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HILO ON THE BIG ISLAND

Hilo is the Big Island’s county seat and largest city—population 40,759—yet it has maintained all the ambience of an old-fashioned small town. As one resident put it, "Hilo has more of an ‘old Hawaii’ feel than anywhere else in the state."

In ancient Hawaii, Hilo was a bustling center of trade, where natives commonly made deal with their neighbors across the Wailuku River. With the arrival of westerners, the bay itself provided foreign vessels safe harbor.

In the mid- to late-1800s, sugar reigned as Hilo’s chief industry. The town prospered as the rainy conditions provided ideal conditions for growing sugarcane. On weekends, people from other parts of the island traveled to "the big city" to shop and seek entertainment.

Today, downtown Hilo includes a popular farmer’s market as well as the Lyman Mission House Museum and Pacific Tsunami Museum. Other Hilo attractions include Big Island Candies, Panaewa Rain Forest Zoo, the Suisan Fish Market & Auction and Nani Mau Gardens.

Hilo is home of the world-famous Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, the International Festival, the Aloha Festival, and many other events throughout the year. The Lyman House and Museum traces the history and culture of the diverse peoples who have come to call Hawai`i home. Our tropical zoo emphasizes tropical fauna and flora. Hilo is the gateway to the new Hilo-Hamakua Coast Cultural Corridor, with its historic plantation communities and its many beautiful waterfalls and scenic vistas. Hilo is the perfect place from which to visit two beautiful botanical gardens, spectacular Akaka and Kahuna Falls, Rainbow Falls, and Hawai`i Volcano's National park, which is only 30 minutes away.

There are three affordable golf courses, tennis courts, an Olympic swimming pool, and a winter baseball league!

Hilo might be Hawaii’s "small town" city, and that suits its residents just fine. "The natural surroundings here, of course, are beautiful," said one longtime resident. "But the strongest attraction I have for Hilo is its people. This is a very friendly community with a wonderful small town atmosphere."