What’s in Hilo, Hawaii? My First Explorations

From one weather extreme to the opposite weather extreme, that’s what my life looks like right now. Germany is predominantly cold and Hawaii is predominantly warm. In addition, Hawaii is 12 hours behind Germany and a still significant six hours behind the east coast of the U.S. So, yes, I’ve gone from one extreme to the other. While Hawaii is still new to me, I am settling in slowly and I thought I would show you around my new town today. What’s in Hilo, Hawaii? Lots of beauty, that’s what!

Where is Hilo, Hawaii?

First, in 2019, we spent some time on the island of Maui. This time around, we are on the Big Island. For clarity, the state is named Hawaii and so is the largest island in the chain. Therefore, we live on the largest island in a town called Hilo. Hilo, in fact, has around 48,000 residents and sits on the eastern coast. The eastern coast is much wetter (hence the beautiful rain forests), while the western coast is much drier (hence the cluster of major resorts). However, it’s an island, so beach, beauty and views are always accessible on both coasts.

Hawaii is referred to as the Big Island because it is the largest in the chain. It takes about 2 hours to drive from one coast to the other. Hilo is roughly one hour from Volcanoes National Park. At the time of this writing, Mount Kilauea is experiencing regular eruptions.

What’s in Hilo if You are Hungry?

Currently, we have a list of nearly 30 recommended restaurants in Hilo. We have our work cut out for us, but we look forward to the challenge of trying them all. For my birthday, which occurred on day 2 of our stay here, my husband took me to Café Pesto.

Located in the quaint downtown in a restored 1912 building, this café has had a couple of locations since 1988 when it started. But, the quality of the food apparently hasn’t changed because locals just keep coming back. For some other fabulous examples of adaptive re-use of historic buildings read here.

My husband and I both liked our sandwiches. He had a Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and I had a Miloli’i. Mine was an open-faced sandwich with toasted French bread, basil pesto, crab, shrimp, mushrooms and covered in melted cheese. My potato salad was unique and I definitely plan to learn how to make it! It was a combo of local purple potatoes and local white, sweet potatoes.

For me, the star of the show was our Korean Cream Cheese Garlic Bread appetizer. The bread was stuffed with creamy, herbed cheese. What’s not to like? It was perfection.

What’s in Hilo to See?

We live about 15 minutes from Hilo Bay farther up the mountainous terrain. However, downtown Hilo is near Hilo Bay and has a lot to see for a small place.

First, we stopped by the King Kamehameha statue to pay our respects. He was born in the 1750s and became one of the most prominent figures in Hawaiian history. When he was in his 20s, he witnessed the arrival of the first Westerners to the islands.

Then, in approximately 1773 he lifted the Naha Stone, which proved his right to rule. Think of the old English story of the sword and the stone here. In that legend, whoever removed the sword from the stone would become King of England. There was no magic in the Hawaiian historic tale, just a prophecy that a young chief would overturn the stone and unify all the islands. In 1810, King Kamehameha consolidated control of all the islands in the region, creating a unified Hawaii.

Today, the original Naha stone he lifted is in front of the local library. I love that fresh flowers are placed at the base of his statue in the park downtown.

What’s in Hilo for Nature Lovers?

I don’t think it would be fair for me to describe myself as a nature lover. First of all, I do not camp or take strenuous hikes in the mountains, for example. I do enjoy the occasional nature walk, though. On the other hand, if you are a nature lover, what’s in Hilo for you?

Almost across the street from the King Kamehameha statue are the Liliuokalani Gardens. These gardens are actually a part of the local Parks and Recreation Department. I haven’t explored their entire 24 acres yet. But, I did walk around part of the Japanese Gardens and that area bodes well for the rest of the gardens. It was truly beautiful to see ponds, bridges, and ocean all at the same time.

What’s in Hilo for the Adventure Lover?

I will adamantly say right now that I am not adventurous in the traditional sense. As I wrote on this site, leaving my job to go on the road with my husband was the only adventurous thing I’ve ever done.

Of course, if you are braver than I am and need a little adrenaline with your ocean swim then I have just the thing for you.

Coconut Island (Moku Ola) is accessible by pedestrian footbridge. All around you people recline on the center grassy area. Sometimes they bring small hibachi grills to make lunch. They play ball, dip in the ocean to cool off, and take dramatic pictures of the volcanoes in the distance on clear days. However, if this is all too plain for you, then head out to the stone tower beyond the family swimming area and jump into the ocean. There are two levels to choose from. Supposedly, they are 10 feet and 20-feet above the water.

I am only just beginning my explorations of my new town. So, in fact, I can’t thoroughly answer the question, “What’s in Hilo?” quite yet. However, I do know that while Hilo may not have the large resorts that the Western side of the island has, it does have oodles of small-town charm, stunning scenery, and a long list of sought-after restaurants. I look forward to sharing it all with you.