Hilo is the capital of the Big Island and lies on the windward (East) side of the Island. This is the rainy side on all Hawaiian islands and rainfall here averages 140 inches annually. This makes the Hilo district tropical, and fills the surrounding (rain)forests with colorful flowers and waterfalls.
Table of contents
- Hilo bragging rights! (why we love Hilo)
- Activities in and around Hilo
- Places to stay
- Directions
- Practicalities
- Weather trends
- Interactive map
Hilo is not your typical tourist town but very easy to fall in love with. It is rainy and charming, tropical and laid back. People are friendly, and time here seems to run just a bit slower than on the Kona side of the island. Hilo is our favorite city on the Big Island.
Hilo lies where the slopes of the impressive Maunakea and Mauna Loa volcanoes meet the ocean. In winter these volcanoes are sometimes covered in snow. Image courtesy of Volcano Hideaways.
Hilo (Hawaiʻi): students, culture, orchids, and capital of the Big Island
Next to being the Big Island capital Hilo also is the largest city on the island. With a population of almost 45,000 it is more than 3 times as populous as Kailua Kona and home to almost a quarter of all residents of the island of Hawaiʻi.
Hilo is home to the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo campus, whose students and staff make up about 10% of Hilo’s population. This gives parts of Hilo the vibe of a college town, with its own special atmosphere.
Hilo also is considered the Cultural capital of the island. Historic buildings, two recent tsunamis, and a heritage of the old plantations days set the scene. You’ll want to check the galleries and museums in downtown Hilo and check out the farmers market that is opened every day of the week but whose BIG days are Wednesday and Saturday.
Mokuola (Coconut island) is a small park in Hilo just offshore from Liliʻuokalani Park and Gardens. There is a beach, a tower for jumping into the ocean, and picnic tables
Hilo is known as the Orchid Capital of the world. The wet climate on this side is well suited for cultivating orchids. You can spot them growing wild if you keep an eye out.
A good local resource about Hilo with often updated local events, a 1-hour guided walking tour, and more local information, is the Downtownhilo website.
Activities in and around Hilo
There are plenty of things to do in Hilo to spend a day or two. You can go see waterfalls, visit a few museums, check out the zoo, or visit one of the black sand beach parks in and around Hilo. Read more information on our page dedicated to activities in Hilo.
There are many easily accessible waterfalls and rainforest trails to pick from in and around Hilo, of which the Rainbow Falls and “Boiling Pots” are the most famous.
Around Hilo there is also plenty of action for the outdoors-minded visitor:
1: Activities north of Hilo (Hāmākua coast):
North of Hilo, the Hāmākua coast stretches out, with scenic routes, canyons, and waterfalls that can fill a full day of driving.
Lots of rain and tropical weather keep the Hāmākua coast north of Hilo green year-round
2: Activities south of Hilo (Puna district)
South of Hilo you can find the Puna district. This is the newest part of the island which is visible from the wild nature and high volcanic activity.
In the middle of Puna is the old hippie town of Pahoa. Plan a day in Puna for scenic drives between small beach parks and a soak in volcano-heated hot ponds. When the flow is active, you can also see lava flowing into the sea.
3: Activities west of Hilo (Volcano Village)
Volcano Village and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park are a 40 minute drive to the south-west away from Hilo.
Both are worth building into your itinerary if you want to see active volcanoes and rainforest on the Big Island.
Where to stay in Hilo
Where you stay on the Hilo side of the Big Island depends on what you’re doing. Staying at elevation near the national park suits an active-volcano itinerary; Hilo Town has more services nearby. The Hāmākua coast to the north and the more rugged, off-the-path Puna district to the south are the other two options.
In our “where to stay in Hilo” guide, we break down the best options on the Hilo side for different kinds of travelers, including families, first timers, solo travelers, active travelers, beach bums, and repeat visitors. Our suggestions cover high-end and budget-friendly options for each.
Directions to Hilo
Hilo is the landing place for many visitors to the Big Island through the Hilo International Airport. All the main rental car agencies have an office at the airport, but it is also possible to leave the airport by bus (hele-on bus).
Kailua-Kona (86 miles, 2 hr 20 min), Waimea (55 miles, 1 hr 20 minutes), Pahoa (20 miles, 35 minutes) and Volcano Village (30 miles, 50 min) are all easily reachable by car.
Hilo as seen from the ocean looking towards downtown. Adapted from original image by Prayitno on Flickr, published under a CC BY 2.0 license.
Practicalities
With an average rainfall of 140 inches (!) annually a light raincoat is not a luxury. Most of the rain falls in the evening here, and weeks without daytime rainfall are common.
Local Weather in Hilo:
Weather in Hilo is more humid and less sunny when compared to the rest of the Big Island but the weather is still mild by mainland standards.
If you want to see what this means for your visit to Hawaiʻi (average temperature, hours of sunshine, cloudy days and precipitation) check out the monthly average weather for Hilo.
Hilo average weather by month: rainfall (bars, left axis), temperature (line and daily min/max band, right axis) and cloud cover (the strip below). Around 142 inches of rain a year, 70 to 75°F average, 64% average cloud cover. Data: Giambelluca et al. (2014).
Interactive Map of Hilo:
We have added what we think are the most important stops and activities in and around Hilo on an interactive map. This map lists our highlights for Hilo and the Hāmākua coast. Click any icon to find more information about that local activity, shop, or hotel/vacation rental.
We also have interactive maps of other parts of the Big Island:
