Sights and landmarks in Hilo

Sights and landmarks in Hilo

1. See

   King Kamehameha Statue

   Erected in 1997 at Wailoa State Park, the statue of King Kamehameha is perhaps the most impressive of the four found throughout the state. A gift from the island of Kauai who failed to erect the statue due to the historical significance of being the only island never to be conquered by Kamehameha the Great. Standing at 14 feet tall, the statue now overlooks Hilo where the first King of Hawaii established his seat of government.

   free

2. See

   Lili'uokalani Gardens

   Located on Banyan Drive, this authentic Japanese garden was built in the early 1900s as a memorial to the immigrant Japanese who developed the old Waiakea Sugar Plantation and is named in honor of Hawaii's last reigning monarch, Queen Liliuokalani.

   free

3. See

   Mokuola

   Coconut Island

   A small public park near Lili'uokalani Gardens is connected to mainland by a pedestrian bridge.

   free

4. See

   Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

   Provides information for the Hawaiian World Heritage site, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Housed in Hilo’s historic, century old Koehnen Building, Mokupāpapa features a 3,500 gallon saltwater aquarium, interactive educational exhibits, lifesize models of wildlife found in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, artwork inspired by those islands and Hawaiian culture, and many interpretive panels in both Hawaiian and English.

   T-Sat 9AM-4PM·free

5. See

   Naha Stone

   It was prophesied that the man who moved the Naha stone, which weighs nearly 5000 pounds, would unite all of the Hawaiian islands and be the greatest king of all Hawaii. Kamehameha, at the age of fourteen, not only moved the stone, but lifted it end over end, and he eventually fulfilled the prophesy. The Pinao stone, which sits next to the Naha stone, once guarded an ancient temple. The stones are culturally significant and touching or pretending to lift them is not allowed.

   free

6. See

   Pacific Tsunami Museum

   Serves as a living memorial, and a reminder for a generation yet to experience such fright. A tsunami, Japanese for "harbor waves" are a fact of life in Hawaii, especially Hilo. On 1 April 1946, and 23 May 1960, Hilo suffered devastating tsunamis that reshaped its social and economic structure.

   Weekends 10AM-2PM·$15/adult, $10/concession, $5/child, under 5 free

7. See

   Rainbow Falls

   If you don't have time to make it up to Akaka Falls, or you don't like hiking, Rainbow Falls is worth a visit. Try to visit early in the day. You have a better chance to see the rainbow created by the mist. Drive up Waianuenue Avenue from downtown, following the signs. If you pass the hospital, you have gone too far. Very wheelchair accessible, but the Boiling Pots will require some hiking.

8. See

   The Lyman House Museum

   This museum features a restored missionary house. They also have a small collection of local artwork, historical exhibits, and the 9th-best mineral collection in the United States. Tours at 11AM and 2PM.

   Mon-Sat 10AM-4:30PM·$10/adult, $8/senior, $3/child, $21/family, $5/student, plus cheaper rates for locals

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Hilo (CC BY-SA 4.0).