Hilo is the heart of the Big Island. Hilo is the center of public life on Big Island, an old sugar city, a busy port, an historic gem, a very Hawaiian community, a great place to stay, and the gateway to the Big Island volcanoes.

Hilo fans out around its port and is surrounded by a windward landscape of lush forests, manicured groves, waterfalls and winding park trails, like an oasis between the volcanoes and the sea.

Hilo : Then and Now

There's always been something here at Hilo because of the harbor, but Hilo grew by leaps and bounds during the sugar cane era, when it shipped millions of pounds of sugar to the world.

Now sugar has come and gone, and Hilo is becoming the cultural center of the islands by saving its legacies and cultivating its own unique way of life through its music, hula, and history. Today, in and around Hilo, real Hawaii is all around you.

Hilo Hotels

Banyan Drive in Hilo is home to many of Hilo's best places to stay. It's not only convenient but also a scenic location out by the bay and the gardens. Among the hotels here are the Hawaii Naniloa Hotel. (more) It enjoys a reputation for value and service and offers wonderful views, fine dining, and a wide range of amenities. The Naniloa County Club and golf course is next door.

The Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel (more) is a very nice hotel with golf course and Mauna Kea views . It has a pool and formal gardens, and is known for its seafood, while the Hilo Bay Hotel (more) has a Hawaiian feel, a hula show, blue roof, and is known locally as "Uncle Billy's."

There are other good hotels in and around Hilo, and you can click here for more details.

How about Volcano?

On the other hand, you could stay overnight near the edge of Kilauea Crater. The Volcano District has several bed and breakfasts and small hotels to choose from. Among them are:

Lava Lodge (more)

Hilo Tour

Hilo has a rich past, and the reminders of those events are easily found around Hilo if you know where to look. Basically, you can park your car and follow your own self-guided walking tour around the downtown.

There are free maps available at all the hotels and restaurants that point out all the local sights of interest, so you can take them in as you also browse Hilo's local stores.

Among the items on Hilo's "must see" see are the Tsunami Museum and the Liliuokalani Gardens (Banyan Dr.), but Hilo isn't a "thing" to come and see. People come to feel the pace of life in town and experience what a truly tropical Hawaiian town feels like on a balmy day when the breeze is blowing.

More about Hilo and the beaches around the town.

Also, be aware that Hilo is the site of the "Merrie Monarch Festival," which is held in April each year. If you're coming to town then, you're in for a big treat (more).

On the other hand, if you'd like to add a tour, a guided hike, or activity try this Honolulu company called "Hawaii Activities." They sell tours, event and activity packages online, and you can learn a lot while you're looking through their offerings. (More about Hilo activities)

Shopping in Hilo

Hilo has more than its share of shopping centers, malls, and supermarkets, along with curiosity shops and specialty outlets, so this is a great place to stock up on munchies and everything else you might need back on the Kona side.

When you check in to your hotel, just ask the front desk for directions to the Hilo Shopping Center on Kekuanaoa, Hilo Hatties Fashion Center (Makaala St), or the Puainako Town Center. To stock your cooler, try the Farmer's Market, Sack 'n Save, and Safeway.

Quick Facts about Hilo

• Light evening rains clean the air and water the landscapes just about every day making Hilo look and feel like the tropical town it is.
• In 1941 Clarissa Haili (Clara Inter) became so popular singing "When Hilo Hattie Does the Hilo Hop" that she took Hilo Hattie as her stage name, and in the '70's she started selling her own line of clothes. (She and Minnie Pearl had a lot in common.)
• Hilo is about 52 miles from Kamuela (Waimea) along Highway 19 that winds along the Hamakua Coast. Take your time and enjoy the journey.