Hilo

At Hilo, you’ll lose the holiday crowds and find Hawaii’s centre for calm and quiet. 

Hilo’s relaxed feel will have you chilling out like a local. It’s the perfect place to see rainbow-draped waterfalls, visit tropical botanical gardens and explore caves – many of which once carried rivers of lava. Hilo’s the gateway to the Mauna Kea Observatory, located so high on the mountain that people have been known to get altitude sickness when they visit. Want to see rivers of orange lava pour into the sea? Who doesn’t? Hilo can make that happen.