Press Kit

The Big Island’s Wild, Wild East is a Hot Spot for Adventure

Next Stop, Hilo — Travelers are discovering what locals have known for a long time: Hilo is an ideal destination to quench their thirst for a Hawaiian adventure.

Why Hilo? Try Hilo, and it’s clear. Hilo is the gateway to all of East Hawai`i, an untapped adventurer’s paradise that stretches from the isolated Ka Lae peninsula, where the ocean-faring Polynesians first made landfall; to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and the fierty domain of the volcano goddess, Pele; to the untamed jungles that tumble downslope to the Puna coastline, where lava-heated ponds and clear tidepools speckle the shore.

East Hawai`i continues to the summit of Mauna Kea, the world’s tallest mountain (only an hour’s drive from Hilo), and along the Hāmākua Coast where endless waterfalls, exquisite botanical gardens, and old sugar plantation towns culminate in the raw beauty of Waipi`o Valley.

Within this vast, diverse landscape, spirited travelers can choose from a menu of adventures or create their own, whether on foot, in the water, up in the air, on horseback, behind the wheel, seated at a table—or all of the above.

What Hilo’s not is what makes Hilo so appealing. There are no five-star resorts, but plenty of accommodations—ranging from affordably luxurious inns, large bayfront hotels, quaint B&Bs, to comfortable cabins and campgrounds—are available.

There are no easily accessible white sand beaches in East Hawai`i, but no one seems to miss them. Afterall, there are numerous black sand beaches and South Point’s stunning green sand beach to explore. The Puna, Hilo and Hāmākua coasts present a dramatic and undeveloped seascape of lava-rock shorelines, secret snorkel spots, and other natural wonders found only in East Hawai`i.

Hilo’s not in a hurry, in fact, Hilo cherishes its past. In Downtown Hilo, shops, restaurants, museums and art galleries reside in historic buildings built in the late 1800s and early 1900s, when sugar was the island’s lifeblood. But Hilo’s not trapped in its past. It’s home to the University of Hawai`i at Hilo, an advanced agricultural industry, and the new `Imiloa Astronomy Center, a world-class attraction that links Hawaiian navigation, culture and language with the stars and Mauna Kea. Mauna Kea (“White Mountain”) is the 13,796-foot volcano which rises above Hilo. It has tremendous cultural significance to Hawaiians, and is base camp for the largest collection of super-telescopes in the world.

Getting There: ATA Airlines offers a daily direct flight between Oakland, CA and Hilo International Airport—the first direct route from the U.S. Mainland to Hilo in more than 20 years. Other direct flights on major carriers serve the Kona International Airport, a 2-½ hour drive from Hilo. All major carriers and interisland aircraft provide connecting flights from Honolulu and the neighbor islands. Hilo is also a regular port of call for the fleet of Norwegian Cruise Lines and other cruise ships.

East Hawai`i Fast Facts:

• Kīlauea is the world’s most active volcano, and has been flowing continuously since Jan. 3, 1983
• Hawai`i’s history began at Ka Lae in the Ka`ū District where the Marquesans first made landfall between 500 A.D. and 800 A.D.
• King Kamehameha I had 800 canoes built on Hilo Bay, from where he set sail on his quest to conquer Kaua`i
• Hilo is home to the world’s largest hula competition, the Merrie Monarch Festival, which comes to town the week following Easter Sunday
• East Hawai`i produces 95 percent of the state’s papayas, and 65 percent of the world’s macadamia nuts
• The world’s largest lava tube, Thurston Lava Tube, is found at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park
• Hilo is beautified by an average of 130 inches of rain a year, resulting in waterfalls, lush foliage and abundant rainbows