Hawaii, The Big Island: Hilo and Environs - Hilo HI Off the Beaten Path

Preview: The Big Island is unique in that its principal settlement lies on the lush windward coast. More than 100,000 people make their homes around north-facing Hilo Bay, making Hilo the largest town outside Oahu. Its 130 inches of annual rainfall nourish all the greenery of a rain-forest. The visitors bureau may tell you that Hilo’s rainfall arrives mostly at night, but expect passing showers throughout your stay. You shouldn’t let these bouts of precipitation discourage you from enjoying Hilo’s offerings. It keeps things cool and makes the flowers grow—to the tune of a $20 million orchid-anthurium industry. Hilo has survived two devastating tidal waves, at least four close calls from advancing lava flows (most recently in 1984), and countless earthquakes. Residents of this indomitable city by the bay are not about to let a little rain dampen their lifestyle. And neither should you. (If it rains, you can visit one of Hilo’s three first-rate museums.) If your visit should happen to coincide with the arrival of a foreign cruise ship (usually September through May), head to Pier One of the harbor to partake in the free entertainment provided by Hilo’s kupuna (old-timers). The kupuna entertain inter-island cruise ships onboard, however, so those performances are restricted to passengers. A tourist trolley is planned to eventually link the pier with Hilo’s downtown and other sites. Route 11 passes Hilo’s airport as it approaches from the south. The highway ends at the junction of Kamehameha and Kalanianaole Avenues, which reach west and east, respectively, around the bay. Instead, continue straight onto Banyan Drive to loop around Waiakea Peninsula in the center of the bay. Rows two and three thick of mammoth banyan trees line the drive, planted by celebrities. Search for those planted by your favorite public figures, from Amelia Earhart to Richard Nixon. At the end of a strip of hotels, Keliipio Place detours to the footbridge to Coconut Island. The Hawaiians called this island Mokuola (“healing island”) because underwater springs supposedly gave curative properties to waters around it. In addition to affording vistas across the bay, this palm-covered plot provides an excellent vantage point from which to view the Big Island’s twin peaks, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. Come in the early morning before the clouds roll in. Next, take a stroll in nearby Lili`uokalani Gardens. While this attractive park bears the name of Hawaii’s deposed queen, it exhibits Japanese motifs in its miniature stone pagodas, pavilions, teahouse, and footbridge over reflecting ponds. On the far side of the gardens, Suisan Fish Market stages a daily morning sale. The above description is an excerpt from "Hawaii: Off the Beaten Path." Whether you're a visitor or a local looking for something different, this chapter from the Off the Beaten Path series will help you take the "road less traveled" and discover hidden attractions, unique finds, and unusual locales that most tourists miss.
© Copyright Sean Pager published by Insiders' Guide all rights reserved.


This travel guide comes from:
Hawaii Off the Beaten Path Guide Book