Hilo (Pronounced hee-low)

A very lovely city with an International Airport (HIA). The orchid capital of the world, historical sites. Some of the finest parks, a little Rain Forest Zoo. Rainbow and Akaka Falls are a must to see. Hilo is an old port town, but much of the port was taken away by a tidal wave in 1960. The tsunami deluged the waterfront, sweeping an organ console out the stage door of the Palace Theater, depositing fishing boats in the streets like parked cars and taking out totally many blocks of the business district and dock area. One elderly Japanese lady was carried out to sea on her screen door and returned to the beach several hours later.

In place of the totaled parts of the city are now beautiful gardens and green vistas. Buy a box lunch and have a picnic in the beautiful Lili'upkalani Park; 30 acres of Japanese gardens and fish ponds. Numerious restaurants are located throughout Hilo. Located on the windward side of the island, Hilo has rampant tropical growth, waterfalls, leafy tree ferns, and enough flowers to build Noah size rainbow. The rainfall is about 200 inches annually, making Hilo the wettest city in the United States.

Things to see in Hilo: The Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, The International Festival, The Aloha Festival. The Lyman House Museum, Rainbow Falls, Suisan Fish Auction, Farmer's Market, Liliuokalani Park (A MUST), Historic downtown and Banyan Golf Course one of the most reasonable in Hawaii. Also Boiling Pots, a little off beat but ask a local young man and he will know the way.

Rainbow Falls Just above town on Wai'anuenue Avenue. The morning sun creates a rainbow in the spray. Thunderously powerful after heavy rains.  Boiling Pots-about 2 miles above Rainbow Falls on the same road. Spectacular after heavy rains. The avenue also leads the way up the mountain to Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the "Saddle Road". The Saddle Road is very windy and soon is up into the clouds. When wet, foggy and with Army trucks from the base the road can be dangerous so be very careful to check with your auto rental for insurance coverage. And don't lock your keys in the car, it can be very cold up there. There is no gas, no food, no pit stops and very few phones along the Saddle Road. Most local folks avoid the road unless they are going hunting or up to the snow on the mountains in the winter. The short apparent short cut by the saddle road may save 15 minutes from Kailua-Kona to Hilo which is 87 miles. Kailua to Kona via the Beautiful Hamakua Coast is 94 miles.