Things to do in Hilo
6 activities, venues and outings in Hilo, from theatres and live music to parks and tours.
Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.
Things to do in Hilo
- Do
Four Mile
A popular swimming spot, also located on Kalanianaole, before you get to Richardson's. Though there is no 'beach', it is rather like a large salt water swimming pool, with a sandy bottom, protected from the ocean by a reef. The brackish water is colder, a mix of the ocean and fresh water springs.
- Do
Kaumana caves
Fun to explore and it's free. You should bring your own flashlight.
- Do
Lava Ocean Tours
To get as far as possible to the lava flowing into the ocean, get onto a boat from just outside Hilo. Sunset tours are an excellent opportunity to see the lava in a lower light setting while mostly avoiding riding the boat at night.
$250/person
- Do
Richardson's Ocean Park
This is a popular spot for family cookouts, and has occasional waves. Snorkeling is a popular activity here. You can also find people relaxing on the beach or in the grass reading and visiting.
- Do Not mapped
Big Island Aina Tours
Tours to the Volcano National Park, waterfalls and black sand beach. Small group tours for cruise ships. Private tours also available
- Do Not mapped
Paradise Copters
Flights over macadamia nut plantations to the lava flows at Kilauea. Because Kona is twice as far from the volcano as Hilo, tours that leave from Kona are generally 2 hours long and accordingly more expensive. You may choose to drive 2¼-hr to Hilo if money is a consideration. Morning helicopter flights tend to have the least cloud cover, but also book first. If taking photos, wear dark clothing to avoid reflections from windows. A special mention should be made about the "doors off" helicopter tour, which lets you smell the lava and feel its heat.
Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Hilo (CC BY-SA 4.0).