{"id":1332,"date":"2016-07-30T19:08:32","date_gmt":"2016-07-31T05:08:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hilovacationhomes.com\/?post_type=flawles_activity&p=1332"},"modified":"2022-05-16T17:30:09","modified_gmt":"2022-05-17T03:30:09","slug":"downtown-hilo-walking-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hilovacationhomes.com\/downtown-hilo-walking-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"Downtown Hilo Walking Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"

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MAP OF DOWNTOWN HILO HISTORIC SECTION<\/strong><\/p>\n

Start Downtown Hilo\u00a0 Walking Tour:\u00a0 Park your car anywhere you can find parking.\u00a0 Since this is a loop it doesn’t matter where you start.\u00a0 If you want to start at the statue of Kamehameha, turn on Pauahi Steet, toward statue, at the Chevron station.\u00a0 Parking is down the road a bit.<\/p>\n

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KING KEMEHAMEHA STATUE AT WAILOA RIVER STATE PARK<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Front sign of Hilo Farmer’s Market on King Kamehameha Street.<\/p>\n

King Kamehameha was born about 1736 (estimated as Hawaiians had no written language) and took over the Island of Hawaii in 1790.\u00a0 In 1795 he ventured north with 900 boats and took over the lightly defended island of Maui and Molokai.\u00a0 The battles for Oahu were more difficult and but now entertaining to read.\u00a0 The final and most northern island of Kaua\u2019I was always friendly to Kamehameha and voluntarily agreed to his kingship.\u00a0 The King\u2019s prominence is due to his leadership ability in establishing governments, trade, fair laws and unifying Hawaii for the benefit of Hawaiians.<\/p>\n

The statue was built in 1963 in Italy and was paid for and intended for a resort in Kaua\u2019i.\u00a0 The locals protested and it stayed in storage until 1997 when it was donated to the Island of Hawaii.\u00a0 It is considered a poor representation of what he probably looked like.<\/p>\n

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Big island, Hilo Vietnam War memorial<\/p><\/div>\n

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VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL AND ETERNAL FLAME<\/strong><\/p>\n

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After the King Kamehameha statue walk back to Pauahi Street and across the creek away from the ocean.\u00a0 You should see the flame from the King Kamehameha statue.\u00a0 There are 50 palm trees planted around the memorial for the 50 Big Island lives lost in Vietnam.\u00a0 The names of the fallen soldiers and shown on the plaques.\u00a0 I find it interesting that the flame must be from propane tank as Hawaii has no gas except trucked in propane.<\/p>\n

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Wa Front of Hilo Farmer’s Market on King Kamehameha Street.<\/p><\/div>\n

Hilo Farmer’s market on a busy Wednesday or Saturday.<\/p><\/div>\n

HILO FARMERS MARKET<\/strong><\/p>\n

Walk back to King Kamehameha Ave. and go North toward the main downtown buildings.\u00a0 On the corner of King Kamahemahe Ave. and Mamo Street.\u00a0 You can’t miss it as you will see the plastic sheeting.\u00a0 Don’t expect more than a farmer’s market, but it is cute and a great way to buy all your fruit and vegetables from locals.\u00a0 On Wednesdays and Saturdays craft vendors fill the south side of the street.\u00a0 Buy fruits and vegetables that you have never had before.\u00a0 Some suggestions are dragon fruit, Lychee, Rambutan, Surinam Cherry and Rollinia.<\/p>\n

Hilo Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Other days just fruit and vegetables.<\/p>\n

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Live entertainment and movies in Downtown Hilo, Hawaii at the Palace theater. Check website for calendar.<\/p><\/div>\n

PALACE THEATER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Between the Farmers Market on Mamo Street and the Palace Theatre on Haili Street and many eclectic local stores in historic buildings.\u00a0 Enjoy the walk along these classic buildings and stores on your way to Haili Street and the Palace Theatre.<\/p>\n

The Palace theater was built in 1925, during the roaring 20s when movie palaces were just becoming popular.\u00a0 It was built by Adam Baker, a nephew of one of the last Royal Governors.\u00a0 In 1930 it was sold to Consolidated Amusements Ltd., which showed first rate movies.\u00a0 Keep in mind that “Talkies” only started with the Jazz Singer in 1927. The pipe organ at this theater was for live performances during silent films.<\/p>\n

The Palace was the largest theater outside of Honolulu.\u00a0 Nothing like it outside of the capital city.\u00a0 It is built using 14 redwood pillars, imported from the Pacific Northwest.\u00a0 The theater closed in 1984 and was used for movie storage until ownership was transferred in 1990 to a group of citizens.\u00a0 It was re-opened in 1999 and is currently operated by a non profit group that has made tremendous progress in upgrading the building.\u00a0 Currently, solar panels and air conditioning are being funded to allow current standards of comfort for performances.<\/p>\n

Please visit their website at www.hilopalace.com for the schedule of movies, performances and special events.\u00a0 It is a beautiful building and great fun.<\/p>\n

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Pacific Tsunami museum in an old bank building<\/p><\/div>\n

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PACIFIC TSUNAMI MUSEUM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Continue down King Kamehameha going North, going past more eclectic shops.\u00a0 Only one block north is Kalakaua Street.\u00a0 On the corner is the Pacific Tsunami Museum.<\/p>\n

The building was built in 1930 by C.W. Dickey, the most prominent architect in Hawaii.\u00a0 It was a First Hawaiian Bank branch until the bank donated the property for purposes of this museum in 1997.<\/p>\n

Hilo has had two devastating tsunamis.\u00a0 One in 1946 and another in 1960.\u00a0 The purpose of this museum is to show the pictures and tell the stories about these tsunamis.\u00a0 They have changed to landscape of the city as many bay areas were not rebuilt and are now parks as they are too vulnerable to a future event.\u00a0 The building is nice, but unless you have a great interest in the tsunami history, the museum isn’t more than a collection of pictures and short clips.<\/p>\n

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\"molupapapa-disc-center-board\"Mokupapapa Discovery Center<\/strong><\/p>\n

Continue one short block north to Waianuenue Ave.\u00a0 On the corner is the new location for this center.\u00a0 It is free and worth just a brief visit.\u00a0 The center is dedicated to the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.\u00a0 This is a huge sea area north of Kauai to Midway.\u00a0 It has a nice 3,500 gallon aquarium, pictured here, and other facts about the sea area.\u00a0 It gives one an appreciation for the huge marine diversity that exists and how little we know about many parts of our marine world.<\/p>\n

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Wailuku River into the Pacific<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since you are just 50 yards away from the end of downtown Hilo and the beautiful Wailuku River, just continue north and across Kamehameha Avenue to the mouth of the river.\u00a0 This is the same river that gives us two Wailuku state parks, Boiling Pots and Rainbow falls, just a few miles up the street.\u00a0 If you haven’t checked out these parks, do that after this walking tour.\u00a0 Many of the best places to see and to are free!<\/p>\n

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\"hilo-federal-building\" Hilo Federal Building<\/strong><\/p>\n

Head back to Waianuenue Ave. and head a couple blocks into town.\u00a0 After passing Keawe Street you will come to the Hilo Federal Building.<\/p>\n

After the annexation of the “Territory of Hawaii” in 1898, the United States decided it needed a federal building and post office for Hawaii’s second largest city (it is STILL Hawaii’s second largest city).\u00a0 The original building was built during 1915 to 1917 by Henry Whitfield, Andrew Carnegie’s brother in law.\u00a0 The style is Mediterranian neoclassical with certain modern touches.\u00a0 Unheard of at the time, it has a full basement with raised first floor.\u00a0 To let in more natural light, it has a band of windows above the courtroom.\u00a0 It is one of the first building to use permanent materials\/reinforced concrete.\u00a0 The large columns support the walkways, which allow for open windows and air circulation to the offices behind.<\/p>\n

From 1936 to 1938 the side buildings were built. In 1977 the Post Office moved out and in 1978 so did the courts.<\/p>\n

\"kalakaua-park-vietnam-war-memorial\"<\/p>\n

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Kalakaua Park and War Memorial<\/strong><\/p>\n

Simply turn to the opposite side of the street from the federal building for this park.\u00a0 It is named after King David Kalakaua, who ruled the Island of Hawaii from 1874 to 1891.\u00a0 This king is known as the Merrie Monarch king as he brought song and dance (hula) back to popularity.\u00a0 Each year in March\/April is the world famous Merrie Monarch hula contest, located in Hilo.<\/p>\n

The centerpiece of the memorial is the white marbled monument shown on the right hand side of this picture.\u00a0 On the top are 157 names of Hawaii county residents that gave their lives in World War 2.\u00a0 It was conceived in 1943 and finished in 1948.\u00a0 Later, a plaque was added commemorating the Korean was veterans and later still a second plaque was added commemorating Vietnam war veterans.<\/p>\n

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\"east-hawaii-cultural-center\"East Hawaii Cultural Center<\/strong><\/p>\n

Simply walk through Kalakaua Park from Waianuenue Ave. to Kalakaua Ave. on the other side.\u00a0 Across the street is this historic building.\u00a0 The building was built in 1932 using reinforced concrete with wood interior elements.\u00a0 It was home to the district court and the police department.\u00a0 However, the courts moved out in 1969 and the police department moved out in 1975.<\/p>\n

It was scheduled for demolition when the East Hawaii Cultural Council started leasing it for local events.\u00a0 The building was entered into the National and State Register for Historic Places in 1979.<\/p>\n

Today it is an art gallery and hosts local events.\u00a0 Art rotates so take a look and see if it is open.\u00a0 It is free with a suggested $5 donation.<\/p>\n

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\"lyman-museum-front\"<\/p>\n

Lyman House Memorial Museum<\/strong><\/p>\n

At this point you can decide to walk and get your car or walk back south to Haili Street and up two blocks.\u00a0 This museum consists of two parts.\u00a0 One is the Lyman mission house (left building) and the right is an exhibit building that is well knows for its rocks and gems.<\/p>\n

This is one of my most recommended destinations.\u00a0 The house was built by missionaries David and Sarah Lyman after they traveled from New England in 1832.\u00a0 Here they raised their 7 children.\u00a0 They never went back and lived out their lives here.\u00a0 Close by they founded a boarding school.\u00a0 They hosted Hawaiian royalty and other well knows guests such as Mark Twain.\u00a0 The house is the oldest standing wood structure on this Island and one of the oldest in the state.\u00a0 Here you can see how one lived so far back in time – without electricity or water.<\/p>\n

The cost is $10 and you get a guided tour.\u00a0 Hours are from 10:00 to 4:30, but tours are only from 11:00 to 2:00.<\/p>\n

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\"lyman-gemstones\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  MAP OF DOWNTOWN HILO HISTORIC SECTION Start Downtown Hilo\u00a0 Walking Tour:\u00a0 Park your car anywhere you can find parking.\u00a0 Since this is a loop it doesn’t matter where you start.\u00a0 If you want to start at the statue of Kamehameha, turn on Pauahi Steet, toward statue, at the Chevron station.\u00a0 Parking is down the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1356,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[35],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDowntown Hilo Walking Tour - Hilo Vacation Homes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Big Island vacation rentals on the Hilo side. 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