Located on the east side of the "Big Island" of Hawaii, Hilo is the state of Hawaii's second largest city, but with a population in 2000 of just over 40,000, it's only one-tenth the size of top-ranked Honolulu. This means a much lower density of people, buildings and traffic, a slower pace, and more fresh air and nature. Given its smaller size, it's not surprising that Hilo lacks some things Honolulu has. There's less night life, and nothing resembling Waikiki's shopping strip of trendy, expensive stores. But there are plenty of things to do in and around Hilo, so don't think you can see it all in a day!

Getting to Hilo

Hilo features a modern airport (airport code ITO) with a mainly open-air terminal, which is primarily served by inter-island flights on Hawaiian and Aloha, with most flights originating in Honolulu. Direct flights from Oakland, California are also available on ATA. Numerous cruise ships also call at the port of Hilo every week. Several well-known car rental agencies are located

Where to Stay

A few sizeable hotels are located on a peninsula in Hilo Bay, located between the port and downtown. The Hilo Hawaiian, Naniloa and Hilo Bay Hotel are the best known. There are also numerous smaller hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts and hostels to satisfy any budget.

Where to Eat

Due to its location, Hilo has a variety of extremely fresh foods, including locally grown fruits and vegetables, meats raised on the island, and fresh fish caught offshore. This means good food for a variety of budgets. I recommend Ken's House of Pancakes, between the airport and the hotels, for those wishing to spend under $15 per person, Cafe Pesto, on the bayfront downtown, for the $15-30 range, and Restaurant Kaikodo, also downtown, for the $30+ range. There are also numerous ethnic restaurants, thanks to the incredible ethnic diversity of Hawaii - according to the 2000 census, the Big Island is the most ethnically diverse county in the United States! And if you'd like something a bit more familiar, Hilo has familiar American chains: Arby's, Burger King, Dairy Queen, Domino's Pizza, Jack in the Box, Jamba Juice, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Subway and Taco Bell.

Where to Shop

As with food, familiar American stores are represented in Hilo. Borders, Macy's, OfficeMax, Ross, Safeway, Sears and WalMart are all located in or near the Prince Kuhio Plaza, Hilo's main mall. However, there are also many, many local shops, both in the mall

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