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We're from the big, big island, and we love our land / We're from the big, big island, listen to our reggae jam / Kailua-Kona, where the fishings fine / Kailua-Kona, it will blow your mind -- From "Kailua-Kona" by Ho'aikane
The city of Hilo is located on the eastern coast of the Big Island of Hawaii
View Hilo City GuideWe're from the big, big island, and we love our land / We're from the big, big island, listen to our reggae jam / Kailua-Kona, where the fishings fine / Kailua-Kona, it will blow your mind -- From "Kailua-Kona" by Ho'aikane
The city of Hilo is located on the eastern coast of the Big Island of Hawaii
We're from the big, big island, and we love our land / We're from the big, big island, listen to our reggae jam / Kailua-Kona, where the fishings fine / Kailua-Kona, it will blow your mind -- From "Kailua-Kona" by Ho'aikane
The city of Hilo is located on the eastern coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. This is the place to be if you are searching for a unique spot where the Hawaiian culture runs strong, and frequent rains keep everything green and lush. If you are looking for the "old Hawaii" feel and a laid-back lifestyle, you just might find it in Hilo.
Cost of living in paradise
Unless you plan to sleep in a tent, Hilo and everywhere else in Hawaii is relatively expensive. That said, Hilo is a little bit less expensive than most other places in Hawaii. This is partly due to the larger size of the Big Island, which has more land and fewer people than the rest of Hawaii. A one-bedroom apartment in Hilo will usually be slightly less expensive than one in Kona or on Maui or Oahu.
Moving here
Obviously, moving to Hawaii from the mainland or anywhere else in the world is going to cost you a bundle. Unless you have a lot of stuff that you can’t bear to part with, seriously consider arriving with a few suitcases and then buying what you need when you get here. Expect to pay a few thousand bucks minimum to send a container full of belongings to Hilo from the mainland. While scores of people make the move to Hawaii every year, many of them end up ditching paradise after a year for one reason or another, so keep this in mind when packing.
Finding your grass shack
Thanks to the movie Lilo & Stitch, most of the world knows that "ohana means family." An ohana also means an attached apartment added onto a house. Most homes in Hawaii have at least one of these, and while they may not offer the most privacy, they are nearly always less expensive than renting a separate cottage or home with its own land. Most are either 1- or 2-bedroom apartments and are either upstairs, downstairs, or share a wall with the main house. Be on the lookout for this word when searching for a place to stay here. All-utilities-paid apartments are pretty common since many ohanas are part of the main house and share the costs of electricity, water, and other expenses.
Shipping your car
To get your car here, the best thing to do is to drive it. To Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, or Seattle! And then ship it from there. That's sounds a lot easier, right? This will cost you about a grand, and in two weeks your car will arrive in Hilo via Honolulu covered in a crust of salt. Apparently, cars lack a little flavoring during shipment. To ship it from anywhere other than the West Coast, expect to pay at least double. Yikes! For some strange reason, gas is usually less expensive in Hilo than on Maui or Kauai, which helps a little bit.
Downtown Hilo: A tsunami pretty much wiped Hilo off the map back in 1960, but the downtown area has since been rebuilt. This is the place to live if you want to get around on foot or by bike and enjoy the feeling of a large town. Though most of the developments here are businesses, you can also find apartment rentals scattered around. There are plenty of local cafs and restaurants downtown, and you can stock up on fresh fruits and veggies at the farmer's market.
University Area: For the young and the restless, the area surrounding the University of Hawaii is probably your best chance at excitement and nightlife on this side of the Big Island. There are plenty of apartment complexes and homes for rent in the surrounding area. Properties here range from completely run-down to upscale, so take a good look at a bunch of them when choosing.
North Hilo: Separated from the downtown area by the Wailuku River, this is a small, quaint neighborhood. All of the apartment rentals in this area are a short walk to the ocean and far enough away from downtown to be quiet with your thoughts. If you have them.
Hawaiian Paradise Park: This area is about 15 minutes south of Hilo, and is a massive grid of mostly unpaved roads, some right on the ocean and others a mile or so inland. This is a great neighborhood to live in if you want some open land to grow fruit. Or to raise a goat or two.
South of Hilo: The large area to the south of Hilo is called Puna. Most of the residents here either farm their land or commute to work in Hilo and the surrounding area. It definitely has more of a rural feeling to it. There are some nice towns like Keaau (20-minute drive) and Mountain View (30 minutes) that are within easy commuting distance. When searching for an apartment, make sure you check out the surrounding area since these neighborhoods can be pretty remote, and the roads can wash out in heavy rain.
Hilo is quite different from most other towns in Hawaii. There aren’t any white-sand beaches, and it rains more here than in almost any other town in the Aloha State. It is beautiful, though, and the rugged, black-sand coast and lava flows are amazing. The jungle produces all kinds of fruits and flowers that won’t grow on the parched Kona side of the island.
The vog factor
The Big Islands volcano continually spews noxious gases, which can be toxic. It's referred to as vog. Fortunately, the trade winds blow from east to west, sending these clouds over to the other side of the island and beyond. The air really only gets lousy on occasional days when the winds shift.
Getting around
Unless you are content to stroll around downtown, get yourself a car. Plenty of "Hawaiian cruisers" can be had for very little money. There are so many amazing places to discover on The Big Island that you will really be missing out if you dont have a car. Or, try commuting by surfboard--it's more time consuming, of course.
What to do
Most of the activities in Hilo take place during the day; explore the black-sand beaches, go fishing, take a dip in a cool waterfall, visit a fruit farm, or head up the mountain. That's right: take a hike! When the sun goes down, Hilo pretty much shuts down, apart from a few bars and restaurants that keep the night owls happy.
Local festivals
Every year, Hilo roars to life during the famous Merrie Monarch Hula Festival. Tens of thousands of people descend on the town for a couple of weeks, snatching up every single hotel room and bringing excitement to the city. There are hula shows at various locations throughout town, and other fun events take place all over the city. So come over and say hello to Hilo!
