Hilo Hawaii is situated on the windward, or east side,
of the Big Island.
Facing a large, crescent shaped bay, the commanding mountains
of Mauna Kea
and Mauna Loa are a sublime backdrop during a Hilo vacation.
A scenic drive around Hilo Hawaii along the rugged Hamakua
coastline is considered to be one of the most fulfilling
routes to explore during Hilo travel. East of the downtown
core, the port of Hilo is safeguarded by a seawall stretching
about three miles and providing a picturesque view of
the surrounding area. Both east and south of Hilo the
Puna district reveals rocky coasts, abounding lava terrain
and sloping rainforests extending all the way to Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park. A Hilo Hawaiian hotel is
easily found with a large variety to choose from. With
a Hilo hotel as a base, visitors can explore the area
in depth over a day or two.
During Hilo travel there are several small Big Island beaches to visit to spend the day swimming and relaxing. From your Hilo hotel, head north where there are numerous smaller, cove beaches within walking distance. Onekahakaha Beach Park is considered the best beach with great swimming, camping and lifeguards on duty. Many Hawaii snorkeling trips can be arranged through your Hilo hotel or guests can head to the black sand bay at Richardsons Beach with rocky outcrops great for snorkeling. From a downtown Hilo hotel, journey a few miles inland to visit Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots. North of Hilo, only a few miles, is the stunning Pepe'ekeo Scenic Drive, Seven or eight miles farther north visitors will find the impressive Akaka Falls surging fiercely 442 feet into the emerald pool below.
Visitors looking for a Hilo Hawaiian hotel have a small but good assortment of options. There are a handful of Big Island bed and breakfasts in the area that provide cozy accommodations ideal for a few days of Hilo travel. Both the Wild Ginger Inn and At the Beach with Friends Bed and Breakfast offer gracious Hawaiian hospitality, charming rooms and great value for money. The Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel and Dolphin Bay are also good choices for a Hilo hotel with many convenient amenities and good rates. Known as “hotel row”, Banyan Drive, east of downtown, is lined by massive Banyan Trees where hotels stretch along the road to the bay.
Getting to town for a Hilo vacation is an easy and often
affordable journey. A flight to Hilo from the other islands
can be found daily with many routes leaving several times
a day. From Oahu, visitors
can take a flight to Hilo from Honolulu with most routes
serviced by Hawaiian Airlines. A flight to Hilo from Maui
leaves from either Kapalua or Kahului with the latter
being the most popular. From Kauai,
a flight to Hilo will leave from Lihue. A Hawaii
interisland flight to Hilo from Oahu is the cheapest
while flights from Maui and Kauai are more expensive and
both similar in price.
A flight to Hilo from the continental US is also affordable. There are many great deals throughout the year as well as Hawaii travel packages including a flight, Hilo Hawaiian hotel accommodation, Hawaiian rental car and other combinations. Direct flights from Europe and the UK are more expensive. With a US connection between destinations, flights can drop by a few hundred dollars allowing access to more resources during a Hilo vacation. Direct flights to Hilo from the UK and Europe are quite pricey. A better bet is to fly into Honolulu and take a flight to Hilo from there.
Spending all of your Hawaii holidays in Hilo isn’t recommended though it is definitely a great stop. Hilo travel reveals a town full of charm and history, where both locals and tourists co-exist harmoniously. Still a modest plantation town, it remains the best place to be based when visiting Kilauea Volcano. In the heart of Hilo Hawaii there are many vintage buildings dating back to the 1900's along with a series of retail stores and many fruit and flower stalls. Hilo remains the most unchanged by tourism of all the towns on Big Island and is an ideal place to see daily Hawaiian life pass by at a languid pace.
