If you were in Kona yesterday, Hilo is going to feel like a different planet. Where Kona is sunny and dry, Hilo is lush, green, and unapologetically rainy — the wettest city in the United States, in fact. That rain is what creates the waterfalls, the jungle canopy, and the kind of tropical landscape that most people picture when they think of Hawaii. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the signature excursion from here, but Hilo has more to offer than just Kilauea. The Lyman Museum is worth exploring for the cultural history, Rainbow Falls is free and right there, and the farmers market is one of the best in the state. We find the cultural learning a fascinating reason to visit Hawaii — not just seeing pretty waterfalls and lava flows, but understanding the place. Though the waterfalls and lava flows are pretty awesome too.
Top Excursion Ideas For Hilo
Planning Tips For Your Hilo Port Day
Hilo's port logistics require a bit more planning than Kona's walkable waterfront.
- The port is isolated: Ships dock at Hilo Bay, but the pier area sits in an industrial zone away from town. The walk to downtown is not scenic — take the free cruise shuttle to the farmers market area or rent a car from the airport nearby.
- Free shuttle runs on port days: Goes to the downtown area and farmers market, typically running through late morning. Check with your ship for the schedule as it varies.
- Book volcano tours early: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is about 30 miles south, and guided tours fill up fast on cruise ship days. No reservation is needed for the park itself ($30 per vehicle), but the guided tour guarantees you get back to the ship on time and covers the highlights efficiently.
- Bring rain gear: Hilo averages over 120 inches of rain per year. Showers are usually brief tropical bursts, not all-day downpours, but a light rain jacket is essential. The upside: the rain keeps everything impossibly green.
- Car rental is an option: Hilo International Airport is a short ride from the port. Reserve in advance — rental availability gets tight on cruise ship days.
Book A Cruise To Hilo
Hilo appears on inter-island Hawaii itineraries and Pacific repositioning voyages. Our cruise specialist Heather Hills can find you a sailing that includes the Big Island's lush eastern coast.
Why Hilo Is Worth Getting Off The Ship
Ships dock directly at the pier — no tendering — but the port area doesn't have much to see on its own. A free shuttle or short ride gets you to downtown Hilo, which is a different kind of Hawaiian town than anywhere else on the itinerary. Small, authentic, not built for tourists, and surrounded by the kind of tropical density that makes you understand why people fall in love with this side of the island.
The volcano is the headline. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park protects Kilauea — one of the most active volcanoes on earth. The Kilauea Caldera, steam vents, Thurston Lava Tube, and Chain of Craters Road are all accessible on a port-day tour or self-drive visit. Guided tours run about 4-5 hours total including the drive, and they're designed around cruise ship schedules.
But Hilo is more than the volcano. Rainbow Falls drops 80 feet into a pool that catches morning rainbows in its mist — free, easy to reach, and genuinely beautiful. Akaka Falls is a 442-foot plunge through rainforest a bit further out. The Liliuokalani Gardens are a 24-acre Japanese garden closer to the port. And the Hilo Farmers Market, especially on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, is one of the best in Hawaii — tropical fruits, macadamia nuts, local coffee, and handmade crafts from 200+ vendors.
Tips To Make The Most Of Your Visit
Hilo rewards passengers who embrace the rain and commit to either the volcano or a waterfall-focused day.
- Volcano or waterfalls — pick your priority: The national park takes most of a day with driving time. If you do the volcano, you'll probably only have time for a quick Rainbow Falls stop on the way. If you skip the volcano, you can do Rainbow Falls, Akaka Falls, the farmers market, and downtown Hilo in a more relaxed day.
- Rainbow Falls timing: Best in the morning when the sun hits the mist at the right angle to create the rainbow that gives it its name. Free, and the viewpoint is a very short walk from the parking area.
- Liliuokalani Gardens are close to the port: A 24-acre Japanese garden with arching bridges, fishponds, and pagodas. Free, open all day, and within walking distance if you don't mind the walk from the pier area. Coconut Island is connected by footbridge with panoramic bay views.
- Slippery trails: Hilo's trails get wet. Wear shoes with good traction, especially at the national park and Akaka Falls.
What To Do In Hilo
Hilo splits between the volcanic landscape to the south and the waterfall-and-gardens experience closer to town.
For Families
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the kind of experience kids remember for years — walking through the Thurston Lava Tube, feeling the heat from steam vents, and seeing a real volcanic caldera. Rainbow Falls is easy and free. The Hilo Farmers Market gives kids a hands-on food experience — tasting rambutan, lychee, and tropical fruits they've never seen. Liliuokalani Gardens and the footbridge to Coconut Island work for all ages.
For Couples
A volcano tour followed by a late-afternoon stroll through Liliuokalani Gardens is a complete day. For something more adventurous, a waterfall zipline tour near Akaka Falls combines rainforest canopy with the falls. The helicopter tours over the volcanic landscape offer a perspective you can't get from the ground. Richardson Black Sand Beach is a quieter option with frequent sea turtle sightings.
Free and Low-Cost
Rainbow Falls is free and a short drive from town. Liliuokalani Gardens are free and open all day. The Hilo Farmers Market is free to browse (Wednesday and Saturday are the big days with 200+ vendors). Downtown Hilo's historic buildings along Kamehameha Avenue are free to walk past. Banyan Drive's historic trees, each planted by a notable figure, make a free walking tour near the gardens.
Top Shore Excursions
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the must-do from Hilo — guided tours run about 4-5 hours and cover Kilauea Caldera, steam vents, the Thurston Lava Tube, and key overlooks. Waterfall tours combine Rainbow Falls and Akaka Falls with scenic drives through the rainforest. Helicopter tours over the volcanic landscape show the scale of the lava fields and coastline from above. Kayak tours on Hilo Bay offer a calmer alternative for passengers who prefer water to lava.
More Hilo Ideas
- Akaka Falls State Park — a 442-foot waterfall surrounded by tropical rainforest, accessed by a short paved loop trail. About 30 minutes north of Hilo.
- Lyman Museum — the oldest wood-frame house in Hilo (1839) turned heritage museum. Cultural and natural history exhibits that add context to what you're seeing around the island.
- Richardson Black Sand Beach — volcanic black sand beach south of town with frequent sea turtle sightings. Local favorite, free access.
- Hilo Farmers Market — Wednesday and Saturday are the full market days with 200+ vendors. Tropical fruits, local coffee, macadamia nuts, and handmade crafts.
- Floral crown weaving — learn to make a traditional Hawaiian lei po'o (floral crown) from local flowers. A creative cultural experience.
- Meditative garden walk — guided contemplative walks through Hilo's tropical gardens for passengers who want to slow down and absorb the landscape.
Other Cruise Ports You Might Also Enjoy
- Kona — yesterday's port on the same island, but the sunny, arid, walkable side with coffee farms, sacred sites, and snorkeling. The contrast with Hilo is one of the best parts of the itinerary.
- Kauai — your next stop, where the jungle intensity of Hilo gets amplified with Na Pali Coast sea cliffs, a rum distillery, and an overnight for luau.
- Maui — the island where you overnighted with the Road to Hana, Molokini snorkeling, and upcountry farms.
- Oahu — where the cruise started, with Pearl Harbor and Waikiki waiting for your return.
The Green Side Of The Big Island
Hilo shows you what happens when an active volcano, tropical rainfall, and Hawaiian culture converge in one place. The lava builds the land. The rain covers it in green. And the people who've lived here for generations understand both forces in ways that a single port day can only begin to reveal. Whether you spend your time at the volcano's edge or in the mist of Rainbow Falls, Hilo delivers the version of Hawaii that the resort brochures don't show you.
For help planning a Hawaii cruise that gives you time on both sides of the Big Island, talk to our cruise specialist Heather Hills at Flow Voyages.
Planning Resources
- Go Hawaii — Big Island — official visitor information for the island
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — NPS page for Kilauea, trail maps, and visitor planning
- Hilo Farmers Market — schedule and vendor information for one of Hawaii's best markets
- Liliuokalani Gardens — the 24-acre Japanese garden near the port
Thanks for reading. We hope this was helpful!
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