is dry.
- Learn a few Hawaiian words: Aloha, Mahalo, Ohana.
- Drive carefully: Roads can be narrow and winding.
- Respect sacred sites: Don't take lava rocks (it's bad luck).
- Try local food: Plate lunch, shave ice, poke.
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Nearby
Every areaHilo-Kailua, HI. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.