What to do in Hilo, Hawaii - Olivia Michelle

Hilo is one of the two large towns located on the Big Island of Hawaii. Hilo has it’s own airport and is larger than Kona. We only visited this side for a day, but here are the “must-do’s” for the town of Hilo.

Hilo Farmers Market
Every day 7am – 3pm
Downtown Hilo
I love going to Farmer’s Markets on our travels because it is a great way to try local foods and support local small businesses. The Hilo market has plenty to choose from and the fresh fruit selection is unbeatable. There are also craft and artist vendors if you are looking for souvenirs.
Find more info on their website HERE.

Here are a few things that I suggest to try: Lilikoi lemonade, Spam musubi,
fresh fruit (they have fruit cut up in containers with silverware for on the go), and the various banana breads.

If you are looking for a good Acai Bowl spot, Kula Bowls was right next to the market.

Coconut Island
The shores of Hilo are not actually beach front, they are all lava rock. But if you’re looking for somewhere to relax and have a nice afternoon at the beach, head to Coconut Island. The waters are crystal clear, and the little lagoons are almost completely wave free. The park has picnic tables, restrooms and pavilions, plus plenty of grass to spread out on. If you are a morning person, I’ve heard this is a fantastic place to watch the sunrise.
Read more about Coconut Island HERE.

Hawaiian Crown Chocolate Farm & Factory Tours
The Big Island of Hawaii is so lush and vibrant, there are many different types of crops grown on the island. We took a tour of Hawaiian Crown Chocolate Farm and got to see their fruit crops, meet the owner, and learn all about the process of making chocolate from Cacao. This is a two part tour so you will also get to see behind the scenes at the factory in Hilo. The farm itself is only fifteen minutes outside of Hilo. Make sure to book your tour ahead of time on the website HERE.
Read my full blog post about our tour HERE.

Grab Lunch at Hawaiian Style Cafe
This spot was one of the top rated that I found and for good reason, be prepared for a 45+ wait time. Have someone from your party go check in and then you will get a text when your table is ready (you do not have to sit there and wait). Offering local Hawaiian dishes, they have a pretty big menu of breakfast and lunch options.
View the full menu & more info HERE.

I ordered the Kahlua Pork Nachos, one of my absolute favorite dishes to get on the islands, and Travis ordered a Loco Moco. The Loco Moco is a local Hawaiian dish which is a bed of white rice, topped with a hamburger patty and smothered in gravy. Also make sure to grab a piece of the Lillikoi Supreme Pie, it was amazing!

Side Note: We only spent half the day in Hilo, then we went on to road trip up the Eastern side of the island and on to Mauna Kea.
Some things we wanted to do in Hilo but did not have time for:
Hike in Kaunmana Cave
Liliuokalani Gardens
Pacific Tsunami Museum
Pana’ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens
Dinner at Seaside Restaurant