Five Things To Do in and around Hilo
See the waterfalls - Several waterfalls run year-round within a 5-mile radius of Downtown Hilo. The closest and most accessible of these are Peʻepeʻe Falls (a.k.a Boiling Pots) and Waiānuenue (a.k.a Rainbow Falls). Both are pullover spots accessible to people of all abilities.
Take a farm tour - Most of the food grown in Hawai'i is grown on Hawai‘i Island. East Hawai'i is home to a concentration of farms, many of which offer memorable and affordable tours that involve eating delicious treats like chocolate, fresh fruit and honey.
Visit a museum - Whether you want to learn about Hawaiian culture, the arts or the natural history of Hawai‘i, there’s a museum dedicated to the topic. Your options include the Lyman Museum, Mokupāpapa Discovery Center, East Hawai‘i Cultural Center and Pacific Tsunami Museum.
Walk Queen Lili‘uokalani Park - Named after the last sovereign monarch of Hawai‘i, this park is a lovely place for a leisurely stroll. The trees lining the walkways provide plenty of shade, making it a great spot any time of year. Want to enjoy a treat on your walk? Stop by the Ice House (part of Al‘ii Ice Company) on the edge of the park and enjoy shaved ice, ice cream or our favorite: a fresh fruit popsicle!
Explore a black sand beach - You don’t have to venture far to walk on black sand in Hilo. As the youngest inhabited island in the Hawaiian archipelago, many of Hawai‘i Island’s beaches are made of volcanic rock. Richardson’s Ocean Park is one of our favorites and only about a 15-minute drive from town.
