by Judith Campanaro

Created on: February 17, 2010   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

My Adventure in Hilo

Hilo reminded me of Jamaica.  In Jamaica everyone’s hips swing because they are happy and free.  I felt the same spirit in Hilo.  Everyone I encountered smiled and nodded Aloha.  Perfect strangers talked to me on the street as if we were old friends.  I felt safe and welcome.  There were tarot readers outside of the stores and a musician here and there.  It was delightful.  Richardson’s Beach found a special place in my artist heart.  I hear the ocean calling.  The views, the beauty, the fun – what can I say. 

I went to Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots.  It’s called Rainbow Falls because when the falls hit the water it creates a prism that makes the most beautiful rainbows in the mist.  The Boiling Pots is where water rushes through old lava rocks and bubbles up as it flows downstream.  On this day the water was relatively calm so I was able to soak my feet for awhile.  Yes I did enjoy that soak.  I was told that sometimes Boiling Pots can be rather dangerous so one must be careful.  Later as I walked around I saw signs that said “Watch out for falling coconuts.”  Probably true but it gave me a good laugh.

 I spent one morning at the Open Market in downtown Hilo.  There were all kinds of fresh fruit and vegetables and an array of arts and crafts.  The strawberry papayas were so good, tangerines, mangos, pineapple and lots of salad goodies.  Everything was fresh and tasted wonderful.  The people were great as well. The locals told me they call Hilo a “mixed plate” because of all the different cultures.   At the arts and crafts section I met people from all over the world.  Several of them said they gave up the corporate world and stressful lifestyles and now live in Hilo doing what they love.  If I was younger I might have been enticed to stay there with them but alas I have grown too fond of my creature comforts.  I did enjoy the art though.  There was such a variety –  writers, tarot readers, jewelry makers, paintings, baskets and bags woven from coconut fiber, sarongs, wraps, colorful dresses and shirts and even a Shaklee booth.  

The afternoon found me in line waiting for a ticket to Merrie Monarch.  We stood in line for a couple of hours waiting for them to open the doors and then waited another hour or so until the show

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