Explore the rainy side of the Big Island and discover amazing adventures to suit every personality. Here are Whitney James’ top five recommendations for your visit to Hilo, Hawai‘i– from touring Coconut Island and ziplining over a private waterfall to exploring Waipi’o Valley and tasting exotic fruits at the famous Hilo Farmers Market.
Awake to views of Mauna Kea over Hilo Bay from your balcony and grab a cup of joe downstairs in Hula Hula. As soon as the KapohoKine Adventures kiosk opens, you’ll be ready to hit the water! Rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard and head around neighboring Coconut Island—where ancient legend states that swimming around the island three times would heal you of sickness or ailments. Warriors thought of the island (Moku Ola in Hawaiian) as pu’uhonua, a place of refuge. Whether you find a healing element during your explorations around Coconut Island or simply a wonderful morning workout, you’re sure to enjoy this special local gem.
For an out-of-this-world experience, check out Maunakea Stellar Explorer from KapohoKine Adventures. This thrilling adventure is the only Big Island star tour to feature nighttime astronomical observing and safe daytime solar viewing with all ages welcome!
Those who enjoy checking national parks off their list won’t want to miss a stop at Volcanoes National Park. Stretching from sea level to the summit of Mauna Loa at 13,677 feet, the park contains two of the world’s most active volcanoes—Kīlauea and of course the aforementioned Mauna Loa. Although the park was drastically altered by the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea, we find this only adds to the interest of exploring a place still in flux. Choose from any number of hikes within the park during your stay and make a full day of it!
There is no shortage of incredible food options in Hilo and at the Grand Naniloa’s Hula Hula restaurant, but the Hilo Farmers Market is absolutely a “bucket list” item during your stay. It operates every day, but on “Big Market Days” on Wednesdays and Saturdays, over 200 local farmers, artisans, crafters, retailers, and food vendors unite for a market that is truly spectacular. Fun for the whole family, mainlanders in particular will be in awe of the exotic fruits and flowers overflowing onto the sidewalks!
Last but certainly not least, it wouldn’t be a classic trip to Hilo without a stop at Rainbow Falls! Less than four miles away from the Grand Naniloa, this 80-foot cascade is heavily impacted by rainfall amounts in the area and as a result is constantly fluctuating. Rainbow Falls is certainly a popular waterfall due to the easy access from town, but early risers can escape some of the crowds and also catch a kaleidoscope of rainbows in the falling water on sunny mornings. The fact that you can find something so beautiful within walking distance of Hilo makes this side of the Big Island even more magical!