Jason’s Big Island guidebook
Sightseeing
Some of our favorite and recommended spots on the Big Island.
Volcanoes National Park is a wonderful place to spend the day. There are many great hiking trails through beautiful forests as well as desolate black lava lakes, sometimes right next to each other! The Kilauea Iki trail is one of our favorites.
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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is a wonderful place to spend the day. There are many great hiking trails through beautiful forests as well as desolate black lava lakes, sometimes right next to each other! The Kilauea Iki trail is one of our favorites.
Rainbow Falls is just 1 mile from our home and is always a nice place to visit. Also, make sure to head up the road from Rainbow Falls and also check out Boiling Pots.
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Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls is just 1 mile from our home and is always a nice place to visit. Also, make sure to head up the road from Rainbow Falls and also check out Boiling Pots.
Want a peaceful morning or evening walk, then check out Liliuokalani Park which also connects to Coconut Island. One of our favorite spots in Hilo.
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Liliuokalani-Park und -Gärten
189 Lihiwai StWant a peaceful morning or evening walk, then check out Liliuokalani Park which also connects to Coconut Island. One of our favorite spots in Hilo.
Carlsmith Beach park is a great place for seeing Sea Turtles. The water can be a bit cold though sometimes as there is a mixture for cold fresh water mixing with the warmer salt water due to underwater springs.
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Carlsmith Beach Park
1815 Kalanianaole StCarlsmith Beach park is a great place for seeing Sea Turtles. The water can be a bit cold though sometimes as there is a mixture for cold fresh water mixing with the warmer salt water due to underwater springs.
One of our favorite places on the island. Well worth the cost of admission. Tropical plants from all over the world are beautifully displayed throughout this amazing garden that also has waterfalls and incredible oceanfront views.
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Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
27-717 Mamalahoa HighwayOne of our favorite places on the island. Well worth the cost of admission. Tropical plants from all over the world are beautifully displayed throughout this amazing garden that also has waterfalls and incredible oceanfront views.
Waipio Valley is a very scenic spot on the northeast area of the Big Island. In order to drive down into the valley, a 4WD vehicle is required. Or you can walk it (which we prefer) but it's incredibly steep, so make sure you have good shoes, lots of energy and some water and snacks.
Wild horses are often seen near the beach.
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Waipi'o Valley
48-5561A Waipio Valley RdWaipio Valley is a very scenic spot on the northeast area of the Big Island. In order to drive down into the valley, a 4WD vehicle is required. Or you can walk it (which we prefer) but it's incredibly steep, so make sure you have good shoes, lots of energy and some water and snacks.
Wild horses are often seen near the beach.
A magical area of the big island. A bit of a drive from Hilo (about 2 hours from our house) but most of the drive is incredibly beautiful. From the parking area at the top, it's a 20 minute or so hike down to the valley below. Very peaceful. From the valley floor, you can also hike up the next ridge for a nice picnic spot and more great views.
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Pololu Valley
A magical area of the big island. A bit of a drive from Hilo (about 2 hours from our house) but most of the drive is incredibly beautiful. From the parking area at the top, it's a 20 minute or so hike down to the valley below. Very peaceful. From the valley floor, you can also hike up the next ridge for a nice picnic spot and more great views.
One of the newest black sand beaches on the island, created by the 2018 Eruption. This is a good place to see where the newest lava flowed right next to the beach and the destruction that was caused.
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Isaac Hale Park
13-101 Kalapana - Kapoho RdOne of the newest black sand beaches on the island, created by the 2018 Eruption. This is a good place to see where the newest lava flowed right next to the beach and the destruction that was caused.
Kaumana Caves is an old lava tube that is just up the road from our house. Thurston lava tube in the National park is closed, so if you want to see a lava tube, this is the way to go. But make sure to wear good shoes and bring a bright flashlight / headlamp. This is a raw lava tube with no railings or lighting (like the national park tube). You don't need to hike in far to get a feel and it's quite the experience.
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Kaumana Caves
1492 Kaumana DrKaumana Caves is an old lava tube that is just up the road from our house. Thurston lava tube in the National park is closed, so if you want to see a lava tube, this is the way to go. But make sure to wear good shoes and bring a bright flashlight / headlamp. This is a raw lava tube with no railings or lighting (like the national park tube). You don't need to hike in far to get a feel and it's quite the experience.
Food scene
Some of our favorite food spots around town.
Great restaurant in downtown hilo with many vegan,
and vegetarian dishes as well as meat entrees from local farms.
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Conscious Culture Cafe
110 Keawe StGreat restaurant in downtown hilo with many vegan,
and vegetarian dishes as well as meat entrees from local farms.
Nice restaurant with good prices that sits up above Hilo Bay. A great place for dinner to watch the sunset behind Mauna Kea.
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Hilo Bay Cafe
123 Lihiwai StNice restaurant with good prices that sits up above Hilo Bay. A great place for dinner to watch the sunset behind Mauna Kea.
The best value for to-go local food. Closes at 1pm and they are usually out of food before then so we recommend getting there before noon. Recommendations: Shoyu chicken, Mac salad, cucumber salad, tempura sweet potatoes, and pretty much anything else they have!
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Hilo Lunch Shop
421 Kalanikoa StThe best value for to-go local food. Closes at 1pm and they are usually out of food before then so we recommend getting there before noon. Recommendations: Shoyu chicken, Mac salad, cucumber salad, tempura sweet potatoes, and pretty much anything else they have!
Very good, fresh Thai Food. Hilo has some amazing Thai restaurants and Naung Mai is one of our favorites.
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Naung Mai Thai Kitchen
86 Kilauea AveVery good, fresh Thai Food. Hilo has some amazing Thai restaurants and Naung Mai is one of our favorites.
Another great Thai restaurant to try while in Hilo.
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New Chiang Mai Thai Cuisine
110 Kalakaua StAnother great Thai restaurant to try while in Hilo.
Tina's Garden Cafe
168 Kamehameha AveThai Fusion food that is very good and creative.
Great local Pho restaurant in downtown Hilo. They can get crowded and the line is outside of the restaurant, so get there early.
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Pho Viet Restaurant
80 Kilauea AveGreat local Pho restaurant in downtown Hilo. They can get crowded and the line is outside of the restaurant, so get there early.