Hilo Travel Guide – Top Things To Do On The East Side of Big Island, Hawaii
Welcome to Hilo on the Big Island, Hawaii! Let’s talk about the top things to do in Hilo, Hawaii!
The Big Island is the largest of all the Hawaiian Islands – just driving to one side to another can take 3 or more hours! When planning your vacation, you will want to divide up your activities by which side of the island you are on so you can save yourself some driving time.
Hilo is the Eastern side of the island. This side gets more rain which means it is more lush and is COVERED in waterfalls! To read more about the western or “Kona” side of the island read our Big Island Travel Guide.
Rainbow Falls
One of the most popular things to do in Hilo is visit the beautiful Rainbow Falls. Rainbow Falls is a very accessible waterfall. Located just off the parking lot you can see a strong waterfall that gets its name from the rainbows that can be seen reflecting off its mist. The short walk to the waterfall is entirely paved and has a lot of visitors. Due to this being a popular attraction, there are restroom facilities on the grounds!
PRICE: Free
TIME: 15-30 minutes
MAPS: Rainbow Falls – Google Maps
Boiling Pots
The Boiling Pots are located just a few minutes from Rainbow Falls. The Boiling Pots have a waterfall that goes into a river with many rapids that make it look like it is “boiling”. Similar to Rainbow Falls, the pathway is entirely paved and just a short walk to the viewing points. The grounds are very well-kept and would be a great place to relax while in Hilo.
PRICE: Free
TIME: 15-30 minutes
MAPS: Boiling Pots – Google Maps
Akaka Falls State Park (Includes Kahuna Falls)
Akaka Falls is one of the most popular falls to visit in Hilo and the second largest waterfall on the island! Located in the lush hills, there is a short loop hike or a direct pathway to the large falls. Along the loop you can also get a view of the Kahuna Falls through the foliage.
The pathway does include some stairs but is largely paved with handrails. The shorter path is on the left (where you can hike in and out) and the scenic path is on the right (the full loop). This is a heavily trafficked area that also includes restroom facilities.
PRICE: $10 For Parking and $5 per person entry fee.
TIME: 1 hour
MAPS: Akaka Falls State Park – Google Maps
Surf
While we are not surfers, we did see some people surfing in the Hilo Bay! Check out Honoli’i Beach Park for one place to surf in Hilo. See surf conditions here.
PRICE: Free
TIME: Variable
MAPS: Honoli’i Beach Park – Google Maps
Hilo Farmer’s Market
This large outdoor market is open everyday, but the large market days are on Wednesday and Saturday. Check their website for hours. You can find anything here from fruits, flowers, pastries, crafts jewelry, clothing, woodworks, and more!
PRICE: Free entry
TIME: From 30 minutes to a couple hours if you are browsing!
MAPS: Hilo Farmers Market – Google Maps
Liliuokalani Park and Gardens (Japanese Gardens)
This 30-acre park is the second largest Japanese Gardens outside of Japan, according to some sources. The gardens are named after the late Queen Liliuokalani and is a tribute to the Japanese immigrants who came to Hawaii to work on the sugar plantations. This beautiful park is full of walkways, ponds, and Japanese architecture. Take a walk to enjoy the serene environment and stop on the many benches to take in the views. This is one of the most peaceful things to do in Hilo.
PRICE: Free
TIME: 15-45 minutes
MAPS: Liliuokalani Gardens – Google Maps
Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve & Garden Botanical Gardens
For the nature lovers of the world, take a stop at the Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden (HTBG) to view rare plants from their mile-long trail. Along the trail you will also find beautiful views of waterfalls and the bay. Remember your camera, hiking shoes, rain jacket, and bug spray!
Follow the Scenic Route to get to the gardens until you see their visitor center.
PRICE:
Adults – $25
Children (6-16) – $12
Children under 6 – Free
Note that they currently do not accept cash or check. Visit their website for updates and more information.
TIME: About 1-1.5 hours to see the garden
MAPS: Hawai‘i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden – Google Maps
Walk Around Wailoa River State Recreation Area And Park
You can’t miss this beautiful grassy area and pond right in the middle of Hilo! Stop here to walk the trails and bridges, have a picnic, and stop by the Wailoa Center to see the art and cultural exhibits for free. The area also includes a boat ramp for fishing so you can see some of the locals on the pond. Altogether a very pleasant spot to visit in Hilo!
PRICE: Free
TIME: 15 minutes to an hour
MAPS: Wailoa River State Recreation Area – Google Maps
Pana’ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens (Hilo Zoo)
The Pana’ewa Zoo is the only natural tropical rainforest zoo in the United States! This zoo is free for visitors and includes animal exhibits and garden areas! Come see the amazing white tiger, a variety of primates, tropical birds, and more. Open daily from 10AM-3PM, and other times they also have a petting zoo! Check their website for details.
PRICE: Free – optional donation box at the entrance
TIME: 1-2 hours
MAPS: Panaewa Rainforest Zoo – Google Maps
Kilauea Caverns of Fire Tour
Join a tour of an amazing Lava tube with knowledgeable guides. With varying levels of the tour you can explore the Kazamura Lava Tube system – a natural wonder! Tour reservations can only be made via telephone, preferably a day or two minimum before desired tour. Check their website for details. Remember your hiking shoes!
PRICE: Walking Tour – $29/person
Adventure Tour – $89/person
Day in the Cave – $279/person
TIME: Variable from 1 hour to a full day depending on which tour package you select
MAPS: Kilauea Caverns of Fire – Google Maps
Lava Tree State Monument
Come see the remnants of trees burned in a lava flow on this walking trail. This State Park has beautiful plant life, a paved walkway, and picnic tables for an enjoyable afternoon. The walkway is a .7 mile loop.
PRICE: FREE
TIME: 30 minutes to 1 hour
MAPS: Lava Tree State Monument – Google Maps
Go Star Gazing at Maunakea Observatory
Not only is this summit an incredible view of the stars, but it is also one of the few places in Hawaii that gets SNOW! On the mountain are several telescopes because of how clearly you are able to see the stars.
Keep in mind that only 4WD cars are able to go to the summit. Perhaps the best way to the summit is to take a tour, which also usually provides telescopes with the transportation. Halfway up the mountain is the visitor’s center, which is also a great place to get a clear view of the stars. The Maunakea Visitor’s Center has free star gazing nights. Check information on their website.
Go up with warm clothing and a full tank of gas since there aren’t gas stations nearby.
PRICE: Visitor’s Center is free, tours can be up to $260
TIME: From 1 hour to 8 hour tours
MAPS: Maunakea Observatories Support Services – Google Maps
Zipline Through the Rainforest
Take this 8 zipline course through the Hakalau rainforest to get incredible views of Hilo and the Kama’e’e Falls! This tour is through Botanical World Adventures. Find more information at their website.
PRICE: $187 for adults 13+, $147 for children 4-12
TIME: 2.5 hours
MAPS: Botanical World Adventures – Google Maps
Hike the Puna Trail to Ha’ena Beach
This trail is about 5 miles down to a white sandy beach that is usually empty. The trail is often muddy but is relatively flat and straight. Sometimes you can also see sea turtles and whales! Bring bug repellant for the mosquitos!
PRICE: Free
TIME: 3-4 hours
MAPS: Puna Trail – Hawaii, Hawaii | AllTrails
Other Nearby Activities
Check out our other post for other activities that are more on the Southern end of the island such as Punalu’u Beach, the Green Sand Beach (Papakolea Beach), and Volcanoes National Park.
