Big Island Hilo-side Guidebook
Beaches
Recommended beaches on the Hilo side
5 minute drive from here, 1.5 hr (2.5 mile) beautiful jungle hike in and out. Plan a day around this. Bring lunch.
45 locals recommend
Shipman Beach / Haena Beach
5 minute drive from here, 1.5 hr (2.5 mile) beautiful jungle hike in and out. Plan a day around this. Bring lunch.
Best keiki (childrens) beach along with Onekahakaha. Turtles are also often swimming in the waters.
140 locals recommend
Carlsmith Beach Park
1815 Kalanianaole StBest keiki (childrens) beach along with Onekahakaha. Turtles are also often swimming in the waters.
Onekahakaha Beach Park
74 Onekahakaha RdThis one was built for the keikis, young and old alike.
Great waves for surfing before 10a, decent afterward. The river meets the ocean here, so there is a strip with a double beach—ocean one side and river on the other. The river side is good for the kids. There is also two accessible waterfalls if you paddle (or swim) up the river about 5 minutes.
81 locals recommend
Honoli'i Beach Park
Great waves for surfing before 10a, decent afterward. The river meets the ocean here, so there is a strip with a double beach—ocean one side and river on the other. The river side is good for the kids. There is also two accessible waterfalls if you paddle (or swim) up the river about 5 minutes.
Guaranteed sea turtles. There is a section on the beach where they lounge.
175 locals recommend
Punalu‘u Beach
Guaranteed sea turtles. There is a section on the beach where they lounge.
Kehena Black Sand Beach
Clothing optional black sand beach. Local vibes.
Hot springs with varying degrees of temperature. Great on a clear night to see the stars.
16 locals recommend
Pohoiki Bay and Hot Spring
13-5579 Kalapana - Kapoho RdHot springs with varying degrees of temperature. Great on a clear night to see the stars.
Markets
Local markets and farmers’ markets.
Sunday 8a-12p. Big outdoor farmer’s market 10 minutes up the road. Great place to grab a bite to eat in the morning.
169 locals recommend
Maku'u Farmer's Market
15-2131 Keaau-Pahoa RdSunday 8a-12p. Big outdoor farmer’s market 10 minutes up the road. Great place to grab a bite to eat in the morning.
Saturday 8a-12p there's an outdoor farmer's market here. Local food and artisans. You can plan your day around it: market, then Kehena beach, and possibly the hot ponds.
171 locals recommend
Uncle Robert's Awa Bar and Farmers Market
12-5038 Kalapana Kapoho Beach RdSaturday 8a-12p there's an outdoor farmer's market here. Local food and artisans. You can plan your day around it: market, then Kehena beach, and possibly the hot ponds.
Food
Restaurants, cafes, food trucks
Smoothies and local healthy eats. Best cappuccino
in Hilo. Make sure you go to this location and not the one in Keaau.
Liquid Life Hilo
697 Manono StreetSmoothies and local healthy eats. Best cappuccino
in Hilo. Make sure you go to this location and not the one in Keaau.
Best local grindz. Menu changes weekly. Takeout only--grab and grub at Wailoa State Rec or the Japanese tea garden.
Aloha Mondays
1348 Kilauea AveBest local grindz. Menu changes weekly. Takeout only--grab and grub at Wailoa State Rec or the Japanese tea garden.
Health food spot. Great for vegan and vegetarian food with an extensive, diverse menu.
30 locals recommend
Sweet Cane Cafe
48 Kamana StHealth food spot. Great for vegan and vegetarian food with an extensive, diverse menu.
Best pizza in Hilo (besides the pizza guy at Maku'u market on Sundays). Great food, chill vibes, fresh beats, and free video games. Great for kids.
Antics Pizza
475 Kinoole StreetBest pizza in Hilo (besides the pizza guy at Maku'u market on Sundays). Great food, chill vibes, fresh beats, and free video games. Great for kids.
Casual Thai joint with huge portions. 1 curry + 3 extra rice will feed 4 people. Everything we've tried is good.
9 locals recommend
Thep Thai Cuisine Hawaii
15-2714 Pahoa Village RdCasual Thai joint with huge portions. 1 curry + 3 extra rice will feed 4 people. Everything we've tried is good.
Great fun for the keikis. Sushi and other Japanese food on small plates that come out on a boat, ordered from a tablet. Reminds me of Tokyo.
7 locals recommend
Genki Sushi
111 Puainako StGreat fun for the keikis. Sushi and other Japanese food on small plates that come out on a boat, ordered from a tablet. Reminds me of Tokyo.
24-hour diner with diner-faire and Hawaiian food. Great place for late nights.
83 locals recommend
Kens House of Pancakes
1730 Kamehameha Ave24-hour diner with diner-faire and Hawaiian food. Great place for late nights.
Locally made chocolate from locally grown cacao. Served in a multitude of forms from bars to candy to mixed drinks. The cafe doubles as a bar at night.
7 locals recommend
Puna Chocolate Company & Cafe
277 Keawe StLocally made chocolate from locally grown cacao. Served in a multitude of forms from bars to candy to mixed drinks. The cafe doubles as a bar at night.
Fish and chips when you want fish and chips.
11 locals recommend
Mohala’s Bayfront Fish and Chips, LLC
50 Waianuenue AveFish and chips when you want fish and chips.
Kula Shave Ice
57 Mamo StBest shave ice on the planet. Get "the Local".
Perfect Harmony Boutique & Tea Room
276 Keawe StBali-style tea room in back. Hidden gem. No wifi.
Best breakfast/brunch. Only 15 minutes from our place. AMAZING food, local vibes.
Countryside Cafe (Kea'au Location)
Best breakfast/brunch. Only 15 minutes from our place. AMAZING food, local vibes.
Groceries
Best non-box-store grocery market. Natural foods at (mostly) decent prices. Way cheaper than Malama.
11 locals recommend
Keaau Natural Foods
16-586 Old Volcano RdBest non-box-store grocery market. Natural foods at (mostly) decent prices. Way cheaper than Malama.
Side of the road going south (towards Pahoa) on Keaau-Pahoa Rd, on the right side just past Orchidland. Closest and cheapest place to get fruits and veggies.
Sell 4 Less Produce
Side of the road going south (towards Pahoa) on Keaau-Pahoa Rd, on the right side just past Orchidland. Closest and cheapest place to get fruits and veggies.
Second closest farmer's market (after Sell 4 Less). More vendors than Sell 4 Less.
Kea au Farmers Market
16-577 Old Volcano RoadSecond closest farmer's market (after Sell 4 Less). More vendors than Sell 4 Less.
Not the best prices, but much more selection than Keaau Natural, especially when it comes to non-food items like toiletries and kitchenware.
17 locals recommend
Abundant Life Natural Foods
292 Kamehameha AveNot the best prices, but much more selection than Keaau Natural, especially when it comes to non-food items like toiletries and kitchenware.
Safeway
381 E Maka'Ala StIt's Safeway.
City/town information
The "big city" on this side of the island.
Downtown, there's decent food and markets, but best of all, it's quaint, and not crowded at all.
Despite being an industrial city, there are some great hangouts: Wailoa River State Recreational Area, a park with water and bridges; and the Japanese Garden, another park with water and bridges; and of course Perfect Harmony's tea room.
Hilo also sports the most convenient keiki beaches, all next to each other: Onekahaha, Carlsmith, and Richardson.
120 locals recommend
Hilo
The "big city" on this side of the island.
Downtown, there's decent food and markets, but best of all, it's quaint, and not crowded at all.
Despite being an industrial city, there are some great hangouts: Wailoa River State Recreational Area, a park with water and bridges; and the Japanese Garden, another park with water and bridges; and of course Perfect Harmony's tea room.
Hilo also sports the most convenient keiki beaches, all next to each other: Onekahaha, Carlsmith, and Richardson.
If you like local, it's where you want to be on the weekend, because you won't find it in a guidebook.
Saturday there's Kaimu Market. And Kehena beach.
Sunday is dubbed Sunday Funday. First, ecstatic dance at Kalani. Then, the beach where the drum circle starts. Then, the Sea View "lawn" where the drum circle continues. It's a big block party, with vendors, dancing, and fire-spinning.
59 locals recommend
Kalapana
If you like local, it's where you want to be on the weekend, because you won't find it in a guidebook.
Saturday there's Kaimu Market. And Kehena beach.
Sunday is dubbed Sunday Funday. First, ecstatic dance at Kalani. Then, the beach where the drum circle starts. Then, the Sea View "lawn" where the drum circle continues. It's a big block party, with vendors, dancing, and fire-spinning.
Keaau is a small practical town. It's got everything you need, and pretty much nothing else.
It's also includes HPP (Hawaiian Paradise Park), which is the subdivision we're located in.
6 locals recommend
Keaau
Keaau is a small practical town. It's got everything you need, and pretty much nothing else.
It's also includes HPP (Hawaiian Paradise Park), which is the subdivision we're located in.
Take all the disavowed, the misanthropic, the artists and artisans and collect them all in one tropical place.
Pahoa would be the place all these people come down to grab pizza and coffee when they meander out of the jungle.
It will be where you do, too, if you choose to head south (towards Kalapana).
Pāhoa, Hawaii 96748, USA
Take all the disavowed, the misanthropic, the artists and artisans and collect them all in one tropical place.
Pahoa would be the place all these people come down to grab pizza and coffee when they meander out of the jungle.
It will be where you do, too, if you choose to head south (towards Kalapana).