Hilo Hawaii Travel Guide

E Komo Mai (Welcome) to Hilo, the Soul of the Big Island

Aloha! Most visitors to the Big Island chase the sun to Kona. They love its big resorts and dry lava-rock views. But those who seek the soul of Hawaiʻi come here. They come to Hilo.

Here on the east side, the air feels different. It's soft and kissed by misty rain. This rain earns us the title of America's wettest city. But don't let that fool you. That rain is our lifeblood. It's the mana, the spiritual energy, that feeds our giant waterfalls. It carpets our world in a thousand shades of green. It fills the air with the scent of wet earth and blooming ginger.

The Pono Pledge: Traveling with Respect

This guide is built on a simple but deep idea: the Pono Pledge. It's a promise that we ask both visitors and locals to make. A promise to explore our island with care and respect. Throughout our journey, this pledge will be our guide. It means we won't just look at a waterfall. We'll learn its name and its story.

We won't just walk on a black sand beach. We'll understand the volcanic fury that created it. We'll know why we must leave every grain in its place. Traveling pono changes you from a tourist into a guest. A steward. A part of our island's story.