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Favorite Things to do on the Big Island
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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hilo Paneawa Rainforest Zoo
This small low-key zoo, five miles south of Hilo on Highway 11, is a pleasant diversion from beach and volcano activities. It features animals of the rainforest, including native animals. And it's free!
This is a fascinating park because of its wide variety of features: black sand beaches, tropical rain forests, deserts, and two active volcanoes. It has lots of good trails. You can get up close to Kilauea, the most active volcano in the United States. It is less than an hour's drive south of Hilo
If you are lucky to be there when Kilauea is erupting you are in for a special treat.
Seven miles north of Hilo is the Hawaii Tropical Botannical Garden. It is a well-tended collection of both native and exotic tropical plants. Lots of peaceful beauty here. There can be lots of mosquitos, too. Note that from the entrance the pathway drops steeply but levels out at the bottom where it comes to a beautiful view of Onomea Bay.
Back in Hilo the Imaloa Astronomy Center on the University of Hawaii campus gives you a great education about the historical Hawaiian perspective of Mauna Kea as well as the modern astronomical perspective. They have excellent demonstrations and periodical special lectures. Note: they also have an excellent cafe.
Two National Historic Parks are near Kailua. | |
Pu'u Honua O HonaunauAlso know as "Place of Refuge" this is an area that was sacred to the ancient Hawaiians. It is a place to learn about their culture and religion. It is a beautiful spot, full of the spirits of the ancient ones. They host cultural festivals on the grounds, which are marvelous to watch and take part in. | Kaloko-HonokohauA few miles north of Kailua, this is the site of ancient fish pond and abounds in native plans, has a gorgeous beach for a long stroll, but not good for swimming. Sea turtles are common in the waters and on the beach. The Park is not heavily visited. Note that if you drive into the harbor south of the park you can park near a gate and reach the beach without the long walk over the lava fields. |
Of course there's Kona coffee,
The area south of Kailua is Kona coffee country. There is an abundance of places to buy very expensive coffee. Some of the farms offer casual tours and discuss the cultivation and processing of the coffee which can be interesting.
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These establishments are ones that we have patroized for many years. They have been reliably enjoyable.
Here are several in Hilo |
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Hilo Bay Cafe is located overlooking Hilo Bay right behind Suisin Fish market and adjacent to Liliuokalani Gardens. This is fine dining but not terribly expensive. Their chocolate volcano cake is a great show as well as a great taste. Reservations are a good idea. | Don's Grill is in a residential district not far from Hilo Airport. It is a coffee-shop format that features local Hawaiian food. It's just down the street from Big Island Candies (below). | Kuhio Grille, located behind the Prince Kuhio Shopping Center along Highway 11 on the south side of Hilo is a very casual restaurant serving very tasty local Hawaiian fare. Portions are generous and inexpensive. |
The Hilo Farmers' Market in downtown Hilo and the Maku'u Farmers' Market near Pahoa are great places to find local fare. Both have ample quantities of fresh fruits and veggies. The Maku'u market has many vendors serving prepared food. Both have arts and crafts vendors, too. |  Not a restaurant, but full of good eats is Big Island Candies factory and sales/showroom. You can watch them make their specialty, dipped shortbread. Free samples, too!. Note, they can get quite busy if a tour bus arrives. It's on the same street as Don's Grill, above. | |
And three restaurants in West Hawaii | ||
Jackie Reyes Ohana Grill in Kailua serves well prepared, inventive and showey food. It's not cheap, but worth it when you want a special treat. | Big Island Grill is in the heart of Kailua. Large portions of well-prepared Hawaiian favorites. Note that many dishes, especially the desserts have over-the-top portion sizes and are best shared. The fish is fresh. | The restaurant in the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook is a real treat. Very simple and cozy. The menu hasn't changed much in the 40+ years we've been enjoying it. Inexpensive. Excellent potato-mac salad and the best mahi-mahi sandwiches. |
Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is a week full of special events each November in Kailua. Highlights start with a fun little parade in Kailua followed by a Bon Dance. Subsequent days include a tasting contest of recipes featuring coffee and an art stroll in the village of Holualoa. Its climax is a gala banquet featuring a great band and food from top restaurants. | ||
H. Manago Hotel, Captain Cook, (808) 323-2642 (20 min so. Kailua)
Removed from tourist Hawaii, a quaint, well-kept older hotel; the new wing provides "modern" motel-like rooms with a sublime view across a well-tended garden down to Kealakekua Bay. We shared it with a school group visiting from Oahu in 1993. In the midst of the Kona coffee region, close to Place of Refuge National Historic Park. Very inexpensive. The third floor is quietest and has the best view; it's a little more expensive than lower floors. Some rooms in the old wing share a bath. Dine with the locals in the quaint dining room. Hotel's motto: "Best Pork Chops". No pool, no TV’s. no phones in rooms.
Dolphin Bay Hotel, Hilo
Delightfully quiet accommodations in a residential section of Hilo. (Hilo has a relatively modest tourist industry - it is on the rainy side of the Island.) Well-kept rooms have kitchens - more like apartments. No pool, no air conditioning, no beach, but beautiful gardens. Within walking distance of downtown Hilo. In the morning coffee and fruit from the Hotel’s gardens are served. The manager, John Alexander is an avid "fan" of nearby Kileuea Volcano. He has many photos of the volcano and is eager to assist visitors get close to it. Note that the coqui frogs can be very noisy during the night.
