• HILO, “CITY OF FLOWERS”

Hilo is the commercial center for most of the Big Island. The capital of the county, Hilo is renowned for its gardens and floriculture, historic buildings, museums, parks, and its proximity to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Hilo’s airport bustles all day with flights to and from other islands. From the commuter terminal, helicopter tours take visitors to Kilauea Volcano south of Hilo. To the north, they explore Hamakua’s deep green valleys and tall waterfalls, sea cliffs (photo left) and sugar plantations.

You can reach the majority of the larger hotels by taking a right from the airport terminal onto Kanoelehua Ave. and continuing on to Banyan Drive. The giant banyan trees, which are marked with plaques, were planted by famous Americans and Hawaiian royalty.

Hilo’s moist climate produces flowers that are shipped worldwide. Throughout the town colorful anthuriums and orchid varieties fill shade houses and yards. Along Banyan Drive is Liliu‘okalani Gardens with 30 acres of Hawaiian and oriental plantings, walkways, pagodas, ponds and bridges. Across the footbridge is Coconut Island, a great place for viewing the sunset.

The greenery keeps going across Kamehameha Ave. in Wailoa River State Recreational Area with its Wai‘akea Fishpond and visitor center off Pi‘ilani Street. Note the photos of the tidal waves that, during the last century, twice destroyed the buildings where you are standing.

Hilo is rich in Polynesian, Asian and western culture. In historic Downtown Hilo alone there are eateries with cuisine of almost every culture. The town also hosts the annual Merrie Monarch Festival where hula troupes from around the state, and beyond, compete in dancing and chanting.

A display of cultural variety in Hilo are its many churches. The Portuguese community is represented by the Victorian-era Central Christian Church at the corner of Kilauea Avenue and Haili Street. Perhaps influenced by the cowboys who immigrated as cattle herders from Spanish California, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at Kapiolani and Haili is decidedly Latin. Hilo Hongwanji Temple on Kilauea Avenue is a Japanese Buddhist center. Churches with services in both Hawaiian and English are Ke Kilohana ka Malamalama Church on Manono Street and Haili Church on Haili Street.

Continuing on Wai‘anuenue Avenue, you reach Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots by taking the right fork into Wailuku River State Park. Wailuku River is the second longest in the state while Rainbow Falls is famous for its colorful cascades. The Boiling Pots, above the falls, is too dangerous for swimming. Go back to Wai'anuenue Avenue, take a right, and explore Kaumana Caves.

A number of gardens are open year including Hilo Tropical Gardens and Nani Mau Garden. To view animal life, visit Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo off Stainback Highway. Twenty-two miles south of Hilo on Highway 11 is Akatsuka Orchid Gardens, which offers FREE tours and will ship flowers anywhere. Seven miles north of Hilo on Onomea Bay is Hawai‘i Tropical Botanical Gardens, dedicated to rainforest preservation with 1,600 plant species, waterfalls and spectacular ocean views.

Hilo people enjoy their beach parks. Richardson Ocean Recreation Center is at Leleiwi Beach Park and features interpretive displays of the sea life. Hilo Bayfront Park is great for surfing, swimming and snorkeling on calm days. Honoli‘i Beach Park, north of Hilo, is the best surfing spot on this side of the island.