Hilo at a glance
Hilo is the main town on the east side of Hawaiʻi Island, set on Hilo Bay. The island is often divided into Kona in the west and Hilo in the east, and the two sides feel very different: Hilo is greener and much wetter, with waterfalls a short drive from downtown. Average rainfall in Hilo is higher than in Kona in every month of the year.
Hilo is also the closest town to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, about 30 miles or 45 minutes away on Highway 11. That makes it the natural start for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park tours that combine the crater with Rainbow Falls and the gardens on Banyan Drive.
Things to do in Hilo
Most sights lie within a few minutes of downtown; ʻAkaka Falls needs a separate drive out of town.
See Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots
Both are part of Wailuku River State Park on the edge of town. One fee covers both areas.
Big Island things to do →Shop the Hilo Farmers Market
Open daily on Mamo Street, with the biggest market days on Wednesday and Saturday.
Stroll Liliʻuokalani Gardens
A free Japanese-style garden on Banyan Drive at Hilo Bay, open around the clock.
Big Island history →Visit the Pacific Tsunami Museum
A downtown museum about the tsunamis that have reached Hawaiʻi.
Learn about the night sky at ʻImiloa
An exhibition and planetarium in town, a good plan for a rainy afternoon.
Mauna Kea →Our pick: Akaka Falls and Rainbow Falls
This guided day starts in Hilo and links the falls with the national park.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Hilo tours: volcano, waterfalls and gardens
Day tours from Hilo to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park with Rainbow Falls, ʻAkaka Falls trips and a guided waterfall hike, with live prices and availability.
Waterfalls near Hilo: Rainbow Falls and ʻAkaka Falls
Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots
Rainbow Falls drops about 80 feet into a pool in Wailuku River State Park, a few minutes from downtown. Since January 2026 the park charges non-residents $5 per person plus $10 per private vehicle; children up to 3 are free and Hawaii residents with ID enter free. Payment is by credit card. The fee covers both the Rainbow Falls and the Boiling Pots areas. The park is open daily from 7:00 to 17:30 and the gates close at 18:00. The lookout is for viewing; it is not a swimming spot.
ʻAkaka Falls State Park
ʻAkaka Falls, outside Hilo, drops 442 feet. The regular loop is 0.4 miles with steps and is not wheelchair accessible. As of 2026 the park is open daily from 8:30 to 17:00. Non-residents pay $5 per person, children up to 3 are free, and parking costs $10 per private vehicle; residents with ID pay nothing. Cards only.
After storms, fallen trees can close parts of the trail, and then not every viewpoint can be reached. Check the state park notices on the day you go.
Waterfall hikes with a guide
If you would rather swim than look, one Hilo tour is a guided cultural hike with a swim at the waterfalls of Waiʻale, led by a Native Hawaiian guide, in about 3.5 hours. Food and transport are not included. Longer day tours from Hilo stop at ʻAkaka Falls and Rainbow Falls on the way to the volcano.
Hilo Farmers Market and Liliʻuokalani Gardens
The Hilo Farmers Market is at 20 Mamo Street downtown. It is open daily from 7:00 to 15:00 and closed only on Christmas. Wednesday and Saturday are the big market days. Hours can vary on those days, so check before you go; the morning gives the widest choice.
Liliʻuokalani Gardens lie on Banyan Drive on Hilo Bay. Entry is free and the garden is open 24 hours. It is a Japanese-style garden, dedicated in 1917 to honor the Japanese immigrants who worked in the island's sugar cane fields. A walk here fits well before or after the market.
Museums in Hilo
Pacific Tsunami Museum
The museum at 130 Kamehameha Avenue is about the tsunamis that have reached Hawaiʻi, among them the events of 1946, set off by an earthquake off the Aleutians, and 1960, from Chile. It is open daily from 10:00 to 16:00; check the current hours before you go. Admission as of 2026: adults $15, seniors 65 and over and military $10, children 6 to 17 $5, children 5 and under free.
ʻImiloa
ʻImiloa is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 16:30 and closed on Mondays, as well as on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Admission as of 2026: adults $19, children 5 to 12 $12, children 4 and under free, seniors 65 and over $17. The ticket covers the exhibition and the planetarium; it does not give access to the telescopes on the summit. For the mountain itself, see our Mauna Kea guide.
Hilo sights compared
Non-resident prices as of 2026. Tour prices are on the cards above.
| Sight | Hours | Admission | Time needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots | Daily 7:00 to 17:30 | $5 per person + $10 per car | Short stop |
| ʻAkaka Falls | Daily 8:30 to 17:00 | $5 per person + $10 per car | 0.4 mile loop |
| Liliʻuokalani Gardens | 24 hours | Free | Short walk |
| Hilo Farmers Market | Daily 7:00 to 15:00 | Free | A morning |
| Pacific Tsunami Museum | Daily 10:00 to 16:00 | $15 adult | – |
| ʻImiloa | Tue to Sun 9:00 to 16:30 | $19 adult | – |
For most visitors, a good Hilo day is the market and Liliʻuokalani Gardens in the morning, then Rainbow Falls and ʻAkaka Falls, or a guided tour that pairs the waterfalls with the volcano.
Getting to Hilo and around
Hilo International Airport (ITO) is on the east side of the island and has inter-island flights; from Honolulu on Oʻahu the hop takes roughly 35 to 40 minutes. Rental car offices are on the ground level across the street from the terminal. Everything about flights from Honolulu to Hilo and the second airport at Kona is in our Big Island airport guide.
From the airport, Kailua-Kona is about 1 hour 45 minutes by car and the national park about 45 minutes. Hele-On buses are free until December 2028: route 11 runs from Hilo to Volcano and routes 1 and 2 from Hilo to Kailua-Kona. Times change, so check the current timetable before you go.
Bring a rain jacket in any month: Hilo is the wet side of the island. Our best time to visit page has the monthly rainfall for Hilo and Kona side by side.
Hilo: frequently asked questions
Do you have to pay at Rainbow Falls?
Yes, since January 2026. Non-residents pay $5 per person plus $10 per private vehicle, paid by card. Children up to 3 and Hawaii residents with ID are free.
Can you swim at Rainbow Falls?
The lookout is for viewing, not swimming. For a waterfall swim, join a guided waterfall hike near Hilo.
How long is the ʻAkaka Falls walk?
The regular loop is 0.4 miles with steps. Parts of it can close after storms, so check the park notices before you drive up.
When is the Hilo Farmers Market open?
Daily from 7:00 to 15:00, closed only on Christmas. Wednesday and Saturday are the big market days.
Is Hilo a good base for the volcano?
Yes. The park is about 45 minutes away, compared with 2 to 2.5 hours from Kailua-Kona, and several volcano tours pick up in Hilo.