Most visitors to Hawaii’s Big Island stay on the Kona side because it’s where the sunshine, beaches, and resorts are, but you definitely need to visit the Hilo side for at least a day.
If you’re in Hilo on a Wednesday or Saturday, you’ve got to stop by this outdoor market with over 200 local farmers and vendors. It’s a great way to get out and walk around historic downtown Hilo plus there are usually plenty of food trucks around.
Since almost ⅓ of the population of Hilo is Asian, it’s a great place to have a unique cultural experience that’s likely very different from anything you have at home. And Two Ladies Kitchen is the place to do it.
This lovely garden is the largest authentic ornamental Japanese garden outside of Japan and is free to the public. It’s right on the water and it would be a nice place to eat a picnic lunch.
Located right in Hilo town, this 80 foot waterfall is best seen in the early morning (on a sunny day) when you’ll have the best chance of seeing a rainbow. But it’s beautiful any time of day really.
Just a few miles south of Hilo is the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Farm and Factory. It’s the biggest mac nut farm in Hawaii and they have a self guided tour, but it’s really mostly just a gift shop.