The largest city on the Big Island is also the best base for active holidays and exploring the natural beauty. It's close to active volcanoes, Mauna Kea and black and green sand beaches.

In addition, downtown Hilo provides all the amenities, but don't imagine any pulsating nightlife. At the stroke of 7 p.m., the streets empty out and all life moves home or to the Wallmart-type hypermarkets.

The cheapest accommodation on the Big Island

Although Hilo is known as the rainiest major city in the entire US, you don't have to worry about that statistic. Yes, it rains here every day, but they are almost exclusively intense but brief and well-defined showers.

If it rains anywhere in Hilo, just drive 10 minutes in any direction and you'll find yourself under completely clear skies. Moreover, the frequent showers make Hilo one big blooming garden with many parks and streets lined with lush green trees.

The gateway to the world of volcanoes

Hilo lies at the foot of three of the world's most famous volcanoes.

If you want to explore the highly exotic landscape, take short hikes of several days or experience sunsets on the world's highest mountain (counting from the base at the bottom of the ocean), then head to Hilo and make it your base for island hopping.

Shopping

As the largest city on the island, Hilo is a paradise for shopping for cheap groceries, hiking and water sports equipment, as well as visiting restaurants and cafes.

In the shopping area in the south of town, you can stock up on every conceivable supply at Wallmart, Safeway and Target hypermarkets, and buy clothes at Macy's and T.J. Maxxx department stores. Within this shopping zone, you can eat relatively cheaply at fast-food outlets such as McDonald's, KFC, Starbucks and Panda Express.

Another larger shopping zone, this time in the form of smaller grocery stores, local goods, souvenirs and farmers markets, can be found right in the center of Hilo near the Kamehameha Ave. boardwalk.

Groceries can be bought at several supermarkets and you can eat at many classic restaurants, but not to mention cheaper fast-food joints and cafes.

Rainbow Falls

In the north of the city just below the local main hospital, don't forget to visit the most beautiful natural attraction in Hilo. Here, on the Wailuku River, a waterfall falls from a cliff more than 15 metres high with plenty of water all year round into a pool surrounded by dense jungle. Moreover, the refraction of the world causes frequent rainbow effects, which gave the waterfalls the name Rainbow Falls.

It's easy to get here by car on Waianuenue Ave and just below the hospital, turn right into the small parking lot right next to the falls.

Beaches and parks

Hilo is a city of lush greenery and beautiful parks.

One of the prettiest spots is definitely Wailoa River Park right in the center of town, where the Waiakea River spills into a large lake that is surrounded by manicured lawns, palm trees, and trails with benches.

Just a short distance away is another park with many small lakes, Liliuokalani Park and Gardens, with a small Japanese garden, from which a short pedestrian bridge leads to Coconut Island, a popular place to relax by the sea in the shade of palm trees and numerous gazebos.

You'd look in vain for long sandy beaches in Hilo; on the other hand, the local coastline, dissected by rugged lava rocks, offers stunning nooks and crannies of mini beaches and great conditions for relaxing recreational snorkelling.

The best conditions are off the coast north of the airport at Onekahakaha Beach Park or Richardson Ocean Park.

Accommodation

Hilo is an ideal place to stay for a few days. If you don't want to drive around the Big Island and stay somewhere else every night, then Hilo is the place for you. Plenty of cheaper guesthouses and private apartments as well as a selection of more expensive hotels will satisfy any traveler. Plus, Hilo is one of the cheapest destinations in the entire Hawaiian Islands.

In Hilo, you'll find several classic hotels or highly rated apartments even at 110 eur per night for 2, a price that is unique in Hawaii.

• Accommodation 147 eur per night for 2 - Hawaiian Ohana Home, Hilo Reeds Bay Hotel, The Big Island Hostel

However, you can also stay in better 4* hotels in town at prices almost unheard of in Hawaii ( 176 eur per night for 2). We'd recommend the SCP Hilo Hotel right on the beach between downtown and the airport or the great village The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls, where you'll be staying in the middle of nature in luxuriously appointed cottages, while downtown Hilo is a convenient 5 minute drive away.

Transportation and parking

The vast majority of tourists will get around Hilo by car, especially as all the major natural attractions in the area are accessible only by car. Traffic is quite heavy in Hilo by Hawaiian standards. However, the streets are wide enough and it's relatively easy to navigate the local network.

Parking right in the center is not a problem either. It takes at most 2 hours to stand on the streets here, however, there is a huge free parking lot downtown on Kamehameha Ave where you can walk anywhere in a few minutes.

There are several bus lines of the Hele-on Bus transport company that converge in Hilo, however most of them only run 1-2 times a day and are unusable for tourist needs.

The city has its own airport , Hilo International Airport ITO, with very frequent service to Honolulu on Oahu and Kahului on Maui.

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