Things to do in Hilo

Malar

From Malar's guidebook

This is the only tropical zoo in the United States offering a wide variety of rainforest animals and endangered Hawaiian animals. Free admission and a beautiful playground for kids to visit. Petting zoo on Saturdays from 1:30PM - 2:30PM.

Veronica

From Veronica's guidebook

o Inexpensive zoo with tigers, monkeys, and lush gardens. Best little zoo. The play structure and petting zoo is a highlight every time I take the kids. They also allow pack lunches inside. Perfect place for a picnic!

Jacqueline

From Jacqueline's guidebook

It’s not just a zoo, it a beautiful botanical garden too! The Pana’ewa Rainforest Zoo is the only tropical zoo in the United States and is located about 4 miles from Hilo. Inside, you can find a variety of rainforest animals and endangered Hawaiian animals such as spider monkeys, lemurs, nene geese (the Hawaiian State bird), and over 80 other animal species. The Pana’ewa zoo is also a botanical garden and is filled with orchids, bamboos, 100 varieties of palms, and a water garden. The zoo is pretty small, plan on spending about one to two hours walking around checking out the animals and plants / flowers. One must-do (for kids) is the petting zoo (only on Saturday. The zoo is open daily, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free, but please consider either leaving a donation or a visit to their gift shop to support this local zoo and their outreach activities.

Jeffrey

From Jeffrey's guidebook

The Pacific Tsunami Museum is a museum is dedicated to educating visitors about tsunamis and their impact on the people and communities of the Pacific. The museum features exhibits that showcase the science of tsunamis, the history of tsunamis in the Pacific, and the effects of tsunamis on local communities. Exhibits also feature personal survivor stories and eyewitness accounts from historic tsunamis, including the devastating 1960 tsunami that struck Hilo, which is a focus of the museum. The museum also provides resources for emergency preparedness and disaster response planning and hosts educational programs and events for schools and community organizations. The Pacific Tsunami Museum aims to promote awareness and understanding of tsunamis and the importance of preparedness in at-risk coastal communities.

⁨Kathryn (Middle Name)⁩

From ⁨Kathryn (Middle Name)⁩'s guidebook

Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, in old downtown Hilo, about a 40-minute drive from Volcano Village, this Museum has interesting displays, particularly about the tsunami waves that struck Hilo town in the last century. http://www.tsunami.org/index/index.html

Joe And Cindy

From Joe And Cindy's guidebook

Pacific Tsunami Museum – The goals of the Museum are to promote public tsunami education and to preserve history. The Museum serves as a living memorial to those who lost their lives in past tsunami events.

Ericka

From Ericka's guidebook

If visiting Hilo for the day, don't miss stopping at BIg Island Candies for specialty cookies, chocolate and gifts. Great take-home items. Open everyday - 8:30a-5:00p. (~1.5 hrs from suite)

Allen

From Allen's guidebook

Confection shop for chocolate-dipped cookies (with a window to watch the process), candies & gifts.

Joshua

From Joshua's guidebook

Amazing Candy, Cookies and Chocolate! You can actually see them making the candy! Upon entering, they give a complimentary coffee from Kau District (Best Coffee on the Big Island). We like to eat at Hawaiian Style and then head here for dessert.

Keith

From Keith's guidebook

Protected white sand lagoon along lava shoreline. Swimming, snorkeling, picnicking, fishing. Lifeguards, restrooms, pavilions with electricity, showers, drinking water, telephones. Hazardous waves, currents and footing. Excellent beach park with anchialine ponds situated across Kalaniana`ole Avenue from Lokoaka Pond.

Dan & Berndt

From Dan & Berndt's guidebook

Magical lagoon and beach park, picnic tables. White sand, shallow protected lagoon with sea turtles. Fresh cold water springs mix with ocean water in the spectacular location. Easy access into the water with 2 stair entry areas.

Mary

From Mary's guidebook

This is one of the best places to see the Honu (Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle) this water has healoing properties because of the warm ocean water and the cold fresh water vents filled with minerals from from below. Together they make a brackish mixture of water that is refreshing to swimm and walk in. There is a rail for easy entry and most of the time you are there you will encounter the Honu swimming.

Dan & Berndt

From Dan & Berndt's guidebook

Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots just above Hilo- on the same river very close to each other. Drive and walk to the overlooks to see the falls. Please do not even try to swim here- as we have deaths every year from guests trapped in the underwater lava tubes here.

Jan

From Jan's guidebook

🗂️ Categories: Waterfall • Easy Access • Scenic Stop 🌺 Vibe: Lush, tropical, and effortlessly photogenic Rainbow Falls, or Waiānuenue (“waters of the rainbow”), is an 80-foot waterfall just a few minutes from downtown Hilo. It plunges dramatically over a lava cave said in legend to be home to the Hawaiian goddess Hina, the mother of Maui. True to its name, on sunny mornings you can often see rainbows forming in the mist — one of the most magical sights in Hilo. The overlook is just steps from the parking lot, making it extremely accessible for all ages. A short path leads up to giant banyan trees above the falls, adding another unique view and photo opportunity. 💡 INSIDER TIP: It’s about a 2-hour drive from Harbor View Hale. The rainbows are most visible in the early morning sun, so this makes a great first stop on a Hilo day trip. Parking and access are free, and it’s easy to pair with ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, Akaka Falls, or Hilo’s farmers market. 🕑 Opening Hours: Open daily during daylight hours. No admission fee. ☀️ When to Go: Early morning for the best chance of catching rainbows in the mist. Afternoons are greener, moodier, and less crowded.

Cody And Esther

From Cody And Esther's guidebook

80 foot waterfall surrounded by lush tropical foliage. Named for the rainbows that often appear in its mist on sunny mornings, this iconic spot is easily accessible and offers stunning views from nearby lookout.

Suzy

From Suzy's guidebook

This is a beautiful black sand beach, that you can drive up too. It's great for snorkeling, with sapphire blue waters and reef fish that will leave you smiling underwater when you see them. Turtles also swim here, and lifeguards are there to help you! Highly recommend this place for swimming!

Kealoha

From Kealoha's guidebook

Richardson Ocean Park is a popular and scenic family-friendly beach on the shore east of Hilo. It has a small black sand beach but mostly has an irregular lava rock shoreline with swimming areas and tide pools galore. It is a 15-minute to 16-minute drive from the property.

Walter

From Walter's guidebook

Richardson’s Ocean Park is the Black Sand Beach closest to Hilo. It is know to the locals as ‘Richardson’s’, and is together with the Kapoho tide pools your best choice if you want to snorkel.

Chase

From Chase's guidebook

Onekahakaha Beach Park also affectionately known to locals as "keiki" Beach, which means "kids" in Hawaiian, is great for kids and families. You will commonly see birthday parties, and families playing horse shoes and beach and yard games. This beach has many wave breakers and protected lagoons making it safer for kids and those who want to just lounge around in more calm waters.

Louise

From Louise's guidebook

Located just east of the Hilo Airport, Onekahakaha Beach is a favorite with keiki (children). This small, shallow, sand-bottomed ocean pool is one of the safest swimming areas along the Hilo coast, with tide pools and inlets. Although there’s no actual beach, the park is perfect for play, picnics and lovely views of Hilo Bay.

Bill

From Bill's guidebook

Best beach for small children, non swimmers, older folks. Shallow water, no waves, picnic tables, shade trees.