Hilo is the largest city on the Big Island of Hawaii. The city is nestled between two volcanoes: Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea and overlooks Hilo Bay. There are plenty of things to do in Hilo to keep you busy and a ton of awesome places to eat at. Although not as popular as Kona, I appreciated that it was less crowded and had a more local feel. I recommend spending at least one day in Hilo as part of your Hawaii itinerary, but more if you have the time and want to enjoy all of the beaches.
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History of Hilo
The first inhabitants in Hilo date back to 1100 AD. People continued to live in the area and build it up into a town from that time. In the 1800s, Hilo expanded into sugar plantations. Hilo has been hit by several tsunamis during its time. Despite that, Hilo continues to be a thriving community on the Big Island.
Best Time to Visit Hilo
Hilo is situated in the middle of a tropical rainforest. Therefore, it gets a lot more rain than the Kona side of the island. It is the 4th wettest city in the United States. The summer months will be warmer and drier, but the weather does not vary too much throughout the year. For the best weather, visit December through April.
How to Get to Hilo
Hilo does contain an international airport, but it does not have as many flights as the Kona Airport on the other side of the island. If you are flying in from the mainland, your flight will most likely arrive at the Kona Airport and you will have to drive to Hilo. It takes about an hour and 40 minutes to drive from Kona to Hilo.
Transportation around Hilo
Hilo has a pretty walkable downtown. However, to really explore the area, you will need a car. I recommend using Autoslash to rent your car as I usually find the cheapest places through them.
Where to Stay in Hilo
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Hilo and Big Island hotels here!
The Hilo downtown is the most central area to stay. There are a variety of hotels scattered around the bay. The Grand Naniola, Double Tree is a good location. However, we opted to stay in an Airbnb across from Richardson Ocean Park. This ended up being a great location as we were steps from a beach!
Best Things to do in Hilo
There are a ton of things to do in Hilo to keep you busy for several days. Even if you only have one day in Hilo, you can find a good mixture of activities to keep you busy.
Akaka Falls State Park
Cost: $1/person or $5/car
Hours: 8:30am-6pm
Akaka Falls State Park contains a 0.4-mile loop trail that goes past two waterfalls. On a clear day, you also get an excellent view of Mauna Loa. This has been a popular area to visit since the 1920s and one of the many fun things to do in Hilo. Along the trail, the first waterfall you will see is the 300-foot Kahuna Falls. The highlight of the trail is the 442 foot, Akaka Falls. This area has been used as a filming site for several movies. Plan to spend about an hour exploring Akaka Falls.
Big Island Candies
Cost: $
Hours: Mon-Sat: 9am-5pm, Sun: 10am-4pm
Big Island Candies is a great stop in Hilo to get some Hawaiian treats. They are known for their shortbread cookies and chocolate-covered macadamia nuts. Although some of the goods are a little pricey, it is a great treat or gift to bring home to others.
Botanical World Adventures
Cost: Varies by Activity
Botanical World Adventures lies about 20 minutes north of Hilo. It offers a ton of recreational activities to partake in. Visitors can opt to zipline, take a segway tour, view the gardens, waterfalls, head through a maze, or go on a bike adventure. No matter what, it will be an adventure filled time.
Carlsmith Beach Park
Cost: Free
Hours: 7am-8pm
Carlsmith Beach Park is the place to go in Hilo if you want to see sea turtles. It is also a great place to snorkel because the water is not very deep and pretty clear. You can also paddleboard in the lagoon. Plan to spend a couple of hours handing out at Carlsmith.
Wander around the Downtown Area
Cost: Free
Hours: Varies by shop, but most open after 10am
One of the most popular things to do in Hilo is to wander the downtown area of Hilo. This area has a ton of cute shops to wander around. There are also many great places to eat if you get hungry. You can also wander past the Tsunami Clock of Doom, which is a monument to the large tsunami that hit Hilo in 1960. Also, make sure to check out the Pacific Tsunami Museum which is dedicated to the 1946 tsunami that hit Hilo. It covers the history of the event as well as serves as a memorial to the lives lost that day.
Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden
Cost: $25
Hours: 9am-5pm
Located about 7 miles north of Hilo, the Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden is a scenic valley containing gorgeous gardens, streams, and waterfalls. It has been open to the public since 1984. Today, it contains over 2,000 plant species and some are over 100 years old. Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring plenty of water.
Hilo Brewing Company
Cost: $3 and up
Hours: Tues: 12pm-5pm, Wed-Sun: 12pm-6pm, Closed Mondays
Hilo Brewing Company is a great place to grab a craft beer. Established in 2018, they have 6 main beers and several seasonal options. It is a great place to hang out and chill for an hour or two.
Hilo Farmers Market
Cost: Free and up
Hours: 7am-3pm
The Hilo Farmers Market is a great place to get some fresh local produce and artisan goods. On Wednesdays and Saturdays they tend to have more venders out, so try to go during those days.
Kaumana Cave Park
Cost: Free
Hours: 8am-8pm
At Kaumana Cave Park, you can wander through a Lava Tube. This Lava Tube came to be in 1881 from a lava flow from Mauna Loa. You can go almost two miles in before you hit private property but after a little bit, the areas get very narrow and low, so it is hard to get through. We made it almost a mile in before we decided not to go further. You need to bring a good flighlight with you and watch your head the entire time as many of the ceilings are low and have rocks sticking out of them.
To get here, follow Highway 200 to Saddle Road. You will see a sign for it and you can park across the road. You will have to cross a busy street with a blind curve to get to a metal staircase. The rest of the hike is over lava rocks into the tube. It is very uneven, so you must watch your footing throughout the entire hike. The Kaumana Caves is one of the best and unique things to do in Hilo!
Liliuokalani Park and Gardens
Cost: Free
Hours: 24 hours
This 24-acre park is situated near Hilo Bay. It is dedicated to Queen Liliuokalani who was one of the only queens of Hawaii. It was later dedicated to Japan’s first immigrants to Hawaii. The gardens are Japanese style and make for a great place to walk around, sit and relax, or eat a picnic lunch.
Mauna Loa Mac Nut Center
Cost: Free
One of the many unique things to do in Hilo is visiting the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Center. This center lets visitors visit the factory where the macadamia nuts are processed, checked, and packaged. Before you leave, make sure to take a drive through the Macadamia Nut orchards on the property. Visitors can also buy and of the Mauna Loa products in the gift shop.
Mochi at Two Ladies Kitchen
Cost: $
Hours: Tues-Sat: 10am-4pm
Mochi fans MUST stop at Two Ladies Kitchen to grab some mochi. Two Ladies Kitchen makes fresh mochi daily with all kinds of Hawaiian fruit flavors. The flavories tend to rotate but strawberry is their most popular flavor. If you are not sure what you want, I recommend getting one of the variety packs to try out a sampling of flavors.
Drive the Papaikou Coast
Cost: Free
If you are looking for a short scenic drive near Hilo, make sure to check out the Papaikou Coast. This 4-mile drive starts just past the mile 7 marker when coming from Hilo. It goes along the coast and offers stunning views. It takes maybe 10-15 minutes to complete.
Richardson Ocean Park
Cost: Free
Hours: 7am-7pm
Richardson Ocean Park is one of the most popular black sand beaches near Hilo. It is a great place to snorkel and to relax on the beach. It takes about 15 minutes to get here from Downtown Hilo. Hanging out at Richardson’s was one of the best things to do in Hilo.
Wailuku River State Park: Rainbow Falls/Boiling Pots
Cost: Free
Hours: Daylight Hours
Wailuku River State Park is located close to downtown Hilo and offers two main attractions: Rainbow Falls and the Boiling Pots. Rainbow Falls is an 80-foot waterfall that boasts a rainbow on sunny days during the morning hours. Behind the falls is a cave that is said to be home to the ancient Hawaiian goddess, Hina.
Boiling Pots, a series of big pools where the water is bubbling and allows you a glimpse of Peepee Falls. There are a few short trails that go around the falls. Make sure to use caution in this area, as it is known for flash floods and water levels can rise quickly.
There are so many great things to do in Hilo and it is a great place to base yourself on the Big Island. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a 45-minute drive away. You can easily spend five to seven days exploring the Big Island. Have more time to explore Hawaii? Head over to Oahu to explore all the cheap things to do there or take a road trip around the various Hawaiian Islands.
8 thoughts on “15+ Cheap and Fun Things to do in Hilo, Hawaii”
Another great place in Hawaii and area to explore, when I finally get to Hawaii.
Yes! Hilo was awesome
Great post!! I have experienced the culture of Hawaii, and it was amazing. Thank you for sharing this post. I am planning another trip with my kids next month. Would you like to share some famous places to visit there??
I have a few other Oahu and Big Island posts! Where will you be visiting?
I’ve never heard of this place in Hawaii but it looks amazing – as all other places in Hawaii do!
It is much less visited than Kona.
Hilo looks absolutely amazing! I love how there is so much to do and the nature looks awesome. I wish I got to go more breweries when I was in Hawaii. 🙂
hilo was so fun! I miss it.