Ryan's Guidebook
Cafés & Eateries
I tend to favor Hilo’s restaurants that are plant-based or have great vegan option, so I might not cover all the bases here but I’ll still give you a rather fare assessment. (Ya see what I did there?)
Fantastic local coffees, baked goods, and grab & go dishes. Really lovely atmosphere and friendly staff. A great hub during the day in downtown.
Waipuna Coffee Shop
Fantastic local coffees, baked goods, and grab & go dishes. Really lovely atmosphere and friendly staff. A great hub during the day in downtown.
Awesome local Thai spot, of the more traditional variety. Favorite dishes include green papaya salad (always), summer rolls, coconut soup, broccoli stir fry, and pumpkin curry. Just as good take-out as in-house. Maybe even better :)
27 místní doporučují
Naung Mai Thai Kitchen
86 Kilauea AveAwesome local Thai spot, of the more traditional variety. Favorite dishes include green papaya salad (always), summer rolls, coconut soup, broccoli stir fry, and pumpkin curry. Just as good take-out as in-house. Maybe even better :)
Amazing lunch place. Favorites are green papaya salad (maybe the best in Hilo) and tofu or avocado summer rolls (also the best peanut sauce in Hilo). The sweetest woman ever making your food ^_^
6 místní doporučují
Ratana's Green Papaya Salad
211 Kilauea AveAmazing lunch place. Favorites are green papaya salad (maybe the best in Hilo) and tofu or avocado summer rolls (also the best peanut sauce in Hilo). The sweetest woman ever making your food ^_^
Gotta love a kombucha bar, and this one is especially good, as it’s owned by one of Hawaii’s favorites, Big Island Booch. They also have a radical menu, sporting all sorts of local flavors packed into a diner style array of offerings. I especially dig the Veg-Head sandwich, but they have just as many omnivorous options as vegetarian and vegan.
34 místní doporučují
Conscious Culture Cafe
110 Keawe StGotta love a kombucha bar, and this one is especially good, as it’s owned by one of Hawaii’s favorites, Big Island Booch. They also have a radical menu, sporting all sorts of local flavors packed into a diner style array of offerings. I especially dig the Veg-Head sandwich, but they have just as many omnivorous options as vegetarian and vegan.
This is a newer place and already in my top visited restaurants in Hilo. A short drive from downtown, this place is popular & trendy, but for good reason. Clever menu that’s all vegetarian but sports all the favorites you’d expect to find at regular restaurants, and does them well. Loaded nachos, Caesar salad, beet poke, jackfruit tacos, pizzas, burgers, and plenty more. Make sure to check out the specials boards before deciding, as they like to mix in new creations.
27 místní doporučují
VIBE cafe & health bar
750 Kanoelehua AveThis is a newer place and already in my top visited restaurants in Hilo. A short drive from downtown, this place is popular & trendy, but for good reason. Clever menu that’s all vegetarian but sports all the favorites you’d expect to find at regular restaurants, and does them well. Loaded nachos, Caesar salad, beet poke, jackfruit tacos, pizzas, burgers, and plenty more. Make sure to check out the specials boards before deciding, as they like to mix in new creations.
Great, quintessential sushi shop a few blocks from the Loft. Nice, smallish interior, well-crafted sushi rolls, and more. I love all the veggie rolls, equally :)
14 místní doporučují
Ebisuya Sushi
179 Kilauea AveGreat, quintessential sushi shop a few blocks from the Loft. Nice, smallish interior, well-crafted sushi rolls, and more. I love all the veggie rolls, equally :)
Nightlife
I must admit, my favorite nightlife scenes on the island are usually alcohol-free. I’m more interested and recommend places where you can get a sense of the community and meet friendly faces while enjoying some culture and atmosphere.
A Hilo staple, serving a traditional Polynesian medicinal drink, kava, that one must try in order to understand. Great live music whose genre and energy varies according to night of the week. There are always friendly people serving and attending this place, and it’s a very relaxing environment to take some time to breathe and enjoy oneself.
Bay Front Coffee, Kava & Tea
277 Keawe StA Hilo staple, serving a traditional Polynesian medicinal drink, kava, that one must try in order to understand. Great live music whose genre and energy varies according to night of the week. There are always friendly people serving and attending this place, and it’s a very relaxing environment to take some time to breathe and enjoy oneself.
Cool new spot where you can go and play open table games. You can pay a small fee for the whole night or get a monthly membership for reoccurring access, and have access to their tables and over 200 board games. Certain nights are focused on particular games, such as D&D, Magic, Catan, or others, so check in with their website or give them a ring to see what’s going on on a particular night. They are super friendly.
Slow Your Roll
190 Keawe StCool new spot where you can go and play open table games. You can pay a small fee for the whole night or get a monthly membership for reoccurring access, and have access to their tables and over 200 board games. Certain nights are focused on particular games, such as D&D, Magic, Catan, or others, so check in with their website or give them a ring to see what’s going on on a particular night. They are super friendly.
Sightseeing
A favorite beach in Hilo. Really unique and comfortable, with open lawns and lava rock shores that have several friendly approaches. Chances are high of meeting sea turtles here. Just be careful and gentle with them, minimizing contact and allowing their path. Locals may scold you otherwise.
140 místní doporučují
Carlsmith Beach Park
1815 Kalanianaole StA favorite beach in Hilo. Really unique and comfortable, with open lawns and lava rock shores that have several friendly approaches. Chances are high of meeting sea turtles here. Just be careful and gentle with them, minimizing contact and allowing their path. Locals may scold you otherwise.
Definitely popular with tourists, but for good reason. An impressive waterfall with a great viewing location, makes for an epic view and spot for photos. Also check out the large banyan tree nearby up the stairs, and if your brave, it’s the greatest climbing tree. Just take caution if its wet out, as everything gets slippery.
337 místní doporučují
Rainbow Falls
Definitely popular with tourists, but for good reason. An impressive waterfall with a great viewing location, makes for an epic view and spot for photos. Also check out the large banyan tree nearby up the stairs, and if your brave, it’s the greatest climbing tree. Just take caution if its wet out, as everything gets slippery.
Doporučení související s městem
Jak ušetřit
Home Cooking
The Loft has a great and well-equipped if concise kitchen. If you’re into food prep, and want to make meals made from local produce, check out Pam Lee’s fruit & vegetable warehouse directly across from the Loft’s building entrance. It’s a little disorienting to walk into an active commercial warehouse, but they welcome customers (if you get their attention) and they have some of the best local produce straight from the farmers at really fair prices. You’ll have to poke around to see what’s available, and ask them questions if you’re looking for something specific, but it’ll be worth it. :)
Místní doprava
Bikes for Rent
There is a bike rental depot a short walk from the Loft, right by the bus station. You can check them in and out at your leisure. This is a new feature to Hilo and really let’s you see the sights around downtown at a comfortable pace.
Zvyky a kultura
Drive Easy
I don’t know what you’re used to, but traffic on the island – like most things – is pretty relaxed. Big city driving won’t fair too well here, so try to make time for your ventures and be courteous to other drivers. I had to learn this early, being from the East coast US, but tKe it from me, it will really help your cause. Same suggestions apply to getting around in general: take it easy, and be friendly.
Užitečné fráze
Aloha
You might find that use of this phrase is not as consistent as one may think. I can’t say I fully understand that, but I would suggest that you give some light research into the meaning of the term. It’s quite a bit more profound than just “hello”, and learning about it may help you in utilizing and appreciating it.