Hilo Travel Forum

The prices for car rental were the same between Dollar and Thrifty.

Any reason to pick one over the other?

We are on a cruise that will dock in Hilo Oct 1 from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm. Are there tours at that time that we can take? Any independent tours available at dock?

Hi we are a family of 7 travelling to Maui in July. can we take a boat from Maui to Hilo or must we fly? Can we fly direct or do we need to go back to Honolulu? thnaks cressida

I have a question for people who are in Hawaii now:)

We are going on a cruise around the islands on March 19th and when I look on weather forecast it says rain every single day for every island!!!

Is it really true, is it raining every day now? I thought Hawaii was supposed to be good weather:(

Thanks!

Hi
Im looking to reserve sonthing online for a helicopter tour over on eof the live volcanoes while in hilo. Any reccomnedations.
we will be coming via cruise so may have to be an afternoon one. looking at a cheaper one. any websites or suggestions would be greatlyu appreciated

I am considering moving to Hilo to transfer into University of Hawaii's pharmacy program, does anyonego to this college? Do you like it? how is there pre-pharmacy program?I am thinking about moving there permanently, has anyone else made the relocation? How is the cost of living, is there primarily students or is it like living in a small town? big city? Is it a car town or is everything walking/taxi distance? I would appreciate any info, thanx.

Can anyone tell me if a 4x4 vehicle is really needed to go up to the observatories in November? Please bear in mind I am from the UK and we drive in the snow whenever it takes our fancy, we don't have much choice *(:¬>
Also, how long does it take roughly from Hilo to the summit?
Thanks
Aloha
Richard

Wow, thanks for all the details guys, I really appretiate it! A friend of mine has suggested a trip that way to check out the area first hand ( mostly I think because he needs a vacation, but it's always fun to have someone to talk to on long trips) It sounds like a good idea to me. So, what would be a good time of year to check it out? By "good time of year" I mean what is the non-touristy season, I'd like to avoid anything supercrowded, if possible. Also, any good places to stay? I found a place online called Arnott's Lodge, looks to be right up my alley. Anyone know anything about it?

Thanks again! -Maggie

Dear Residents of Hilo and the Big Island,

I desperatley need your help! I am planning a move to Hilo in the next year or two for school. My friends and family all think I'm nuts, but I can't very well study Marine Sciences in Iowa. I have a lot of questions for you and would greatly appretiate any info you would lend me. Is the job market really as tight as everyone says? I'm not looking for anything professional, most of my job history is in the food service industry, although I am currently a bartender. What about the cost of living? Will I be able to work and go to school and still feed myself? I would also appretiate any information about Hilo neighborhoods. It's not that I don't like to have fun, but I am a quiet, serious student and don't want to end up living in a "party zone" packed with freshmen who live off campus. I'm in one now and it just isn't working out.(no offence to any younger students who might be reading this)

Oh, I also hear it rains a lot. What is a lot? Several times a day, all day 4 or 5 times a week, 24-7 all year? Is it heavy rain, light drizzle, outright downpour? I've also heard that Hawaiian residents don't like "mainlanders", or is that a tale to scare me into not moving? I find this hard to believe, I've traveled a lot and have heard the same thing about "Americans" and have never had a bad experience.

I do have more questions, but this is already longer than I intended. Thanks to all who read this and take the time to help me out! -Maggie

My family and friends are visiting Hilo in December and staying in home in Kapoho... we were planning on doing some snorkeling while there. I noticed a posting on Fodors online Forum that bothered me regarding sewage in the Tide Pools at this link:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=1&tid=34665734

Does anyone know if there is any validity to these statements? Much appreciated!

I am looking into moving to Hilo in the next year or so and am searching for a place to fire my ceramic art work while I am there. If anyone has any tips about this or any thoughts about Hilo's art scene or lack there of, please let me know!! I would like to continue working in my field while I am there.

I'll be spending the first few days of my honeymoon on Hilo. Is Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel a good hotel and location?

Question

I am attempting to move to hilo in the spring/early summer 2006. I am starting now to look for jobs because I heard it can be difficult if you wait untill you get there. Does any body know about opportunities for art making/ teaching in or near Hilo? I am also interested in out door occupations such as wild life coservation or nursery work. Any information would be helpful.
Thanks
Simon Gentry

Are there any flights from Hilo to Hana?
What is there to do on Big Island other than the active volcano?
I heard there's a green sand beach on Big Island. Does anyone know where exactly it is?
I will only be there for 1 or 2 days and would like to maximize my time.

Thanks!

Has anyone does this program or heard of it? i hear it involes hikes over lava beds to remote beaches and camping there during the day to search for turtles at night and stuff. Just wondering if this would be a good experience and if it will be safe. What about tsunamis or unpredictable weather? i would start June 15. Thank you so much. Any information would be great.

I know that the Bayfront used to kind of be "Little Tokyo" until it got wiped out (twice!) by gigantic tsunamis. Now it's mostly just a park, right? Although there is a breakwater installed (would that really stop a tsunami of that size?).

So... Where is Little Tokyo now? Or have the Japanese sufficiently been integrated into the population that a Little Tokyo does not exist? Is there any place at all where Japanese-speakers (perhaps elderly Japanese) hang out? Is there a specific bar, perhaps, where Japanese chill?

Just wondering if anyone had noticed. I think it would be fun to check out, sing karaoke at, and eventually get to speaking real Japanese with, well, real Japanese! :P And if I screwed up, I could just pretend I'd had too much to drink. (One cup of sake is about all it takes and I'm loopy :p)

Hopefully someone knows. :D I'm eager.

Thanks for all the responses on my previous questions!
Jesse

It looks very comprehensive, useful and affordable (who needs a car in such a beautiful place? an umbrella will do), but, frankly, I can't make much sense of the schedules and such I found.

Let's say I wanted to make a trip from Hilo to Kona. Anyone wanna walk me through it? I think that's probably the most complicated trip the Big Island System could make, involving the most transfers.

Yet another post from me.

It appears my local airline (Northwest, I believe?) flies into Honolulu but does NOT fly directly into Hilo.

BUMMER.

What could I do about that?

Book yet another expensive flight from Honolulu to Hilo for the day I arrive in Honolulu? What if I'm late and miss the second flight?

Take a bus/boats from Honolulu to Hilo?

I don't know why they can't just fly directly into Hilo. Grr. Probably the hardest thing about Hawai'i is getting there! Not to mention coming home to see my family.

Just so happens that the cheapest school in the country with a good Japanese program is located in paradise--Hilo, HI! I want to go there and FINALLY get my Japanese major, maybe move on to grad school... Whatever the case, I may end up staying in Hilo forever. It sounds wounderful!

I guess I just want to know a little (or a lot) about Hilo. I have a million questions... Is the cost of living really as insane as rumor has it? I'll be living in the dorms, so it doesn't really affect me, but if I ever get an apartment there... etc...

Does it rain, like, all the time? Gotta see the sun once in a while. I don't mind rain when it's warm, though, so I should be fine (and it looks like it's almost always "partly" couldy rather than totally or mostly).

Looks like there are lotsa Japanese restaurants and a Chinese one, too. Check!

How about department stores? Better yet, is there a dedicated video game store? How about a store for Japanese imports? That would be wonderful. If not, I will have to carry out this sort of transaction over the internet.

About getting my things to Hilo... Do I have any alternative to packing them in boxes and shipping them? That will be pricey, but obviously I can't drive a U-Haul to Hilo...

How do residents get from one island to another? Boat? If I wanted to take the bus from Hilo to Honolulu some weekend to hunt down Japanese import shops... how would I go about that?

I have a million more questions, too. Is Hilo easy to navigate without a car? I hate cars. When it's always so beautiful outside (as long as I have an umbrella), why would I bother to drive? :p

I really hope I get responses! I don't know what else to ask... I want any and all info!

I ordered some maps and books from Amazon.com. It's touristy stuff, yeah, but that's fine.

:) :) :) I'm so excited!!

My family and I will be cruising Hawaii in March '05 (I know, a cruise is not the best way to absorb the Hawaiian experience but the price was right). Our interests are mostly snorkeling, hiking, biking and general beach lounging (oh yeah shopping is a priority for my wife and daughter). My daughter (16) is also interested in beginner surfing. Our ports of call are below. Any suggestions as to which ports lend themselves better than others to these activities? I have general dislike for tours and such arranged aboard ship and we usually like to rent a car at stops and find our own adventures or find local tours and outfitters.

Hilo, Hawaii 9:30am to 5pm
Kahului, Maui 8am to 10:30pm
Lahaina, Maui 7am to 8pm
Nawiliwili, Kauai 8am to 5pm
Kailua-Kona Hawaii 7am to 5pm

Last week in November, our cruise stops in Hilo for 12 hours.
How can we get to the Botanical Garden. Also, are there any sights and beaches nearby we should see?
best regards, kuddech

Hi,

I dont have car rental in big island reserved.
I am flying from maui to hilo on 12/28 noon and returning 12/29 in the evening.
I tried all the major car rental companies and they are booked.
I dont know what to do to get around the island now?
Please help....

April 30 - May 2 : Hilo ( Big Island of Hawaii )
May 2 - May 5 : Honolulu ( Hawaii )
May 5 - May 11 : San Francisco and the surrounding ( CA )

May be too late to arrange this, Wanna meet for only a cup of coffee ?

Hey im new to hilo and im lookin for the spots to hang at im 21so age ant an issue. and im lookin for people to party with. laterz Mahalo

Daughter moving to Hilo, Hawaii....can anyone tell me anything about the environment, weather, people, life, etc?