A Complete Guide to Hilo, Hawaii

2/1/2023

**Updated : February 2023**
Use the map to see a visual of all our recommendations - click the arrow next to our photo to have a pop up list! This post may also contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you purchase a product via these links, with no extra cost to you!

During our visit to Hawaii, we spent 3 days exploring Hilo! Although we flew into Kona, from there we were able to take the free, 2 hour bus to Hilo to spend the next week exploring the best places to stay, local places to eat, and activities to do while on the Big Island of Hawai'i!

Where to Stay

SCP Hilo - An incredible property right on the waterfront, we LOVED how much they give back to the local community - plus they had an incredible selection of onsite amenities and entertainment (think lion dances, weekly yoga classes, paddle boarding, local live music, bike rentals, the list goes on) while encouraging sustainable practices through their solar panels and refillable water stations.

Book a stay with SCP Hilo here!

Other stays on the Big Island that looked incredible :

Places to Eat

We've got to be 100% honest here - finding a good place to eat in Hilo was pretty difficult. We found that many places had either been permanently closed or had very random hours, with which we struggled to get to without a car to drive. We did however round up a few of our favorites during our stay there, and can't wait to add a few more food spots around the Big Island on our next visit!

Popover - a delicious donut shop
Loved by the Sun - an awesome smoothie and health food shop located in downtown Hilo
Two Ladies Kitchen - a quaint shop (also located in downtown Hilo) that specializes in serving up the best mochi in town!

Zippy's - not a restaurant that would often come recommended, we loved stopping here for the Saimin (and it definitely helped us stay within our budget)
Ken's House of Pancakes - an incredible local diner that serves "sumo size" plates (complete with a bell that's rang every time a sumo plate is served), we 100% recommend their chocolate coconut pancakes!
Sombat's Fresh Thai Cuisine - a great local Thai spot that had the best fried spring rolls

Things to Do

If you haven't visited the Big Island yet (or never made your way to Hilo), then you're in luck because there are so many incredible activities and things to do near Hilo! Not only is it near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, but in recent years Hilo has even become a popular cruise port!

Rainbow Falls - arguably one of the most touristy spots in Hilo, it's for good reason! Seeing the "rainbow falls" depends on recent rainfall and sunlight - but when the conditions are just right you'll see a beautiful spray of colors!
Pink Church - a unique stop we just happened upon when riding our bikes to Rainbow Falls, the picture truly doesn't do this adorable church justice (MUCH more pink in person!)
Hilo Farmer's Market - the cutest spot in Hilo and the best place to support true local artists to grab a souvenir (or fresh coconut or sugar cane!)
Manta Ray Night Dive - we personally weren't able to do this activity during our stay (SCP Hilo had so many amenities we just ran out of time) but this came highly recommended from many of our local friends on the islands - most of whom recommended booking through Hilo Ocean Adventures!
Hawaii Volcanos National Park - at $30 per car per entrance for an entire week, we highly recommend exploring the park for at least a day or two! There is so much to do, however our favorites were seeing the Lava Lake from Kilauea Overlook and walking through the Nahuku Lava Tube!