Big Islandhilo

Hilo Hawaii

The coastal town of Hilo is the second largest city in the state of Hawaii, and the largest city on Big Island. In 2000, the population of Hilo was close to 41,000. Here, you will find a crescent-shaped bay, rows of Victorian houses, a restored downtown filled with historic buildings and artifacts, and an impressive view of the beautiful Mauna Loa mountain. You will also find lots of rain in this city, with the city recording an average of 128 inches of rain every year. The rain creates a tropical yet urban feel to the city where fern, orchids, and anthuriums are found all over the place. The rain in Hilo should not dissuade you from coming to this great urban Hawaii area, nor should it persuade you to stay indoors all the time. There is a lot to see and do and explore while in Hilo, so it's best to grab your umbrella and enjoy the distinctive rainstorms on your journey to some of the best restaurants, bars, shopping and sightseeing in all of Big Island.

One of the main places to go to search out great and interesting activities and events is the East Hawaii Cultural Center, which hosts regular art exhibits, workshops, classes and other cultural and artistic events year-round. There are a variety of great museums in Hilo, such as the Lyman Museum & Mission House located in a 1839 Hawaiian and New England-inspired house. You should also head over to the Pacific Tsunami Museum, remembering the tragic and deadly tsunamis of 1946 and 1960. There, you will be able to speak directly with museum volunteers who survived the tsunamis.

For nature lovers, the best excursion out of Hilo is to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, only a mile north of Hilo. Several tour companies will take you up there from Hilo by bus or helicopter. This is truly one of the most beautiful, awe-inspiring and impressive national parks in the US. People come to Hawaii for two main natural wonders: the beautiful Pacific Ocean beaches, and the massive, sometimes still-active volcanoes that are the foundation of the geography of the islands. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the only national park that has a tropical rainforest and the only one that has a still-active volcano. While you can certainly drive through the park in a one-day excursion (and there are plenty of good roads to go through), the best way to experience the park is to spend several days, either camping or at one of the nearby hotels. Volcanoes are at the heart of the islands of Hawaii and they are truly one of the most impressive natural sights to see and experience.

Hilo contains a plethora of great restaurants with all kinds of uniquely Hawaiian ambiances. The nightlife is not as happening as the one in Honolulu; Hilo prefers putting on great cultural and theatrical shows than constructing the latest high-end night club. Some of the better restaurants in Hilo include Miyo's Japanese restaurant, often labeled Hilo's best Japanese restaurant by local newspapers. The simplistic and delicious Royal Siam Thai Restaurant serves excellent Thai dishes at very reasonable prices. And for all types of creative and savory pizza creations, head over to Café Pesto Hilo Bay where traditional pizza recipes are mixed in with a Pacific island touch.