Home > Visiting Hilo
Visiting Hilo
Hilo is a little town with a lot to offer! We have listed some of our favorite Hilo organizations and businesses, to help you get started in your exploration of our home town. Many of the places that we want to put on this page don't have websites yet, so check back often as new sites go up!
At the bottom of the page, we have also included some wonderful Hawaii organizations that make their homes outside of Hilo and the Big Island. Check them out to take advantage of their online resources or plan your trip to a neighbor island!
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Museums and Education
- Lyman Museum and Mission House
Travel back to Hawaii's missionary era at the Lyman Museum. The museum features the restored Lyman Mission House, as well as all kinds of Hawaiian cultural and natural history.
www.lymanmuseum.org - Pacific Tsunami Museum
Learn all about tsunamis at the Pacific Tsunami Museum. Features historic photographs of the Hilo tsunamis.
www.tsunami.org - Imiloa Astronomy Center
Imiloa is full of fascinating, high-tech displays about astronomy and Hawaiian culture. The Planetarium runs several shows daily. A great place for kids and adults.
www.imiloahawaii.org - Mokupapapa Discovery Center
Learn all about Hawaii's reefs and sealife. Another great place for kids.
www.hawaiireef.noaa.gov - University of Hawaii at Hilo
Our University has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years! There's always something going on at UHH!
www.uhh.hawaii.edu - Big Island Chronicle Blog
A blog about whatever is happening on the Big Island. The Big Island Chronicle Blog is a great source for local news and opinions.
www.bigislandchronicle.com - Ke Ola Magazine
This Big Island magazine celebrates the arts, culture and sustainability of Hawaii Island. Check them out for local stories on a variety of subjects.
www.keolamagazine.com
- Lyman Museum and Mission House
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Organizations
- Merrie Monarch Festival
The annual Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo is not only Hawaii's largest hula festival — it is the largest and most famous hula festival in the world, right here in Hilo!
www.merriemonarch.com - Destination Hilo
A wonderful site featuring everything to see and do in Hilo, Destination Hilo is where your Hawaiian adventue begins!
www.destinationhilo.com - Aloha Hula Arts
Information about hula retreats, individual instruction, classes and workshops with hula instructor Kumu Kiwala'o Taylor.
alohahulaarts.com - Hilo Downtown Improvement Association
Find out what's going on in historic downtown Hilo!
www.downtownhilo.com - Hilo Bay BBQ Cook-Off
This year was the first annual Hilo Bay BBQ Cook-Off! We are all looking forward to the second with bated breath...and watering mouths...
www.hilobaybbq.com - Hilo Farmer's Market
The Hilo Farmer's Market is the place to find fresh island produce and flowers, as well as handcrafted jewelry and other surprises. Open every day, but going full swing on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
www.hilofarmersmarket.com - Arnott's Lodge and Hiking Adventures
Arnott's Lodge offers accommodations and all sorts of tours and adventures.
www.arnottslodge.com - Mauna Kea Summit Adventures
See a different side of Hawaii atop Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain in the world.
www.maunakea.com
- Merrie Monarch Festival
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Hilo Businesses
- Pakalana Inn
Consider this charming inn, located in the heart of downtown Hilo, for your stay in our town!
www.pakalanainn.com - Sig Zane Designs
That's right—the world-famous Sig Zane is right here in Hilo! In fact, he's right down the street from us.
www.sigzane.com - Hawaiian Arts
T-Shirts and clothing designed and printed right here in Hilo!
www.hawaiianarts.com
- Pakalana Inn
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Hilo Resturaunts
- Abundant Life Natural Foods
This local natural food store is celebrating 30 years in Hilo. They've been here even longer than us (and that's saying something!)
www.abundantlifenaturalfoods.com - Cafe Pesto
Cafe Pesto is possibly your best bet for fresh local food on Bayfront. Specializes in "fusion" cuisine using local produce, as well as delicious pizzas and calzones. Be sure to make a reservation for dinner—it gets crowded!
www.cafepesto.com - Hilo Bay Cafe
Don't let its plain exterior fool you—Hilo Bay Cafe is one classy place. It's best to make reservations, as this is one of the most popular up-scale restaurants in Hilo.
www.hilobaycafe.com - Big Island Candies
Hilo's candy factory has all kinds of treats—including their famous chocolate-dipped shortbread!
www.bigislandcandies.com
- Abundant Life Natural Foods
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Outside Hilo
- Mountain Apple
Company
The source for Hawaiian music. If we don't have it at Basically Books, check Mountain Apple!
www.mountainapplecompany.com - Honolulu Museum of Arts
Founded in 1927, the Honolulu Museum of Art is Hawai'i's largest private presenter of visual arts programs, with an internationally recognized collection of more than 50,000 works spanning 5,000 years. In addition, film and concert programs, lectures, art classes and workshops make the museum the city's cultural hub. When you visit Oahu, be sure to make this museum part of your trip!
honolulumuseum.org - Hula Preservation Society
HPS is a non–profit dedicated to documenting and sharing the amazing life stories of our eldest living Hula Masters and their efforts to perpetuate hula, so their legacies live on to inspire and educate generations to come in the authentic culture of Hawaii.
www.hulapreservation.org - Mohala Hou Foundation
The Mohala Hou Foundation was established as a non–profit organization in September 2007 to support and promote the teaching and sharing of Hawaiian music, dance, language, and culture.
www.mohalahou.org - The Hawaii Music Industry Directory
The Hawaii Music Industry Directory is a project to catalog and act as a clearinghouse for the Hawaii music industry. All branches of the industry are welcome to participate!
www.melehawaii.org - Hawaiian Music and Hula Archives
This comprehensive archive is a great resource for finding out more about all types of Hawaiian music and hula.
www.huapala.org - Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts
(HARA)
HARA and the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards trace their origins to 1978 and KCCN–AM Radio, then the world's only all–Hawaiian music radio station. Today, HARA directs programs to promote quality and growth in the recording and music industries in Hawaii. HARA also awards scholarships annually to Hawaii state universities and colleges.
www.nahokuhanohano.org/blog/
- Mountain Apple
Company