Food Scene
there's a variety of foods there from burgers to pasta to sushi, salads, etc...plus outdoor dining & live entertainment on most nights.
240 abantu bendawo batusa
Kaleo's Bar & Grill
15-2969 Pahoa Village Rdthere's a variety of foods there from burgers to pasta to sushi, salads, etc...plus outdoor dining & live entertainment on most nights.
Reasonably priced good Mexican food & great Margaritas!
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Luquins Mexican Restaurant
151448 Kahakai BlvdReasonably priced good Mexican food & great Margaritas!
Great Thai food, you can also bring your own alcohol, a bit expensive as Thai food goes...
142 abantu bendawo batusa
Ning's Thai Cuisine
15-2955 Pahoa Village RdGreat Thai food, you can also bring your own alcohol, a bit expensive as Thai food goes...
Isitolo sabaFama beMaku'u
15-2131 Keaau-Pahoa Rda lot of local vendors & food, often music too!
Essentials
You can probably find anything you need, including your "rubber slippers". There's a gas station there & a small diner.
8 abantu bendawo batusa
Orchidland General Store
16-125 Orchid Land DrYou can probably find anything you need, including your "rubber slippers". There's a gas station there & a small diner.
They have great healthy food there including a hot bar, salad bar, & sandwich deli.
116 abantu bendawo batusa
Island Naturals Pahoa Market & Deli
15 -1870 Akeakamai LoopThey have great healthy food there including a hot bar, salad bar, & sandwich deli.
If you need to do laundry, this is the closest. There's also "Tyke's" in down-town Hilo, about 30-minutes away.
20 abantu bendawo batusa
Suds 'n Duds Laundromat
15-2866 Pahoa Village RdIf you need to do laundry, this is the closest. There's also "Tyke's" in down-town Hilo, about 30-minutes away.
Drinks & Nightlife
There's vendors & a farmers market earlier in the day & then music later. I recommend if you want to drink to BYOB.
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I-Awa Bar ne-Farmers Market ka-Uncle Robert
12-5038 Kalapana Kapoho Beach RdThere's vendors & a farmers market earlier in the day & then music later. I recommend if you want to drink to BYOB.
Parks & Nature
Snorkeling at Wai’opae Tidepools: known as “Kapoho” or “Vacationland” tide-pools by the locals, we recommend “reef-walkers” to protect your feet if you’re not from here, or you can attempt walking on the rocks using just your “rubber slippers” like the locals, be careful not to cut yourself on the rocks & reef. Of course you’ll need snorkeling gear which you can probably buy cheapest in Hilo at Walmart. You’ll have to park your vehicle & then walk into the snorkeling area, it’s about a 10-minute walk for most people. Check out: http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/hawaii/ for more information on Hawaii Island parks & to view the Puna Coastline map.
Wai'opae Tidepools Marine Life Conservation District
Snorkeling at Wai’opae Tidepools: known as “Kapoho” or “Vacationland” tide-pools by the locals, we recommend “reef-walkers” to protect your feet if you’re not from here, or you can attempt walking on the rocks using just your “rubber slippers” like the locals, be careful not to cut yourself on the rocks & reef. Of course you’ll need snorkeling gear which you can probably buy cheapest in Hilo at Walmart. You’ll have to park your vehicle & then walk into the snorkeling area, it’s about a 10-minute walk for most people. Check out: http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/hawaii/ for more information on Hawaii Island parks & to view the Puna Coastline map.
Stopping at “Lava Tree State Park” & walking around. It’s interesting because the lava crawled up trees & created lava “statues”.
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Isitimela saseNtshonalanga seLava Tree
Hawaii 132Stopping at “Lava Tree State Park” & walking around. It’s interesting because the lava crawled up trees & created lava “statues”.
Just down the street from Kapoho tidepools is a large, salt water pond that is heated by the volcano & park area. It’s a state park called “Ahalanui” but we call it “the warm ponds”, some call it “Millionaire’s pond”. There are rumors that people who are not from here (i.e. “Mainland tourists”) should not go into the warm ponds if they have any open cuts due to increased risk for unfamiliar bacteria to infect those open cuts, however, I’m not sure that there is any scientific evidence to back up this theory or rumor, if there is, I would guess that the risk is very low. I suppose you could call the Hawai’i State Department of Health for more information: http://health.hawaii.gov/big-island/ (808) 974-6006
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Ahalanui County Beach Park
14-5363 Kalapana - Kapoho RdJust down the street from Kapoho tidepools is a large, salt water pond that is heated by the volcano & park area. It’s a state park called “Ahalanui” but we call it “the warm ponds”, some call it “Millionaire’s pond”. There are rumors that people who are not from here (i.e. “Mainland tourists”) should not go into the warm ponds if they have any open cuts due to increased risk for unfamiliar bacteria to infect those open cuts, however, I’m not sure that there is any scientific evidence to back up this theory or rumor, if there is, I would guess that the risk is very low. I suppose you could call the Hawai’i State Department of Health for more information: http://health.hawaii.gov/big-island/ (808) 974-6006
The Isaac Hale Beach Park “Warm Pond”: Isaac Hale Beach Park is further down the coast from Ahalanui & is known as “Poho’iki” by the locals. There’s a small salt water pond located in a forested area of the beach-park. The pond is a very short & easy walk from the parking area, just ask someone to point you in the direction of the pond. Poho’iki is a popular hang-out for locals & a very popular surfing area, you can watch some surfers while you’re there, you can swim in the boat harbor area although it may be difficult for some getting in & out.
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Isaac Hale Park
13-101 Kalapana - Kapoho RdThe Isaac Hale Beach Park “Warm Pond”: Isaac Hale Beach Park is further down the coast from Ahalanui & is known as “Poho’iki” by the locals. There’s a small salt water pond located in a forested area of the beach-park. The pond is a very short & easy walk from the parking area, just ask someone to point you in the direction of the pond. Poho’iki is a popular hang-out for locals & a very popular surfing area, you can watch some surfers while you’re there, you can swim in the boat harbor area although it may be difficult for some getting in & out.
From Poho’iki you can drive further down the beautiful coastline to Kehena nude beach. Kahena has some interesting regulars, be aware that the beach is at the bottom of a large drop-off so you’ll have to hike down to access the beach. The swimming can be dangerous, there is no lifeguard on duty & I DO NOT recommend swimming there. Remember Kahena is a NUDE beach, so it may not be appropriate for some.
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Kehena Black Sand Beach
From Poho’iki you can drive further down the beautiful coastline to Kehena nude beach. Kahena has some interesting regulars, be aware that the beach is at the bottom of a large drop-off so you’ll have to hike down to access the beach. The swimming can be dangerous, there is no lifeguard on duty & I DO NOT recommend swimming there. Remember Kahena is a NUDE beach, so it may not be appropriate for some.
6.Further down the coastline is historic Kalapana, much of which is now covered by lava. Once you drive to the end of the coastline road & see where the lava crosses the road area, you will know you’re there. There is a small convenience store & eatery there where you can buy lunch. Directly across from the eatery, you can also hike out across the lava flow to a new small black-sand beach. There were once two large black sand beaches in the area (Kalapana & Kaimu Beaches), but they were covered by lava. Just ask someone to point you to the trail. Every Wednesday evening starting around 5:00pm there’s a farmers market with live local entertainment & local vendors, food, etc. right next to the eatery at “Uncle Robert’s”. Uncle Robert Keli’iho’omalu recently passed away; the market is on his family’s property where the farmer’s market takes place every Wednesday. There is also a “Kava Bar”. It is very popular & people from all around the east side of the island come all the way to the end of highway 130 & 137 (i.e. to Kalapana) just for the Wednesday night farmer’s market. Check it out online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eofkR3NDq4
30 abantu bendawo batusa
Kaimu Beach Park
6.Further down the coastline is historic Kalapana, much of which is now covered by lava. Once you drive to the end of the coastline road & see where the lava crosses the road area, you will know you’re there. There is a small convenience store & eatery there where you can buy lunch. Directly across from the eatery, you can also hike out across the lava flow to a new small black-sand beach. There were once two large black sand beaches in the area (Kalapana & Kaimu Beaches), but they were covered by lava. Just ask someone to point you to the trail. Every Wednesday evening starting around 5:00pm there’s a farmers market with live local entertainment & local vendors, food, etc. right next to the eatery at “Uncle Robert’s”. Uncle Robert Keli’iho’omalu recently passed away; the market is on his family’s property where the farmer’s market takes place every Wednesday. There is also a “Kava Bar”. It is very popular & people from all around the east side of the island come all the way to the end of highway 130 & 137 (i.e. to Kalapana) just for the Wednesday night farmer’s market. Check it out online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eofkR3NDq4
Make sure you visit the Thurston Lava Tube! Nice park to hike around & have lunch.
880 abantu bendawo batusa
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Make sure you visit the Thurston Lava Tube! Nice park to hike around & have lunch.
Shopping
Prince Kuhio Plaza
111 E Puainako StThere's also a movie theater here.
Target
391 Makaala StMy favorite place to shop in Hilo.
Entertainment & Activities
Something to do other than the beach in Hilo. They have astronomy related shows. They also have a restaurant area onsite.
92 abantu bendawo batusa
Imiloa Astronomy Center
600 Imiloa PlSomething to do other than the beach in Hilo. They have astronomy related shows. They also have a restaurant area onsite.
Arts & Culture
Bishop
BishopYou might want to check out Bishop Museum in downtown Hilo.