Location: Hilo
Top Things to do in Hilo
The 10 Best Things to do Good for Adrenaline Seekers in Hilo, Hawaii (HI)
The landscape of Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawaii, is diverse. Beaches of black, gray, brown and white sand give way to mountains and dramatic waterfalls. Hilo's Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo is the only U.S. zoo in a tropical rainforest. A day trip away are snow-capped Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, with observatories near 11,000 feet on both mountains, and Kilauea Caldera, an active volcano. Back in town are a farmer's market, restaurants, shopping and banyan trees planted by celebrities and politicians.
Restaurants in Hilo
1. Arnott's Lodge and Hiking Adventures
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 581 reviews
Arnott's Lodge and Hiking Adventures is a unique and special place for people to spend their Hawaiian stay on the Big Island and take our tours. Our tours consists of Mauna Kea Sunset/Stargazing, Volcano National Park, Big Island Eruption Encounter and Frozen Fire Tour. We also do private and custom tours to cater to your needs. Arnott's Lodge and Hiking Adventures was established in 1990 and we continue to give our guests an experience they'll never forget. Take advantage of our discounted tours when you stay with us for a minimum of 1 night. We provide a place to pitch your tent, dormitories, semi-private units, suites, deluxe and deluxe suites.
2. Kazumura Cave Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 144 reviews
Reviewed By K1840NDjohnb - San Francisco, United States
My wife and I had a fantastic trek one mile into the Kazumura cave today with Harry on the 4 hour Pit Room tour. Harry is a fountain of knowledge on lava formations and paints a vivid picture of how different formations were, well, formed! (Definitely ask questions about anything you see and let Harry know if you want your tour to have more or less info stops) anyways, hiking through the cave itself was awesome - by the end I felt like an expert on lava flows, what oxides the different colors meant, and how to spot life down in the darkness. The hike is of moderate difficulty- some scrambling over loose rock falls and some slightly hair-raising ladder sections, but Harry did a great job showing us the paths that kept us and the cave safe. By the end of the tour, I was sweaty, sore, and happy.
3. Lava Ocean Tours Inc
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,290 reviews
Lava Ocean Tours is your front row seat to feel the heat onboard our 40+ft high speed aluminum catamarans. Our Lava Boat Tours are world famous for delivering the best views of the active lava touching the sea dont wait till its to late to experience the magic of lava sizzling into the sea.
4. Ahiu Hawaii
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 258 reviews
Come & see lava up close & personal with experienced hawaii volcanologist! Aloha! Mahalo for choosing ‘ahiu hawaii for your real lava adventure!! We have two different tour times. One at 9:00am and the other at 4:00pm. The price is $137 per person, which we provide a backpack, snacks, water, headlamps, backup headlamps, gloves and also a stick to walk with but also to interact with the lava! We hope you care about your safety. Cause your safety is our #1 priority! Our tour groups are small which we never book no more than 10people per tour guide for safety and personalism. Plus all of our guides know what's going on about the lava and will safely get you there! The hike distance to the lava changes from day to day.
5. Hilo Ocean Adventures
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 159 reviews
Hilo Ocean Adventures is a family-friendly, safe, and exciting scuba diving store right in Hilo. With a strong commitment to fun, Hilo Ocean Adventures provides scuba certifications and dive tours in all the favorite shore spots- and more! We also have the only Dive/Snorkel boat in Hilo!! Whether to purchase some new gear, to fill a tank, or check the shore report, we can't wait to meet you!
6. Kaumana Caves Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 371 reviews
Reviewed By Annacruz15
The kids loved it! After reading previous reviews, I thought we would just go in a few feet into the cave and then leave. We were happy to find out that it was not how the reviews made this cave to be. As long as you have a flashlight or headlight, good rubber soled shoes, you’ll be fine. Just watch your head, be sure-footed, and don’t hesitate to use your hands to support yourself. We had so much in both caves. My 11 year old had so much adventuring inside the caves. A must-do.
7. Paradise Helicopters - HILO
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,163 reviews
Paradise Helicopters - Hawaii's Most Unique Helicopter Experience! Enjoy the Hawaii few people ever witness on our one-of-a-kind air adventures departing out of Kona & Hilo on Hawaii Island, Lanai and Oahu. Whether flying Doors-Off over the volcano to feel the heat of the lava, hovering beside a 2000 foot waterfall, landing for stunning views on an epic ridge top, or photographing the remote beauty of Hawaii’s rare rain forest valleys, black and GREEN sand beaches – our Hawaiian helicopter tours offer a diverse set of adventure options to suit every need! This is one flight you will be sure to remember for a lifetime. Please visit our Paradise Helicopters - KONA, Paradise Helicopters - LANAI and Paradise Helicopters - OAHU pages for more information on tours departing across the islands. NEW TOUR! Kohala Doors-Off Valleys & Waterfalls. The FIRST AND ONLY Doors-off tour deep into the heart of the spectacular Kohala Valleys!
8. Maunakea Visitor Information Station
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,658 reviews
Reviewed By blowhole808 - Texas, United States
First of all, Saddle road to Mauna Kea is fabulous...easy smooth and accessible...we didn’t go all the way to the top...4 wheel vehicle required...but was worth the trip...bathroom facilities available, take advantage of the outdoor picnic facilities...????????????????????????????????????
9. Nautilus Dive Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 73 reviews
10. Hawaiian Lava Boat Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 141 reviews
