Best places: Things to dos in Hilo, United States

Dedicated in 1917, this 30-acre park showcases Edo-style gardens, koi ponds & a Japanese teahouse.

Local park & picnic area featuring lagoons for swimming, snorkeling & sea turtle-watching.

Visitors to this tropical park can descend into a massive 1881 lava-tube cave formed by Mauna Loa.

👍👍 No trip to Hilo is complete without a stop to rainbow Falls! It is tucked back in a somewhat residential neighborhood but easy to find and to access. No fee to enter and there are some beautiful viewing areas. To the left is a staircase where you can access the river behind as well as some beautiful...

Home to Waianuenue waterfalls, known for its 80-ft. drop & rainbows that form in the resulting mist.

Confection shop for chocolate-dipped cookies (with a window to watch the process), candies & gifts.

This black-sand beach popular for snorkeling & swimming provides lifeguards & picnic areas.

This 12-acre reserve, the only natural tropical rainforest zoo in the U.S., features 80+ species.

Familiar recreation stop with kid-friendly wading & tidal pools, picnic shelters & play equipment.

👍👍 Please do not drive fast thru here. It's a very tight road and there are kids and adults enjoying the day not looking to get injured. Great place to swim, surf, or just check out the view. This is a place where locals come to surf so if you're just visiting...please know your role and be respectful!

Rainforest waterfall featuring distinctive rainbows on sunny days, seen from a viewing platform.

Scenic oceanfront park with a sizable grassy field & shoreline of lava rocks, plus turtle sightings.

Twice-weekly outdoor market with over 200 vendors selling produce, artisanal foods & crafts.

Small riverfront park offering picnic areas, trails, a boat ramp & fishing (with some restrictions).

Educational facility focused on Hawaiian reefs with an aquarium & historical & cultural information.

This simple park features a narrow beach for swimming, fishing, kayaking & more.

A bridge extends to this small, palm-studded island for picnics, fishing, swimming & BBQs.

👍👍 Beautiful location. Still pond where locals enjoy jumping out of a tree to make a splash. Palm trees and small patches of land make for an amazing sunset view!

👍👍 Nice view there’s no trail to get there! It’s next to the parking lot!

👍👍 This is a beautiful park, very well maintained, very clean. Fenced in from the street and parking lot. Very safe. The parents here monitor their children. Everyone is friendly. Adjacent to a large sports field.