People usually picture Honolulu or Maui when they think about Hawaii. The Big Island tends to be overlooked — and that is precisely why it is worth going. Hilo is the island’s eastern gateway, a small town with a farmers market, black sand beaches, and waterfalls that you can walk to in ten minutes from the main road. From there, everything else the island has to offer fans out: the volcano, the rainforest, Mauna Kea, the Hamakua Coast, and the quieter, less-visited parts of a place that is still actively growing.
This guide covers what to actually do — in Hilo itself and on the broader island — with honest context about what to expect from each one. If you are planning a stay near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Volcano Village area (about 30 miles south of Hilo on Highway 11) puts you in a good position for most of what is listed here.
Waterfalls in and Around Hilo
Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls sits about two miles from Hilo’s downtown, inside Wailuku River State Park. The falls drop 80 feet into a natural lava pool, and when morning light catches the mist at the right angle, you get the rainbow effect the name promises. Most people pull into the small parking lot, walk 30 seconds to the viewing platform, and leave — which means if you want the platform to yourself, arrive before 9 a.m. A short trail leads to the top of the falls and a wide banyan tree that is worth seeing on its own.
Akaka Falls
Akaka Falls State Park is about 14 miles north of Hilo. The loop trail is less than half a mile and takes you through bamboo groves, past wild orchids, and ferns before arriving at Akaka Falls — a single-drop waterfall that falls 442 feet straight down. It is genuinely impressive. The trail also passes Kahuna Falls (100 feet) on the way. Budget an hour, wear shoes with some grip because the path gets wet, and go on a weekday if you can.
Pe’epe’e Falls
Pe’epe’e Falls is 1.5 miles upstream from Rainbow Falls, less visited, and best after a good rain when the water is running strong. It is not as manicured as Akaka — the rocks are slippery and there is no railing — but that is part of the appeal. If you are already at Rainbow Falls and have another 30 minutes, it is worth the walk.
Gardens, Parks, and Natural Spaces
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
Located about eight miles north of Hilo along the Hamakua Coast, the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden holds more than 2,000 plant species across 40 acres. It sits along Onomea Bay, a protected cove with sea cliffs and a small waterfall, and the path winds down through jungle canopy that makes it feel remote even though it is not. This is a ticketed attraction and worth the entry fee if you are interested in tropical botany, birds, or just want somewhere quiet and visually striking.
Liliuokalani Park and Gardens
Liliuokalani Park is a Japanese-style garden on Banyan Drive in Hilo, named after Hawaii’s last reigning monarch. It is free, well-maintained, and genuinely peaceful — stone lanterns, arched bridges, koi ponds, and views across Hilo Bay. Connected by a short footbridge is Coconut Island (Mokuola), where locals picnic, kids jump off a low platform into the bay, and you can walk the perimeter in ten minutes. It is not a destination in itself, but it is a good stop if you are already in the area.
Panaewa Rainforest Zoo
The Panaewa Rainforest Zoo is a free, small zoo about four miles south of Hilo set inside a rainforest. It houses pygmy hippos, white Bengal tigers, and native Hawaiian birds, among others. It tends to fly under the radar, which means it is rarely crowded. Good for families or anyone who wants a low-key stop.
Hilo’s Beaches
Richardson Ocean Park
Richardson Ocean Park (locally called “Richardson’s”) is a black sand beach on the south end of Hilo, with a small cove that is protected enough for swimming and snorkeling. Green sea turtles come up on the rocks here regularly. There are lifeguards on duty, a parking lot, restrooms, and showers. It is Hilo’s best beach for actually getting in the water.
Honoli’i Beach Park
Honoli’i is a surf spot north of downtown Hilo, in a cove at the mouth of a small stream. Local surfers use it year-round; beginners are better off in summer when the swells calm down. Even if you are not surfing, it is a good place to watch. There are restrooms and a small parking area above the beach.
Culture, Markets, and Food
Hilo Farmers Market
The Hilo Farmers Market runs daily at the corner of Mamo Street and Kamehameha Avenue, but Wednesday and Saturday are the big days — up to 200 vendors selling fruit, vegetables, flowers, local honey, prepared food, and handmade crafts. This is one of the best farmers markets in Hawaii. Pick up apple bananas, lilikoi, fresh-cut flowers, and whatever looks unfamiliar. The prices are significantly cheaper than anything you will find in a grocery store.
Pacific Tsunami Museum
The Pacific Tsunami Museum is in a historic bank building downtown and is worth an hour of your time. Hilo has been hit by two catastrophic tsunamis — in 1946 and 1960 — and this museum documents both through survivor testimonies, photographs, and interactive displays. It is a serious, well-done exhibit that gives you a different kind of understanding of the place you are standing in.
Imiloa Astronomy Center
Imiloa Astronomy Center sits on the University of Hawaii Hilo campus and connects the science of Mauna Kea’s observatories with Native Hawaiian cultural history. The planetarium shows are a good option if the summit is clouded out. The exhibits are genuinely interesting — this is not just a science center but a space that tries to hold both astronomy and indigenous perspectives at the same time.
Beyond Hilo: The Rest of the Big Island
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is about 30 miles south of Hilo on Highway 11. It is the defining experience on the Big Island and the reason many people come to the island at all. The park covers 335,000 acres and includes Kīlauea — one of the most active volcanoes on earth — plus miles of lava fields, hiking trails, the Thurston Lava Tube, and the Chain of Craters Road, which descends 3,700 feet to the coast. Kīlauea has been erupting in on-and-off episodes since December 2024, so the crater glow is often visible from the Kīlauea Overlook at night. Check the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory for current eruption status before you go.
Hamakua Coast Scenic Drive
The Hamakua Coast runs north from Hilo along Highway 19 to Waipio Valley — about 40 miles of sea cliffs, rainforest gulches, sugar mill ruins, and small farming towns. It is one of the most scenic drives in Hawaii and genuinely underrated compared to the Road to Hana on Maui. End at Waipio Valley Lookout for a view over a black sand beach and taro fields that the valley’s residents still farm. The road into the valley is extremely steep (25% grade) and not recommended for standard rentals — the lookout is the right call unless you have a high-clearance 4WD.
Mauna Kea Summit and Stargazing
Mauna Kea rises to 13,796 feet above sea level and sits above 40% of the earth’s atmosphere, which is why it hosts the highest concentration of astronomical observatories in the world. The Visitor Information Station at 9,200 feet is accessible in any vehicle and offers spectacular high-altitude views and the clearest night sky most people will ever see. If you have a 4WD vehicle, the summit itself adds another 4,500 feet of altitude and a view above the clouds at sunset. The summit road is steep, unpaved, and altitude sickness is real — go slowly, acclimatize at the VIS, and skip the summit if you feel off.
Kaumana Caves
Kaumana Caves are a lava tube system about four miles from Hilo, formed during an 1881 Mauna Loa eruption. The tubes run for miles underground. There are no tour guides, no safety lights, and minimal signage — you bring a flashlight (or several) and explore on your own. Wear sturdy shoes, expect it to be muddy, and watch your head. It is free, a little eerie, and unlike most tourist attractions on the island.
Where to Stay If You Want to See All of This
Most of what is listed here is accessible within a day from anywhere on the east side of the island, but where you base yourself matters. Hilo itself has hotels and short-term rentals, but the town is not particularly walkable and you will be driving to most attractions regardless. Volcano Village, 30 miles south on Highway 11, puts you at the entrance to Volcanoes National Park, within an hour of Hilo, and well-positioned for Mauna Kea and the Hamakua Coast. It is a small community at 3,750 feet elevation inside a rainforest — quiet, genuinely different from the resort coast, and increasingly popular with visitors who want to actually experience the island rather than look at it from a hotel pool. For a full breakdown of how the island’s different areas compare for accommodation, our where to stay guide covers each region honestly.
Aloha Hale is a vacation rental property in Volcano Village, about 20 minutes from the park entrance. It is a good base for the volcano, Hilo, and the Hamakua Coast — all the things on this list. If you are thinking about a stay in the area, volcanohi.com has availability and booking information.
A Note on Doing the Big Island Well
The Big Island rewards people who slow down. It is too large to see in two days and too varied to experience from a single base without some driving. The most common mistake is trying to cover the volcano, Mauna Kea, and the Hamakua Coast in the same day — each of those is a full day on its own. Pick two or three anchors for your trip, plan the rest around them, and leave time to stop when something catches your attention. That tends to be when the island actually delivers.