East Hawaii Guidebook
City/town information
Historic Downtown Hilo is the main hub of East Hawaii, with many creative local businesses, parks and black sand beaches, gorgeous waterfalls, worldly flavors, and diverse personalities. Visit the Pacific Tsunami Museum or Lyman Museum to learn more about the story behind this town and its residents.
A word of advice: carry your raincoat or umbrella! Even on the sunniest days in Hilo, or anywhere on the East side, we get blessed up with bursts of rainfall.
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Hilo
Historic Downtown Hilo is the main hub of East Hawaii, with many creative local businesses, parks and black sand beaches, gorgeous waterfalls, worldly flavors, and diverse personalities. Visit the Pacific Tsunami Museum or Lyman Museum to learn more about the story behind this town and its residents.
A word of advice: carry your raincoat or umbrella! Even on the sunniest days in Hilo, or anywhere on the East side, we get blessed up with bursts of rainfall.
Volcano is actually the name of a town on the Big Island. It encompasses a handful of neighborhoods, Volcano Village, the golf course, and of course Volcanoes National Park.
There's nothing like the crisp air up near Kilauea. The landscape is truly breathtaking, with many ferns, mosses, and ohi'a trees only found on the Hawaiian Islands. Volcano Village is a small collection of art galleries and restaurants that you won't want to miss. Don't forget to bring a coat with you! It can be chilly up here, especially in the evening.
A few other things to keep in mind when visiting this space. The ecosystem existing around Kilauea is extremely fragile; there are microorganisms on our footwear from all our travels that may effect this isolated system. Please, please stay on the designated trails in the park to avoid cross-contamination to vulnerable plant species, or sanitize your shoes with isopropyl alcohol prior to your visit to Volcano Village. It's so important to preserve these sacred places, and we deeply appreciate your help!
Sometimes, vog is noticeably present near the volcano, and you may notice it as a sulfuric smell on the air. Please be aware that those with mild respiratory ailments may experience some discomfort, and vog may even cause respiratory distress in some individuals.
Lastly, locals will tell you that it is bad luck to take rocks away from the Hawaiian Islands because of their cultural significance; they belong to Pele, goddess of the volcano. Ultimately it's your choice, but we want to let you know that it is frowned upon by many.
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Volcano
Volcano is actually the name of a town on the Big Island. It encompasses a handful of neighborhoods, Volcano Village, the golf course, and of course Volcanoes National Park.
There's nothing like the crisp air up near Kilauea. The landscape is truly breathtaking, with many ferns, mosses, and ohi'a trees only found on the Hawaiian Islands. Volcano Village is a small collection of art galleries and restaurants that you won't want to miss. Don't forget to bring a coat with you! It can be chilly up here, especially in the evening.
A few other things to keep in mind when visiting this space. The ecosystem existing around Kilauea is extremely fragile; there are microorganisms on our footwear from all our travels that may effect this isolated system. Please, please stay on the designated trails in the park to avoid cross-contamination to vulnerable plant species, or sanitize your shoes with isopropyl alcohol prior to your visit to Volcano Village. It's so important to preserve these sacred places, and we deeply appreciate your help!
Sometimes, vog is noticeably present near the volcano, and you may notice it as a sulfuric smell on the air. Please be aware that those with mild respiratory ailments may experience some discomfort, and vog may even cause respiratory distress in some individuals.
Lastly, locals will tell you that it is bad luck to take rocks away from the Hawaiian Islands because of their cultural significance; they belong to Pele, goddess of the volcano. Ultimately it's your choice, but we want to let you know that it is frowned upon by many.
Food scene
A modern cocktail bar featuring delicious local-fusion appetizers. The flatbreads are fantastic, and we love the fresh oysters with ponzu and their house made michelada. Seating is limited, but they are usually open all day, and you will be within walking distance of many other Hilo businesses.
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The Temple Bar
64 Keawe StreetA modern cocktail bar featuring delicious local-fusion appetizers. The flatbreads are fantastic, and we love the fresh oysters with ponzu and their house made michelada. Seating is limited, but they are usually open all day, and you will be within walking distance of many other Hilo businesses.
This cute little family-owned bakery serves the best panini in town, and makes fine pastries of all kinds. It's a personal favorite for brunch serving coffee, sweets, sammies, soups and salads. Did I mention they make all of their bread from scratch? I recommend trying their herb roasted chicken panini with fresh pesto, sundried tomato bagel, and if you're looking for treats, try their amazing 'hilo bar' or 'kohala crunch bar'. Like most businesses during covid, their seating is closed and hours are limited. So call ahead and take it to go :)
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Short N Sweet Bakery & Cafe
1263 Kinoole StThis cute little family-owned bakery serves the best panini in town, and makes fine pastries of all kinds. It's a personal favorite for brunch serving coffee, sweets, sammies, soups and salads. Did I mention they make all of their bread from scratch? I recommend trying their herb roasted chicken panini with fresh pesto, sundried tomato bagel, and if you're looking for treats, try their amazing 'hilo bar' or 'kohala crunch bar'. Like most businesses during covid, their seating is closed and hours are limited. So call ahead and take it to go :)
A must for many travelers visiting the island. BIC is a chocolate and cookie factory where you can find many gifts for friends back home! Excellent service, presentation, and the desserts are so tasty. We especially like their macadamia chocolate crunch series, and any of the chocolate dipped macadamia shortbeards! You can watch them make the cookies in back of house, too.
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Big Island Candies
585 Hinano StA must for many travelers visiting the island. BIC is a chocolate and cookie factory where you can find many gifts for friends back home! Excellent service, presentation, and the desserts are so tasty. We especially like their macadamia chocolate crunch series, and any of the chocolate dipped macadamia shortbeards! You can watch them make the cookies in back of house, too.
If you will be visiting Volcanoes National Park during your visit, this coffee mill is on the way there. They make many coffee and espresso drinks, and offer bags of coffee roasted on site! They carry 100% Kona and Kau grown coffee, but keep in mind, it’s pricey stuff! If you like coffee with more citrus notes, Kona coffee is the way to go, but if you like your coffee with more herbal, chocolate notes, you might want to give Kau coffee a try.
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Hilo Coffee Mill
17-995 Volcano RdIf you will be visiting Volcanoes National Park during your visit, this coffee mill is on the way there. They make many coffee and espresso drinks, and offer bags of coffee roasted on site! They carry 100% Kona and Kau grown coffee, but keep in mind, it’s pricey stuff! If you like coffee with more citrus notes, Kona coffee is the way to go, but if you like your coffee with more herbal, chocolate notes, you might want to give Kau coffee a try.
Learn about the chocolate produced on Big Island from the knowledgable baristas at Puna Chocolate. Indulge in high quality island grown chocolate products of all kinds! This decadent cafe offers sipping chocolate, kona coffee, chocolate shakes, and more. Well worth the visit!
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Puna Chocolate Company & Cafe
277 Keawe StLearn about the chocolate produced on Big Island from the knowledgable baristas at Puna Chocolate. Indulge in high quality island grown chocolate products of all kinds! This decadent cafe offers sipping chocolate, kona coffee, chocolate shakes, and more. Well worth the visit!
Big Island is spoiled with all the wonderful Thai restaurants we have, but this one is our personal favorite. It also serves cocktails. Everything on their menu is great. We especially recommend their calamari appetizer, summer rolls, and peanut dish--a bed of steamed veggies, your choice of protein, and a generous serving of peanut sauce. Don’t forget to try their soursop or lilikoi margarita when in season, so so good!
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New Chiang Mai Thai Cuisine
110 Kalakaua StBig Island is spoiled with all the wonderful Thai restaurants we have, but this one is our personal favorite. It also serves cocktails. Everything on their menu is great. We especially recommend their calamari appetizer, summer rolls, and peanut dish--a bed of steamed veggies, your choice of protein, and a generous serving of peanut sauce. Don’t forget to try their soursop or lilikoi margarita when in season, so so good!
One of the best restaurants on island, with a revolving menu featuring locally-sourced and inspired dishes, lots of seafood, great drinks and service, and a wonderful view from the balcony of Hilo bay.
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Hilo Bay Cafe
123 Lihiwai StOne of the best restaurants on island, with a revolving menu featuring locally-sourced and inspired dishes, lots of seafood, great drinks and service, and a wonderful view from the balcony of Hilo bay.
Sightseeing
Experience the bustle of our open market beside Hilo bay. Here you will find many tropical fruits, local veggies, and all kinds of jewelry and crafts unique to the islands.
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Hilo Farmers Market
Mamo StreetExperience the bustle of our open market beside Hilo bay. Here you will find many tropical fruits, local veggies, and all kinds of jewelry and crafts unique to the islands.
Take a trip to the lookout at Rainbow Falls, a waterfall in Hilo along the Wailuku river. Cascading over a cave, sometimes on sunny days with light showers, rainbows may appear in the rushing water here. The cave is known in Hawaiian legends to be the home of the goddess Hina; you can read about it at the lookout! There are designated walkways for visitors, but be aware that swimming in the river or getting too close can be perilous. Flash floods at Wailuku are unpredictable, and sometimes carry people away. For your safety, do not try to swim here.
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Cascate Rainbow
Take a trip to the lookout at Rainbow Falls, a waterfall in Hilo along the Wailuku river. Cascading over a cave, sometimes on sunny days with light showers, rainbows may appear in the rushing water here. The cave is known in Hawaiian legends to be the home of the goddess Hina; you can read about it at the lookout! There are designated walkways for visitors, but be aware that swimming in the river or getting too close can be perilous. Flash floods at Wailuku are unpredictable, and sometimes carry people away. For your safety, do not try to swim here.
Consigli per viaggiatori
Muoversi in zona
Renting a vehicle is highly recommended.
The public transportation system on the Big Island is not always punctual, and does not service many areas. We recommend being prepared to rent a vehicle. If you'd like to visit some of the more remote areas of the island for off-roading or hiking, such as Mauna Kea summit, consider renting one with four wheel drive.
Usanze e culture
Hidden treasures
If you are gifted the knowledge of a hidden place by a friend in Hawaii, be pono! Act with respect for residents and do not reveal the location of this special place online. This may have unintended consequences, such as over-crowding and harm to our fragile ecosystems.