You messed up.  You booked most of your vacation in Kona because that’s where the nice hotels are.  You arrive in Kona and realize the place looks like a moon landscape and your hotel doesn’t even have a beach. You decide to travel to the Hilo side while you are on island.  Maybe you just […]

Hilo Hawaii Activities in 3 Days To cover Hilo and East Big Island in 3 days requires splitting up East Big Island into 3 geographical areas. Day 1:  Downtown Hilo and surrounding area Day 2:  Volcano National Park and South Big Island Day 3:  Puna and Kalapana lava flows (or Optional North Big Island horseback […]

Best Hilo shopping These stores are all together, just above the Hilo Airport.  When you exit the Hilo airport you go left, up hill, about 1/3 of a mile and make a left on Makaala Street.  You will see the Ross sign on your left before the turn.  Enter on your first left for the […]

Address: 381 Maka’ala Street, Hilo See the post for Walmart and Target.  The Safeway is next to Target and 100 yards down the street from Walmart.  Turn left where you see the Ross sign (Maka’ala) and pass Wallmart on your left.  This is just behind Walmart. The Safeway and neighboring Target was built around 2014.  […]

Addresses:  50 N. Puainaku Street, Hilo (just above the Ross sign and Walmart) On Highway 11 just above Prince Kuhio Plaze. Before the modern grocery stores arrived such as Walmart, Target and Safeway, the big grocery stores in town were the two KTAs.  If you want to shop at a large grocery store that is […]

Address:  135 Kalanianaole Ave., Hilo HI.  Just as you are leaving downtown Hilo along south Hilo bay. Website: http://www.pondshilo.com/ This is my one of my favorite restaurants for a great meal at a great location.  We go here almost every time we visit.  The prices are consistent with nice dining.  There is usually live entertainment […]

Address:  969 Kilauea Ave, Hilo, HI 96720 Website: www.cafe100.com Classic cafe that is a favorite with the locals.  This is where you go for comfort food on a budget.  It is right in the middle of town, just minutes from so many attractions.  A local dish that you need to try at least once is […]

Location: 1730 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo Hi 96720 Website:  www.kenshouseofpancakes.com This is not a flashy restaurant and it doesn’t pretend to be.  It is a classic diner.  The laminate counters are worn from a decade of use.  The food is great and the menu has everything.  I love to eat local food with locals.  This is […]

Café Pesto   Address:  308 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo.  Kamehameha runs along the water across downtown.  Just drive until you reach the classic buildings.  It is near the middle.   There are only a few “great” restaurants in the Hilo area.  This is one of the few.  The restaurant doesn’t have a view, which is a […]

Address: 333 Keawe Street, Hilo HI 96720. (808) 238-5324 website:  www.pineappleshilo.com One of probably 6 “nicer” restaurants in Hilo.  For me, it isn’t so much the food, which is fine but not great, it is the fun atmosphere and location.  It is located just up a block from the Farmer’s Market on the north side […]

Address:  123 Lihiwai Street, Hilo HI 96720 Website:  www.hilobaycafe.com.  Closed Sundays As shown in the picture, below, the restaurant is nothing to look at.  Pretty much a rectangular building up on stilts.  The inside isn’t much better as the tables are in a few rows straight down the building.  The first picture, below, is the […]

Hilo Hawaii Activities in 2 Days   To cover Hilo and East Big Island in 2 days isn’t easy.  To be the most efficient we need to divide up Hilo into 2 geographical areas.   Day 1:  Downtown Hilo and surrounding area Day 2:  Volcano National Park and Kalapana lava flows   DAY 1: Downtown […]