The 47 best parks and gardens in Hilo

Went right before sunset. Spend a lil time just by the parking lot and let the kiddos swim. Right before the sun set we took a lil hike deeper into the park and was will worth it. Great view of the sunset and we had the whole place to our self. Don't recommend staying to late as it get dark quick and need to hike back. Great place with a beautiful view if you do a lil hike.

05/02/2025 (Fri) This is one of our favorite spots and definitely our favorite beach in Hilo. The access can be a bit tricky because of the rocky terrain, but there’s a spot where turtles regularly come to rest, and we almost always see some here — today, we saw five!😊✨ It’s also great for snorkeling — the right side (facing the ocean) has shallow areas that make it easier to enter. The water is warm, incredibly clear, and perfect for snorkeling. We saw a wide variety of fish and lots of them. The beach also has a spacious parking area, around three showers, clean restrooms, and lifeguards on duty, so it feels safe and convenient.🐟 05/06/2025 (Tue) Today, I entered the water from the stone steps located across from the restrooms and showers, on the left side when facing the ocean. I had often seen families with children playing there, so I thought it was just a shallow tide pool. But maybe it was just this particular day — the water felt quite cold, was deeper than I expected, and not very clear. I swam around to the right side along the rocks. There were a few fish near the rocks, but the waves were rough further out and I didn’t see anyone snorkeling in that area.🏊🌊 I got out of the water early and went to my usual spot behind the rocks to check on the sea turtles — and there were seven of them today! Since it was already lunchtime, I wrapped up my visit.

Top Notch black sand beach Joint! Fantastic scuba! Saw some friendly turtles. Minutes from town.

Beautiful black sand beach near Hilo with great snorkeling and calm tide pools. We visit often, and this past weekend we watched green sea turtles cruising through the pools and channels. Always a favorite on the east side!

Great black and green color sand beach. We biked to this place from a Hilo hotel. We were early in the day so not much crowd. Lot of local folks were taking a swim.

Super cute views and lots of places to snorkel. We didn’t see turtles but the view was great. Lots of people were there picnicking and snorkeling. There were showers and restrooms.

A great spot to get up close and personal with sea turtles. A parking lot is nearby and plenty of turtles to watch in the rocky beach edges and out sunning themselves. There were also surfers out to watch in the waves. Nice spot. It seemed to be a locals park and had many families cooking out at most covered table areas. It was a weekend day, so may be less busy during the week.

05/06/2025 (Tue) Carlsmith Beach Park, located just outside of Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, is a beautiful and peaceful spot perfect for families and beginner snorkelers, thanks to its calm, sheltered waters. The beach features several tide pools, each with its own unique characteristics—some warmer, some cooler, some rocky, and others smoother—making it a fun and varied place to explore. The shallow waters extend far out, and there's even a tiny tiny offshore island, with several palm trees growing on it. It adds a charming touch to the scenery.🌴 The water is so clear, and we saw a fair number of fish swimming around. 🐟🐠🐡We also encountered sea turtles all throughout the area—swimming, feeding, and resting. On the east side of the park (to the right when facing the ocean), there’s a ladder with handrails like the kind you'd see at a swimming pool. When I tried to exit the water using the handrail, a sea turtle swam directly toward me and came very close multiple times! (You can see this moment in our video.) The rocky area near the handrail seems to be a favorite resting spot for the turtles. Do note that parking is limited, so arriving early is recommended. All in all, Carlsmith Beach Park is a spot full of natural beauty and calm waters—a truly worthwhile place to visit, especially for nature lovers and those seeking a relaxing coastal experience.

If your looking for a beach this is not the place. But if you want a relaxing time putting your feet in the water and maybe seeing a sea turtle or two, this is the place. Unless you feel comfortable climbing lava rocks into and out of the water. Then you can get into the ocean. It's very nice and popular here.

What a beautiful park with a variety of seating and swimming areas! Shady nooks where you can watch the water lap the shore or waves roll in the distance, or breezy, sunny spots to enjoy the ocean's azure beauty. There's a lifeguard, bathrooms, picnic areas, grass, rocks, sand, turtles, decent parking, and steps with handrails to make it easy to access the water if you want to.

Wonderful snorkeling experience for me, an inexperienced snorkeler! I saw a turtle, several kinds of anemones, and so many fish, even though the surf made the other beaches I tried too murky. Parking was challenging and there are washes of cold water that make it difficult to see anything... As well as being cold.

Saw turtles so it's an automatic 5 stars haha. We were there late so the water was a bit rough so I can't say if it was good for snorkeling or no. Nice quiet pond-like area that had turtles chilling in the water! Also nice trees/greenery.

Went here for a quick picnic but how I wish I shouldve brought my swimming shorts. Great swim place and honu sightings.

Public reatroom that is reasonably clean, parking cam be hit or miss. Plenty of areas to sit with outdoor shower to rinse off. For someone who loves the water but dont know how to swim there are safe areas for em to dip in. Spent most of my vacay here.

Beautiful water pretty much in town. Can pull up and see it from different points near the parking lit or climb up some stone steps and view the falls and the river from above. Best first thing in the morning, very serene! Highly recommend, makes a great quick stop before heading over to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park if you're staying in Hilo.

Beautiful place to visit in Hilo, Hawaii. There is not a lot of parking so you may have to wait for a parking space but it does not take long to get a space since the falls is a viewing area that people leave pretty quickly but it is worth seeing.

Totally worth a visit - fairly easy and well groomed trail - good for families. The upper falls view has 3 view points. Don't miss the steep steps down to the viewing platform (it looks steep but worth it - trust me). Note that this is different than the lower falls sign which points to the left which path goes another 0.6 miles to another smaller falls view (not really worth it in my opinion). Enjoy the falls - good lunch spot

Quick stop to see a waterfall in the town of Hilo. Best to see rainbow in the morning. Can view waterfall from level ground steps away from parking lot or you can take uneven, natural rock steps to view waterfall from above.

We went in the afternoon. There was little water going over the falls but it was still beautiful. I was actually more impressed by the trees when you walk up to the top of the falls to the left. This is ideal for someone who wants to see the beauty of Hawaii without having to put on your hiking boots. There is parking and bathrooms. Free. But may be difficult to get parking in peak season

👉We went here in July 2025. Beautiful and lovely waterfalls great picture ops. A must see‼️

Great waterval near Hilo. You can just drive to it and parm 100 feet away. If you go in the morning you may see the rainbow the falls were named after.

The park is stunning! I can't believe it's all free and has plenty of parking. I'd definitely check it out if you want to stretch your legs in Hilo.

Beautiful walk around gardens. Fun to see the many textures and plants mixing with lava flow. There are benches in the shaded area. If you can coax the sun out, makes for great memories.

Is a nice stop to have a picnic after getting plate lunches from across the street at either Siusan Fish market or Wailoa Grill. The park itself is serene and beautiful with many large banyan trees offering shade. There is one single bathroom building with 1 stall for the women’s bathroom and the heat can be uncomfortable around noon. Nevertheless, it is serene and a good place to rest.

We had a great time exploring the gardens and taking photos. The scenery is absolutely beautiful, and the peaceful atmosphere makes it a perfect place for a relaxing walk.

This is supposed to be a Japanese garden of sorts. It barely qualifies in my estimation. It seems like the plants are not very intentional nor very kept up. There are pagodas everywhere and a Japanese style bridge to give it a little taste of a Japanese garden. It is a pleasant place overall.

We were staying at the Naniloa hotel down the street and had 2 hours to kill before checking in, so I moseyed on over actually finding this place by accident on my way to see Coconut Island. What caught my eye were the ponds, bridges, and miniature pagodas. What a perfect setting to get in my daily walk! The park is large, at 30 acres, and was dedicated in 1917 to honor the many Japanese immigrants that make up our state's population. The name Queen Liliuokalani (1838-1917) is homage to the last reigning monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The brackish Waihonu Pond takes up about 1/4 of the park's footprint, with pathways that meander over and around the ponds via quaint stone bridges, one of them even sporting a covered seating area on it. A lot of locals were fishing in the ponds while others were relaxing under leaden skies. The majority of the area is covered in grass that was kept manicured. While a variety of trees are abound, one section of the park sported a cluster of bamboo trees, another with those spiny Japanese palm-like trees. There was an unmarked, old wooden building on the Banyan Drive side of the park, but I couldn't figure out what it was until I Google mapped the park. Turns out its a tea house school that wasn't in session at the moment. Restrooms are located near the the school. Near the middle of the park on a grassy knoll was a small bonsai tree with a sign stating "Prince Hitachi, June 21, 1985" who I'm assuming planted it. He is the brother of Japan's current Emperor, Akihito. OVERALL: Relaxing and free.

This was a 35 minute walk from Hilo cruise pier terminal. I ventured out to make it and found it was worth the trek . What a beautiful place, it was surrounded by huge trees 🌳 and greenery. There were manicured gardens and ponds as well as a rocky beach area. There was a bridge and tea hut transformed into a restroom area. I was followed by the local cat 🐈 and met a lovely gentleman who gave me an informative history lesson while his wife blushed at his insistence in chatting while a line of vehicles gathered behind him. Such a wonderful experience and would definitely 💯 go there again when I return to Hilo.

A small island with beautiful and picturesque views of the island. Good place to bring in kids for picnic and spend time. This place is well maintained and was amazing. I wish I had more time to spend here.

Bring your swimwear and snorkel gear. We saw turtles and huge catfish here. It was a pretty area and lots of people were enjoying a picnic.

Beautiful cute island. It was raining when we got there. My family had fun walking around. Would have stayed longer if it didn’t start pouring like crazy!

Hilo/Coconut Island. Fishing 🎣 Kids being kids I saw families camping, cooking and relaxing

We absolutely love this little island. It’s a short walk over a bridge to coconut island. There’s a few picnic tables to have lunch at or bring a blanket because there’s plenty of grass to sit on. So we bring lunch and then go jump off the old ruin spot. My kids love it! There’s also a few sandy swimming spots and some good snorkeling if you want to explore.

Wow, what a great place to do some jumps I high medium and small and did I mention how beautiful this place is. Tons of turtles in the water everywhere. Lots of locals, must be the place to hang so you might get some dirty looks from them if your a tourist but a must see area on the other side of the bridge.

Great little island with beautiful views of the waterfront. There are areas for swimming and fishing and plenty of space for sitting on grass. The island isn’t very big but it does have toilets, water fountains and picnic tables for guests to enjoy. It’s a nice place but if you’re looking for a place to sit and enjoy the view, you pass many other options on the way here.

The entry fee of $19 per adult was worth every single cent. We had a close look at all the different well-organized exhibitions. We also went to the 3D cinema and learnt some many aspects of the Polynesian culture and history. It was great and a visit can be highly recommended. We visited the Center on a Sunday and it was not crowded at all. There is plenty of free parking just in front of the entrance.

Paid $52 for 2 tickets and got treated with poor attitude from the front receptionist. I saw the picnic sign outside pointed towards inside the building and asked her if there was a place inside to have picnic and she seemed annoyed that I should’ve known it’s only outside by the entrance. I am a visitor, I never been inside and the picnic sign was confusing. The map provided was extremely unhelpful as well. Then my partner and I went to see a film on the schedule in the planetarium and got told by the staff we had to leave because they were having a private showing. Overall, horrible experience here.

10/13/2024 Imiloa Astronomy Center 600 'Imiloa Place Hilo, Hawaii 96720 I visit Hilo regularly but this is my first visit to this planetarium. I was very impressed, I've been to many and this one is top notch. The seat controls appear to be disabled and it would have been great to be able to recline the seat backs. I spent most of my time in the planetarium and saw four of the five shows with visiting a few of the exhibits between showings. Of my four shows I enjoyed the interactive Panana Kilo Hoku-Our Wayfinder's Compass program the most. It was informative, educational and entertaining; led by a very professional lecturer. I'm an engineering nerd. The keiki show was mostly accurate excepting for Tycho's ears sticking out of his space suit and would explode on the moon. If you are an astronomy buff, I'd recommend staying for at least 4 hours to take in the shows and exhibits. You can also have a great meal at the restaurant, which I reviewed separately. I saved the last show and the exhibits for the next visit, definite repeat. This would also be an excellent place to visit between your hotel checkout and late flight back to the mainland.

Not worth it. This place cannot decide whether it is a Hawaii history and culture center or a small university science exhibit. Both kids and adults in our party were bored after just an hour. Not enough interactive stuff for kids and the information for adults is not presented well. It is ok for a small town but if you are visiting from a place with large science museums, skip this one and enjoy Hawaiian nature instead.

We loved this place! There is so much to see & learn. Plenty of hands on activities for children of all ages and lots of information stations and things to read. The theater dome is really cool and the shows are different and our guide was very knowledgeable and funny. The mural in the entrance is amazing and we loved how the culture is integrated into the lessons and traditional stories are passed down. I am considering a family year pass. The bathrooms are nice and there is an outside covered picnic table area so you can bring lunch and enjoy the day here. We went with our school class for field trip and we had the place to ourselves on a day they are usually closed. I saw there is a cafe area but it was not open when we went as it was not a regular, full-staff day. The parking lot seemed sufficient.

This place is worth going to. There are many hands on exhibits for kids, but it's kind of small. I have seen better planetarium shows, but this one was decent and included in the ticket price. We went to the Cyber Canoe session and the presenter was fun and friendly. A good 2-3 hour activity.

Best to bring your children here, even the show we attended that was 100% adults was geared towards children. It's great that children are being catered to in a way that is easy for them to learn, but the show should be able to be altered to not have take off sounds made by the staff when it's only adults. Other than that it's a cool place to see some hawaiian culture, just if you're an adult I'd avoid the shows

I like Reeds Bay Beach Park. It is my convenient go to place to shower and change to evening clothes when I am stuck in town all day. Sometimes I take a nap in my car in the shade. There is plenty of parking, a long grassy area with picnic benches, a narrow sand beach, push button showers, and toilets.

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL! You won't be the only one there, lol. There is ALWAYS a birthday party or something going on, Monday- Sunday. Everyone is always well behaved and friendly

What a gorgeous setting. Decent bathrooms, great shallow area for kids. Turtles, ducks, fish, all the things! Only drawback was some obvious drug use and users, but otherwise super nice.

Love it 😀 Just the parking sucks! Nobody bothers, everyone is pretty laxed, its definitely a tourist spot, but so far we've never had any issues. Parking is why I deducted a star 🌟

Really really cute area, great for swimming with kids or for those looking to paddle board! The water is very calm and has good visibility. Lots of banyan trees and wildlife.

Small beach park with green space, picnic benches and sandy area around the bay. Great place for a short swim or a stand up paddle Great place for a casual family gathering There are bathrooms as well as showers available for use Find parking in the large parking lot of on the street (along the road) . Make sure to read parking signs

Nice place to stop, picnic, and take a swim. There is no “real” beach. It is mostly lava rocks and corral to water or grassy edge. There are bathrooms and a shower. It was a beautiful relaxing spots with many families enjoying the water. You could put in a paddle board and go around the bay from this location. Only complaint is the homeless people wandering around. Carts full, looking through trash.

Waters blocked off from the ocean with huge stones resulting in super calm, shallow 4' beach perfect for young kids and for snorkeling along where the large boulders are. Saw many locals here, my daughter made a friend while enjoyed the beach for a couple hours.

We went at about 3pm on a weekday. All families. Real nice. 2 bath houses. Water only gets about 5' deep. Protected from wave. Great for kids.

It has nice, covered spaces for gatherings with ohana and friends. There are lots of ways there to enjoy the ocean.

Beautiful. Quiet. Scenic. A jewel tucked away along the Hilo coastline and very little distractions during break. Beautiful lava formations.

The FAMILY Beach! This is and will always be my go-to beach! It’s wonderful for children and first time swimmers. When first moved here this was the first beach I came to. I met a wonderful lady named “Rose”. Rose gave me friendship, clothing, and advice. I love Rose and this amazing beach. You can bring your children to this beach because the water level is low due to the break wall that was built. It’s one of the best beaches in on The Big Island! I recommend.

It's a place to swim but there's a lot of rocks. It's a nice place for family's. Nice tables to have a pic nic.

Great beach if you have little kids. We have a 6 year old and he loves it. The boulder wall keeps the waves out so it’s nice and calm. If you want to be with just adults this isn’t likely the beach for you but my wife needs a wheelchair and she can easily access the beach front and join us for a trip to the water. No real sand area to sit or lay in unless the tide is out.

Very nice park, good place to launch your inflatable paddle boards, and paddle out to Hilo bay. Fantastic landscaping 😱!!

We stayed in Hilo for 10 days and really enjoyed the tranquility and old-school charm of this city. Our apartment overlooked the Wailoa River State Recreational Park which is so picturesque and beautifully maintained. It's lovely to walk the garden with massive trees and it is close to the town centre, Japanese Gardens and Coconut Island.

Beautiful park wirh large trees and cool bridges

Very beautiful in an extremely iconic way!

Wailoa River State Recreation Area, located just across the road from Hilo Bayfront Beach Park, is a serene haven that offers a delightful escape into nature. This park is a hidden gem, boasting an abundance of trees that create a tranquil atmosphere. The majestic trees with their large canopies provide ample shade, inviting visitors to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. The park's centerpiece is a beautiful pond adorned with charming dragon bridges, adding a touch of whimsy to the landscape. The picturesque scenery of Wailoa River State Recreation Area makes it an ideal spot for a picnic. With the gentle rustling of leaves and the scent of flowers in the air, it's easy to unwind and connect with nature. The park's well-maintained grounds and well-spaced picnic areas provide a comfortable and inviting setting for outdoor dining. Whether you're seeking a peaceful retreat, a place to commune with nature, or simply a spot to enjoy a leisurely picnic, Wailoa River State Recreation Area offers it all. Its combination of serene ambiance, lush greenery, and vibrant flowers creates a truly enchanting experience. Take a moment to immerse yourself in the tranquility of this charming park and bask in its natural beauty.

This is a beautiful park in the middle of Hilo. It has a pond with large trees all around big enough an entire wedding could be seated underneath. We stopped by for the scenery and a little history. It was very nice.

So beautiful! 100% must see. It's a large area consisting of grass, pond, historic monuments and glimpses of the ocean. There is a large golden statue near the center, a Vietnam memorial nearby and snake like bridges connecting land masses separated by water. It's truly gorgeous. Many different splendid tree's and moderately wild animals roaming. (If you have kids this might be an awesome place to let them run and exert that extra energy) Very relaxing atmosphere. Parking is plentiful and it's all free!

Beautiful waterfall. Lots of places to walk to look at it. Definitely worth a short stop. Bathrooms suck, not enough for the amount of people there and there is a huge line, definitely when the tour busses come. And on the same line, not enough parking.

Very nice place . Must see the Rainbow at Rainbow falls . And walk up the stairs and through the trees to see a couple more falls.😉

Beautiful stop and free! Worth taking time to see and learn about after the great tsunami of 1946

Easy quick walk to the falls. Braved the showers. My grand parents lived nearby. I never knew there was a river behind their home. As a kid, we weren’t allowed to go beyond the back yard to play in the jungle.

It was so nice seeing the water falls I saw some rainbow too I might visit here again someday

So easy walk with kids . Recommended to go weekdays because weekends get cloudy and hard to find parking. But very beautiful green view!

Beautiful park lovely flowers. A short walk up the steps gives you a different view of the falls and the river feeding the falls.

Leleiwi Park is a peaceful, family-friendly spot that’s perfect for a relaxed picnic by the ocean. There are several picnic tables and restrooms available, and the parking lot feels fairly spacious considering the size of the beach. When I visited, a few families with small children were enjoying the area. We didn’t go into the water, but there seemed to be some shallow areas that looked safe enough for kids to play in.👶 This park is part of a beautiful stretch of coastline near Richardson’s Beach, known for its tide pools, rocky lava shoreline, and occasional sea turtle sightings. It’s not a tourist-heavy area, so it offers a more quiet and local feel. Great for a calm afternoon with an ocean breeze.🌴🌊

So gorgeous!!! Rocky terrain in some areas and nice sandy spots in others. I also saw lots of baby crabs :) 10/10 would recommend.

Love this little pool! Saw a turtle here yesterday. My favorite place in Hilo. There are Picnic tables that are covered, and a restroom. Great spot for children.

I love sitting at this park even when it's not warm and sunny. There are several pavilions with picnic tables. There is also a bathroom and an outdoor shower. This is just one of several nice beaches along this stretch of road. If one parkinglot is full I just drive to the next one.

Wow...wow...wow! Beautiful views of black sand beach, lava rock, and turtles 🐢.

This park is small and well kept. With the Covid-19 distancing it was very easy to do for everyone there was very respectful to do there part. The scenery was just beautiful.

Beautiful but I had to pick up broken glass AND two dirty diapers 5 feet from the water. Something tells me visitors aren't throwing bottles into the rocks, that's something idiots do late at night when they live here.

It can get quite crowded, but it’s worth a visit for the clear, beautiful water and plenty of sea turtles. Great spot to enjoy nature and wildlife up close.

This was on our way to Carlsmith Beach Park, but we stopped at a beach we’d noticed earlier. The parking lot runs along the ocean and the road—it’s long and narrow, but can accommodate quite a few cars in parallel. The waves were high, but the view was beautiful. On the left side facing the ocean, we saw a set of steps leading down into a lagoon-like area, so we entered from there. As soon as we got in, it was too deep to stand, and the water wasn’t very clear, so it was hard to tell how deep it was. We snorkeled a bit farther out, but didn’t see any fish that day, so we soon turned back. James Kealoha Beach Park is said to have public restrooms, showers, benches, picnic pavilions, and even lifeguards on duty, which makes it seem like a safe and well-equipped place. There’s also a nearby seafood restaurant and an aqua farm, so it sounds like a convenient spot to stop during your trip.

Quiet - beautiful water - limited sand or sitting area. Bring chairs and blankets for the grass area or a blanket for the lava rocks. Nene birds are coming back to this area due to the clean up across the road. The pond is a natural habitat for them and it’s so great they are back! (Ideally do not allow them to eat human food or pick up trash)

Beautiful beach park but super busy on a Sunday afternoon. Saw a turtle immediately upon arrival.

It's a nice spot if your near the Hilo area. Very popular for snorkeling and they have restrooms. We went in February and water wasn't too bad as far as temperature. Also stores and restaurants near that place as well.

It is so quiet and peaceful if you get there early in the morning. I saw people snorkeling and two gentlemen painting scenery. I don't normally swim here because it is always so crowded and I can find other spots around the area less busy.

Kids had a blast... one could easily spend couple of hours here. It is not a sand beach so expect it to be a rocky surface. We could see a turtle too.

Good zoo with limited animals and short tour. We love the bengal tigers and goat / emu. My daughter enjoyed seeing the animals fully. It has started admission tickets now (no longer free) at $12 per person we felt it was a good price and enjoyed the overall experience. Hope they are kind to the animals and the money goes to making the experience better for them.

Went on a quest for a corpse flower, but found out it was no longer at the zoo. So we went looking around the zoo and had a bunch of fun. The tigers were great, and the birds are abundant. The cute amphibian area was neat and there were a lot of varieties of reptiles and amphibians. The zoo was free and the reception ladies were friendly. It was a good trip.

It is a small and family friendly place, animals are most types of rainforest animals. However, it starts to charge entrance fees, which is $12 for adult for non Hawaii residents. Local people is $7. Still a good place for kids! They have outdoor playground as well!

Donations are recommended but it is a free zoo. Animals are in beautiful enclosures. Peacocks roam free even with their babies. Tigers are gorgeous. Great place to visit

A really nice little zoo! The grounds were very well kept, beautiful tigers, lots of birds and primates, and the giant anteaters were really cool. There was a nice children's play area, and numerous benches if you wanted to sit. And, it's free.

Beautiful flowers and plants. Horticulture at its finest. The zoo exhibits are sad. Other guests said the same to me without me asking. Find a better home for those two tigers, please. The birds were beautiful- but I'm sure not too happy being caged in small quarters. The blue McCaw was snapping at a girl who was shoving her camera in its face. The giant anteater looked desperate stuck in the small concrete box. Enough said- Botanical displays are very popular throughout the Hawaiian islands- you don't need these animals to attract guests. Mahalo

Really cute little zoo that’s free. We took our younger kids here and were entertained for about 2 hours. We came on a Saturday so we were able to experience the petting zoo. There are lots of places to hide from the sun or rain. Also there are some cool din scars listed for most animals. We purchased some items from the gift shop to help support.

Great beach, but parking is not ideal on the side of the road. No good turn around point. Make sure you wear good shoes down to the beach. The walkway is rough on bare feet. Loved watching the surfers and looking for sea glass.

Nice beach. There is not a lot of parking. You need to park on the side of the road. It's a hike down and a hike back up with very little to no shade

Beautiful beach with big waves perfect for surfing/paddle boarding. Some nice grassy areas with picnic tables, and restrooms. I'd say it was mostly a surfing beach.

The view is amazing and waves are really fun, — at first, everything seemed perfect. But when I went surfing, things got unpleasant. I’m still learning to surf, and maybe it just wasn’t the right spot, but I experienced some pretty strong localism. The next time I came back, a few guys told me, “Get out of here, you’re not good enough — you’re a suck.” + many other interesting words. They even started hovering around my car in a pretty intimidating way. Honestly, that kind of attitude ruined the vibe. I’d rather spend my time and money somewhere friendlier next time.

What a wonderful place to visit! On ur back is the bridge and lake— somehow kids friendly. On ur front is the ocean, great place to surf! If ud like to picnic, there is a wonderful place to go to. Public restrooms were kinda out dated and need services. Parking is street parking and road was block recently.

Beautiful view all around from the shore! Lots of surfers and boogie boarding, but definitely not good for beginners. Boogie boarders- you must have flippers! Current is intense! There is a calm channel that’s perfect for kids to the far left of the beach. Bring water shoes, it’s rocky. My kids enjoyed the water & boogie boarding! We even saw a team surfing on an outrigger canoe!

One of my favorite hidden gems on the island. This beach has a rugged, untamed feel that I absolutely love. There’s usually a lifeguard on duty, which makes it feel safer without taking away from the wild beauty. The shoreline is scattered with smooth pebbles and driftwood, and if you know where to look, there’s a treasure trove of sea glass waiting to be found. Greens, ambers, soft whites… sometimes even a rare cobalt. I’ve spent hours just combing through the stones like a kid again. There’s something about this place that invites you to slow down. The signs nailed to the trees say as much… reminders that keiki play here, surfers ride here, and the land itself deserves your respect. It’s not a tourist trap. It’s not polished. It’s better. Bring water shoes if you’re sensitive to rocks, and take only memories (not all the glass, please). Leave the rest for the next wanderer.

We went to the 'Ohana Night Market on the third Thursday and it was a great event and they are hosting more. New owner and management, grand reopening and lots to come. The gardens were a highlight for my child. It was so quiet and peaceful to walk through the gardens. There is a fountain with the Hawaiian Island chain in it, which is awesome! Have patience and grace as they get this great event venue space off the ground again, they are doing so much for the community!

Fun and different. You get to learn basketweaving and play original Hawaiian games you never heard of and watch a nice music show and hula dancers. Been to Hawaii many times but this was new and unique. Enjoyed it with definitely older crowd. Food was ok and they kept us hydrated.

Stunning venue! They host great events, check their social media for updates.

Very nice spot for special events..but not extra large ones. Food was very delicious just as I expected, being familiar with the chef in charge. Attended the 46th firefighters recruiting class graduating on June 8, 2019.

I love being a vendor and Nani Mau Gardens for our Ohana Nights and was happy to hear that my friend Eden is currently part of the new management team and shared the great news with me. She is a wonderful person and I felt very comfortable on being a monthly vendor there because she is excellent, professional, and carries a very kind demeanor.Completely easy to work with and responds in a timely manner🤍

We had reservations at 6:30 but had to wait about 15 or 20 minutes for someone to bus our table. The waitress was very nice and came not long after we were seated. She took our drink order right away. We were able to go up to the buffet right away. They did it table by table due to Covid and they made your plate, you just tell them what you want. The prime rib, kalbi ribs and bok choy were really good but everything else was kind of bland and tasted like buffet food. I had a hard seltzer but my boyfriend had a pineapple drink that tasted very watered down. I would go back but not for a date night kind of night but for a group or corporate type of dinner.

Lunch buffett includes sdmission to garden. Clean, spacious dining area. Buffett was delicious. It started to rain so we didn't get to walk thru the gardens.

Such a fun find. So much better than the Lava tubes at the N.P. It has to sides. Left side appears to stop pretty early but it keeps going! Just bend down and go over the fallen rocks. It goes quite a long ways! Same with the right side. Each time it looks questionable and you wonder if it opens back up, it does. At some point way back in, someone spray painted "stop" on the rock. Not 100% sure why because it continues after that, not sure how far because we were getting weird vibes and it was pretty humid inside and decided to turn. But they were awesome. You definitely need good shoes and strong lights. We purchased a headlamp and a strong focused little flashlight. The more light, the easier your walking and more enjoyable it will be. They are not improved so there are plenty of minor hazards like hitting your head, back or tripping. So much fun!

You don’t have to go far into the caves to have a good time at these. The stairs at the beginning are very steep but as long as you’re cautious they are safe. The cave on the left doesn’t go as far as the cave on the right. We didn’t go very far as we had small kids with us but my kids and I loved exploring around! They were very unique with the lava rock inside surrounded by the green forest. So beautiful! Highly recommend bringing flashlights but the lights on our phones worked okay

This was such a cool thing to go through! The caves were amazingly lava flown floors. The scenery was green, tropical, and gorgeous. I recommend flashlights if you want to go deep. Nature is truly magical!

Really cool experience! The tunnels were so beautifully silent, scary, and grand inside. The formation from the lava is just so incredible to see... rock both smooth and rough. We went to both sides. There’s a lot of moisture so bring shoes that have a firm grip, and headlamps/flashlights (recommend both). Be careful walking down those yellow stairs. Export, but stop when you see the signs. Parking is across the street. You’ll see chickens running around.

You need a light of some sort, closed toe shoes, and a heart for adventure. It is really cool inside, but also dangerous if you aren't careful or wearing the proper gear. It is free. I would not advise taking small children inside.

Must see near Hilo! Super inconspicuous from the road, but very cool spot where you can walk through two caves. The entry point is a very steep staircase and the terrain is rugged inside the caves so best to wear closed toe shoes with traction. I’d budget 20-30 minutes to spend here as you can’t walk too far into the caves.

Excellent place to go exploring with the family! Steep stairs to get down to caves but really neat to explore. There are bathrooms and picnic tables and the wild chickens bring entertainment.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Downstairs is about volcanoes, ecosystems, animals, shells and crystals. Upstairs is the human history of Hawaii that is incredibly fascinating and I feel like a must to learn about to really be able to experience the island by knowing about its history. There was so much great information, beautiful artifacts, engaging exhibits and hands on cultural appreciation! We spent about 2 hours there.

A must visit. A brief history of everything. Very well curated. The staff were also super friendly. First floor has very detailed volcano exhibit. It’s very thorough, esp during the time museum/exhibits in the national park were not available. Very interesting native animals demonstration and also some stones, shells, minerals. Second floor told a story of how Hawaii native people, how ppl came to this island. More importantly, how it became the 50th state of US. The history behind all the hotels and tourism now, which was quite impressive. I’ll never see Hawaii the way I used to.

Excellent museum with a collection that includes an extensive collection of shells from around the world. There is very good geology information with a mineral collection that they claim is rated in the top 10 of the world. One of the mineral specimens [a manganese silicate called Orlymanite] is the only one anywhere. The cultural exhibits on the second floor are also excellent. You can also for a small fee take a tour of the Mission House next to the museum. It dates from 1839, it is the oldest wood frame building on the island.

After experiencing the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens (please reference my review if interested), we made the 18 minute drive to Lyman Museum. I must admit, when Google Maps announced our arrival, I was skeptical of the museum based on the appearance of the building. However, that feeling dissipated when we entered the building and were greeted by a friendly employee at the front counter. After paying the very small admission fee, another friendly employee gave us a brief overview of how to navigate the exhibits. The first exhibit was centered on one of my favorite childhood interests…volcanoes! I was taking a walk down memory lane as I relearned the root cause of volcanic eruptions and the history of Hawaii’s active volcanoes. Afterwards, we learned about the various habitat types, mammals, and birds. The next following exhibits were focused on Hawaii’s complicated (in my opinion) history. Although all of the content was interesting to some capacity; the following three topics stood out: sugar plantations, the educational system, and the annexation of Hawaii by the United States. Although the information is presented in an unbiased form, it shaped my opinion of how native Hawaiians (along with other ethnic groups) were mistreated, the United States’ role in attempting to completely sanitize the Hawaiian education system (i.e., being punished for speaking their native language in school), and the events that led to the Hawaiian government being overthrown by the United States. As most museums, I walked away with mixed feelings. I learned a lot about Hawaiian culture, but also felt torn in my decision to visit (support) a place that has been essentially cleansed of its true culture and taken over by Americans (yes I know that there are other places that have been similarly impacted). I highly recommend that visitors take the time out of their vacation to visit this museum and enlighten themselves with Hawaiian history.

This excellent museum gives you basically all you need to know about Hawaii - geology, biology, and Hawaiian history and culture from ancient roots to today - all while only taking about 2 hours to learn it all! I loved the shell and mineral collections, as well as seeing unique volcanic phenomena like Pele's hair. The historical/cultural section provides a great overview and also contains interest artifacts!

All Hawaiian museums are better thought out with care than most, but this one goes above & beyond in its fair but revealing presentations of Hawaiian geography, nature, culture, and history!

LOVE this museum! So much wonderful information and interesting displays. Very rich experience to learn more about Hawai'i, from geology to culture. Definitely a must-see for any age. The house is also a very cool experience although we just did the museum as that takes at least a couple hours to get through.

Honestly some of the best quality chocolate I’ve had in a long time. I got a salted potato chip dark chocolate bar and a frozen hot chocolate and genuinely devoured them, i will say the dark chocolate so STRONG which is my personal speed but so you know if you get it it’s gonna be potent. Staff was also nice ofc, 5/5

Got a mocha in the morning and it was so good we had to come back for drinks at night! DELICIOUS drinks and breakfast sandwich. And lots of yummy chocolate to shop :) don’t miss out!

Very reputable & well known chocolate grower and manufacturer. Excellent selection of products on sale as gifts / for you to take away, but they also sell a large selection of beverages and treats in their cafe. The Iced mocha (coffee & chocolate) and the Iced chocolate were the best we’ve ever tasted! We spent the rest of the day in Hilo wanting to go back for another. Great staff too, and the cafe is well air conditioned. Lots of indoor seating available. Highly recommended!

Love the delicious chocolates here. They suggested we try a sample as we were perusing the shop. Milk chocolate was yum, but the 70% Dark Chocolate was fabulous. Loved that they are a local Bean to Bar chocolate with all their products made here on the big island. Beautiful packaging. Makes nice gifts to take back home either for yourself, or as gifts for loved ones. There is seating both inside and outside so you can relax and sip your yummy beverages. They have also added mimosa’s and other delicious alcohol beverages to their already scrumptious lineup of drinks. The Margarita was my favorite.

The Puna Chocolate Company Parlor and Café is an absolute delight for anyone with a taste for local artisan chocolates and coffee. The selection here is fantastic, showcasing the best of the region's chocolate and coffee offerings. It's a chocolate lover's dream come true, with a diverse range of flavors to choose from. But it's not just about sweets – they also have a variety of snacks and treats for your four-legged friends, which is a wonderful touch for pet owners. Beyond that, the café offers an impressive array of drink selections, catering to all tastes. If you find yourself in the area, we highly recommend stopping by this charming establishment. It's a true gem for indulging your taste buds and experiencing the flavors of Puna. You won't be disappointed!

What a great place, so welcoming and a great assortment of local coffees and chocolates! A shout out to Kristen who works there, she thoroughly explained the difference of the coffees and chocolates. There is even a flight of chocolates to experience the different flavors from the regions of the island. This is a must do! We will be coming back!!

Whether you like chocolate or not you will like this place. The cocktails are made expertly made. Bartenders with Aloha all around. If you can't make up your mind, they have a great sense for palates. But don't stop at the cocktails, the chocolate and coffee will have you on cloud nine.

What would be a nice sea-side grassy area is ruined by the proximity to traffic and the bums loitering around with their piles of garbage.

Calm area, schools go there for games. Police office there and convenient bathroom too because there’s no other easy access around unless you are consuming. Sundays very slow specially if raining which is almost always. Affordable small farm market around the street, very delicious fruits to snack.

Hawaii has the highest rate of homelessness per capita in the US. Many people choose to come to Hawaii to be homeless, because of the favorable natural and social environment. When we visited the big island in 2022, they were highly visible everywhere, including Mo'oheau Park.

Stunning spot but do nott understand why the parking was blocked. Had to park on the shoulder of a VERY busy street.

Amazung underground lava tubes and structures. Dark, compelling beauty. Bring a good flashlight. Be careful in 2019 a man fell into a hidden hole 22 feet and was killed in his own backyard.

Park located at the prime location very close to the Farmer's Market. Was lucky to catch a live performance there.

Like most of Hilo, inspiring. Get karma points for sitting back and drinking it all in.

Now, this is what I call "old school" playtime area! We all have played basketball, softball, as participants and spectator and have attended many parties! Go check this park out! It's fun, safe and you can feel Mr carvslho saying "play ball"!! Enjoy our marvelous island please! 🤟🤟🤟

Nice pavilion. Clean restrooms. Nice ballpark. Make sure to clean up after your dog.

Toilets, covered picnic tables, kids playground with soft surface and green patch for kicking the ball… good for kids to spend some energy

This is a nice quite park, well maintained and clean and the play structure has great padding under it to keep children safe.

Great little park. Needs more shade close to the playground but I love this spot for early morning or late afternoon playtime.

Finally repaired & restored after flooding from Hurricane Lane. It has always been a favorite park of our ohana. Good parking, clean restrooms, pavilions, ballpark and very large playground. Pavilion is also rentable. Just be aware that there is a river behind the pavilion, it may look calm but can be very dangerous.

The playground is newer and much nicer than before. The bathroom area and party area aren't too clean, but they're usable. Good place to play youth baseball.

Easy access to a beautiful waterfall. Avoid going in the late afternoon during the summer as the sun is positioned right behind the falls, making it a little painful to see them. Morning is best viewing.

Absolutely beautiful place and a must visit location in the Big Island of Hawai’i. The access is very easy. Without having to do a hike, just a few steps away from the parking lot, you can enjoy a wonderful view of this beautiful waterfall. There is a big parking lot, and a restroom, with very easy access. Very kid friendly. There is like a small forest at the top with trees that seems to be at least 100 years old. Very impressive and enjoyable.

Amazing place , walk up the stairs and through the trees uptop. And you'll see two more waterfalls. Have fun.

The viewpoint for the falls is very easy to get to, just a short walk from the parking lot. We went on a day it was rainy and not a lot of sun so the rainbows weren’t shining in the falls but it was still beautiful! There is another viewpoint up some stairs on the left that shows the top of the waterfall and a really unique tree but honestly enjoyed the main view the best!

Saw Rainbow Falls with a tour group. The nice thing was that the guide is a local born and raised here, and had the best stories. The story behind the falls involves the Demigod, Maui, and his mother. Quite the tale, and a beautiful waterfall. You don't need to spend a ton of time here, which is nice. It was a lovely spot to see. Definitely recommend.

This is a nice falls to visit that is closer to Hilo than the more impressive Akaka Falls. The falls itself here was not as impressive as it is when they're in the rainier season. There is not enough water when we visited to create a rainbow effect so we missed that.

Beautiful falls with a very short walk from the parking lot. Just as cool is plant life in the area! Beautiful 😍

We were staying on the west side of the island most of the time, but stayed here one night to catch an early tour from Hilo the next morning. I saw in some reviews/descriptions that surfers like to stay here, so I was a little skeptical. There were 5 of us(all adults) so they put us in a family suite, and i was VERY pleasantly surprised how nice this is and very affordable. Its not fancy, and you can tell its an old building, but everything is very well maintained, clean, and a great front desk manager who took time to show us to the room. My only criticism of the room is not very many electrical sockets and some of those were worn so that the plugs would fall out. But, if we stay in Hilo again, this will definitely be a the top of our list.

I didn't have overly high expectations for this place so it not only surpassed them, it is a place I will definitely return to. Rates are based on occupancy and so are accommodations, so be accurate with those and you will have a lovely stay. We had a family room which could also be three separate rooms for solo travelers or couples. There was a double bed in the living room area, two twins in another room, and a queen (?) bed in yet another room. The rooms with the two twins and the queen were the ones with the lock-off option, and this would result in a shared kitchen space and shared bathroom, more like a hostel for smaller groups of travelers. I do not know if all of the rooms have this configuration, or if some do in-fact have private bathrooms for a couple or solo traveller. The space was exceptionally clean and everyone was very friendly! I found the rates to be very reasonable for such a large accommodation. I would recommend having a car when staying here, as it is a bit off the beaten path, but I would tend to recommend a car for visiting Hilo regardless.

The room was clean enough but the staff interactions we had were bizarre. We’re a normal and polite couple yet when we asked for a simple request like a blanket the staff member wanted to check on our AC and kept asking us questions about what we need the blanket for. I’ve never been questioned like that at a place Im staying at just for an extra blanket. Super bizarre. Overall I felt like I was being treated like a trespasser at a property I paid to stay at. Didn’t appreciate that very much. The place itself wasn’t bad for the price, but we personally wouldn’t return.

Arnott's Lodge is old and in desperate need of updating. I would say that it is comfortable enough. The beds and pillows were comfortable, the A/C worked in the bedrooms (but none in the community areas), the bath and shower were okay, but didn't like the shower head. The check-in guy was super nice. However, there were some negatives that I would say overshadow the positives. First, it smelled of mildew all throughout. Second, we ran across several roaches, including in the beds. Third, there was one bed in the living room, but no A/C for the living room, so the person who slept in the living room was the only one without air conditioning. Fourth, our room was located in the corner, right next to the neighbors who had some kind of bird sanctuary, and the birds never shut up, even at night. This affected the person sleeping in the living room and the people sleeping in the back bedroom.

We didn’t stay at Arnott’s Lodge, but we did take their Mauna Kea Sunset Tour, so this review refers exclusively to that experience. They picked us up on time at our hotel. From there, we went to the beautiful Rainbow Falls and then up to Mauna Kea. Donna, our tour guide, provided amazing information along the way and on our drive back about Hawaiian culture, history, and especially astronomy during the laser-guided class after sunset. The sunset was spectacular, and we were extremely lucky to also witness the moonrise. The view of the Milky Way was breathtaking. Donna took photos of us, showed us every single observatory, and took the time to teach us how to take our own photos using our phones. In summary, considering the price, the overall experience, and our incredible guide, this tour was excellent and highly recommended. Funny enough, we had almost rented a Jeep to drive to the Mauna Kea summit by ourselves, but we changed our minds to avoid the stress of driving up and then back down in the dark. Additionally, after seeing the very long line of 4x4 vehicles at the Onizuka Visitor Center waiting to be checked by the rangers, and considering how much we enjoyed the extra time after sunset with our guide teaching us about the night sky, we were extremely happy for having invested a bit more money to fully enjoy this unique adventure. Once again, MAHALO DONNA!!!

The quality that you get for the price that you pay is incredible. The staff at Arnott’s is dedicated to exceptional service, and their friendly attitudes are a welcoming presence upon check-in. The facilities cater to all - from budget friendly campers, to those looking to splurge on a little more luxury, and everything in between. The location is perfect, nestled back only about five minutes away from town, and allows you to have a little retreat away from the hum of beautiful Hilo town. We love staying with Arnott’s and will definitely be back in the future!

The staff is awesome and very welcoming. Loved that there were no TVs so it was a true vacation.

Always a great experience on this course. My husband walks with a cane and the staff has been so kind and accommodating to him. The food at the restaurant is great too! 👍🏻

Excellent well maintained and clean driving range. There are plenty of driving range spots with good spacing. $4 for a bucket of balls is a good deal. Ample parking. Recommend.

If your local I'm sure it's a great place. Don't bother otherwise. Course is ok, range is cheap and good. Visited hawii long enough to get sick of being taxed exta fees for being a fellow American but from a different state.

We had our family reunion at the Fairway Grill

We live in Kona and came to Hilo for the weekend. Played around of golf and it was the most fun playing golf for fun that we had in a long time. The course is challenging and fun. Recommend it to anyone who would like to just have fun with a round of golf. I can’t beat the price and the hospitality.

Fairly decent course for the price. UPDATE: I changed my review stars from 3 to 1 because I keep seeing so many golfers urinating on the golf course. Pilau. And seems like the Course managers and County P&R managers allow it even after they’ve been informed. It’s against Hawaii law to urinate in public places. 🙄

Beautiful course. Not easy, long, but enjoyed the game. Markings need updating but other golfers friendly and pointed us in right directions. Lots of folks walk...Great day..

This isn’t really a place for swimming—it's more about enjoying the peaceful scenery while relaxing at one of the picnic tables. It’s perfect for a quiet meal, conversation, or just taking in the ocean view under the shade of the trees. The parking lot is actually quite spacious, especially considering the small size of the park, which makes access easy. I heard that locals often refer to this area as Waiohuli Beach Park, and it seems to be more of a peaceful spot for quiet time rather than a tourist destination. The beach is said to be more rocky than sandy, with shallow water that might not be ideal for swimming. I also heard that the sunsets here are absolutely beautiful and worth catching. If you're looking for a quiet, less crowded beach where you can enjoy a picnic or just relax, this seems like a hidden gem.🌴🌊 If this beach is indeed one of those breathtaking, lesser-known spots, I can’t help but wonder—could the name “Waio Lena” have been chosen by the descendants of the Mālo family to quietly honor a loved one once remembered on the Richardson monument?✨

Nice cold water and there's bathrooms, shower and picnic area..Beautiful Views with turtles in ponds there..

Quiet little spot, at least until the local younger crowd shows up with their thumper cars. But hey you may even get a chance to spot some turtles.

Beautiful park, pavilions closed due to covid

Public shoreline access with picnic and swim areas. Limited parking.

Nice place its a litle rocky but beautiful

Very family friendly, clean and well served.

This is a small but well maintained county park with a large, beautiful picnic pavilion. Also, there is a nicely paved 0.1 mile walking path that leads to a perfectly maintained baseball diamond. Given the popularity of softball in our area, I'm sure lots of folks get their fill of enjoyment here!

Park was very clean and maintained well. The bathroom was stocked and clean. The Pavillion was clean, the rubbish cans was emptied and the picnic tables was cleaned also. It would've had 5☆'s if there was a playground for the keikis.

Nice and quiet area. Not dog friendly. Great for small parties. Street parking. Picnic tables with Pavillion.

A sweet little park nestled on a quiet street above the University in a very quiet neighborhood. Private homes surround the park where, the kids can run free and play. The covered pavilion has two clean, restrooms on the mauka side. Makai side has a sweeping view of the ocean. Reserve the pavilion for an ideal place to celebrate special occasions. First birthday luau for little Miss Rhlyee P., was spectacular even during the off and on torrential rain. Sooo much food from my favorite chef, with so many good people! A massive water slide was rented for the keiki to enjoy, which they did raining or not. Of course this Aunty went down the slide, once! On my way out! P.e.r.f.e.c.t. landing on my feet, remaining relatively dry! Didn't even trip getting out. Reserve the pavilion at University Heights Park and you will be happy with your choice! Close on street parking near pavillion. The grass is nicely maintained, no rubbish outside the bins, and

Awesome pleasant atmosphere, with a must see look at the architecture of these headquarters for our comes that reside in majestic Mauna kea mountain!!! A must see along with Imiloa planetarium and restaurant!! Please enjoy!!! Aloha!

Really nice park for gatherings. It's clean and enough space for large events

It's really big very green plenty of flat spots in the sun for a picnic but a couple of hills to play on if you got a child (or inner child) that likes to roll down the hill.

The US's largest public access telescope at the world's two best astronomical sites.

The home base for the Gemini Observatory. Offices and staff located here. One of 2 telescopes, the other located in La Serena, Chile.

Not as good as Subaru Telescope , but I'm sure they try their best! :-)

Great staff , knowledgeable and patience

(Translated by Google) It was a really interesting and fun visit thanks to the friendly staff. (Original) 친절한 스태프들 덕분에 정말 흥미롭고 재미있는 방문 경험이었다.

Is amazing place is my first time visiting in Hawai

Beautiful 😍❤️😍❤️

Peace of eden

A nice little hike that's paved. Beautiful tall waterfall and beautiful tropical surroundings. Kahuna Falls on the same trail couldn't be seen due to plant overgrowth. Must pay to park $10 and each person pay to enter $5/person. There are attendants there to help with the payment process. There are bathrooms near parking lot.

Beautiful falls, and fantastic plant life on the hike. Online info says you can see a 2nd waterfall on the hike, but don't beleive it... you can see a tiny, tiny speck of water peeking out from the trees, and that's it. But the main ~400ft falls are amazing. You will need a self shock to see the notion of the falls tho, because the vegetation block it (unless you're 6ft 4).

I loved all the tropical foliage and the Akaka waterfall was beautiful. The other waterfall was not visible when we visited. The trail is moderately difficult with many stairs. If you have trouble walking or climbing I would suggest going straight to the fall on your left and not right which takes you all the way around.

Very cool waterfall. Definitely recommend doing the whole loop (counterclockwise) for a nice walk through some beautiful jungle. Street parking is free, but the parking lot and admission are paid before going down the stairs. Get there early before the tour buses arrive.

We loved the Akaka Falls Park. We parked on the road and walked down. Entry fee is like 8 or 9 bucks a person. Very botanical garden vibes, we loved all the frogs and pathways leading you to the falls. Quite a bit of stairs going down, and then back up(very doable, we took my grandpa 78 very fragile and he did amazing! One step at a time.)

for someone younger and not very athletic, the walk/trail is paved with railings and A very doable walk. (was able to finsih walk in comfy walking flip flops! (flora is beautiful if your a plant person!)

I loved the walk going the falls. Luscious greens and flowers everywhere. Also, there is something special about the rain when I went to visit.

Incredible experience guided by a kind, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable tour guide. Highly recommend the 3 hour tour - 100% worth the time and money. Monica was fantastic. She was forgiving that we arrived 15 minutes past the time we booked (we took a wrong turn), and she shared our delight as we explored the caves, spellbound by each unique cave formation. I felt safe the entire time, never rushed. When Monica didn't know answers to our cave science/history questions, we theorized together. She was brimming with knowledge, answering most of the questions I had before I even asked them. My favorite new fun facts: bats don't live in caves made of porous rock since they can't use echolocation 🦇 and iron has enough oxidation states to make cave rainbows 🌈 Heads up: - call ahead to make a reservation - follow the driving instructions you receive when you book a tour (Google maps can lead you astray) - roads are BUMPY so it's a good idea to have 4 wheel drive - cave entrance is located on private property (be respectful!!) - wear proper footwear for climbing on rocks Pretty much, follow the instructions and you'll have a great time. Unforgettable experience - one for the books. Emerging from the cave I had fresh eyes and a calm demeanor. Mahalo nui loa Monica and Steve 🙏

Did the tour with my wife and two kids age 3 and 5. Had a great time with Steve on the walking tour, will have to come back for longer ones.

Private tour of a lava tube! We went about half a mile into the tube, crawled over some rocks, ducked under a few low ceilings, had a great time. Only one other person in our group, made it very personable and our guide Steve was very enthusiastic.

One of the most captivating experiences we had on our vacation. Monica was a wonderful guide, pointing out beautiful formations and giving us plenty of information about the lava tube’s history and science while connecting with us personally and allowing us to move at our pace. She was kind, funny, patient, and immensely informative. We did the adventure tour and would love to come back for the full day tour!

Made an appointment to go explore the caves with a guide. We showed up a bit early, but that was OK! So we headed off through tropical plants and climbed down a ladder into one spectacular cave system. Tour was GREAT! THANKS!!! Took a lot of photos, all our questions and more were answered. Super nice owner! 👌 HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Such a great educational experience, Steve was very knowledgeable informative and helpful in terms of everything to do with the caves. But also with the rest of the island and fun things to do. It’s a pretty chill walk, nothing too wild you may have to bend over or duck a bit, but it’s super safe. Definitely worth the trip towards that side of the island, the weather on this side is very wet but you can’t feel the humidity.

We did the one hour walking tour with our 4 year old. Super cool and kept her engaged the whole hour. The guide was kind and knowledgeable. Yep, it’s on a bumpy unpaved road and yep, the site is a bit rough around the edges, but when else are you going to get to walk around in the world’s longest lava tube?

As the last stop on our tour around Hilo, we visited this small park to marvel at the black sand and rocky outcroppings. Nicely maintained park with green space, plants, picnic areas, and of course the beach front.

The last time we were in Hilo it poured the whole time, we saw it out the window of a tour bus. This visit no tour or rain just a taxi ride to the shopping area and park . The beach park was nice with ocean waves . Walmart used to have a free bus from the port they have stopped this service we were disappointed we normally purchase Mac nuts to take home . The cab was 10$ plus tip each way and Walmart can survive without my $.

Beautiful area. The water was on the deeper side but great for snorkeling!

Keaukaha Beach Park offers a unique beach experience that's unlike the typical sandy shores you'd find in Hawaii. Instead of traditional beaches, you'll discover a grassy expanse leading right up to the water's edge. What makes this park special is its close proximity to the ocean, where you can marvel at the mesmerizing beauty of the Pacific. The lava rocks that grace the shoreline add to the park's distinctive charm. They create a captivating contrast against the clear blue waters and are a perfect spot to explore tide pools and observe marine life. If you're a nature enthusiast, Keaukaha Beach Park is a dream come true. While it may not be your typical sunbathing beach, the park is a tranquil and scenic place to relax, have a picnic, or simply enjoy the soothing sound of the waves. It's a hidden gem for those seeking a quieter, more natural beach experience in Hawaii.

This could be a wonderful black sand beach if they crushed up the lava rock and made sand.

Our church had our 4th of July picnic. The kids had a blast playing in the beach water. We had six children baptized in the ocean and there was plenty of room for everybody!

Hilo Breakwater Wall is located at Keaukaha Beach. This is a favorite place for fishermen and a fun or challenging trail for locals and tourists visiting Hilo. The trail itself is 4 miles out&back, with a little bit of elevation gain, and using street parking. Since I didn’t have enough time, I only hiked one mile each way for the photoshoot. It was a unique hike and it offers incredible views of the ocean and break-wall. It was very peaceful in the early morning and very fun to jump around those wet lava stones. It was a good spot to stop, stretch out my legs while having fun enjoying the sound of the waves, and picturesque. However…if you want to hike this trail you should have a good pair of shoes, and check with the tide, as well as the big waves, before you hike this trail.

I would rank it higher if Hawai’i County would have taken the necessary steps years ago to protect it but runoff has created a bay that is not a healthy aquatic environment. The black sand is soft to walk in but most who swim do so at the mouth of the river instead along the beach in the bay. What a missed opportunity to turn this stretch of sand into a destination. That being said I want more people to frequent this site and thus encourage more activity here. It is a great spot to watch paddling regattas with many opportunities. There are bathrooms and showers here and great views.

It was quiet and calm. Lots of young people rowing. Lots of drift wood and cool rocks.

The Beach of Hilo! Never a dull moment at this beach. It’s the People’s Beach. There is always an event of some sort here every day. When you visit Hilo you must stop by Hilo Bay Beach front park! Soak in the Aloha spirit as you watch the waves. Recharge your spirit! I recommend.

Maybe it was just the day we there and all the obnoxious bikers there for a rally, but it was way too crowded and we couldn't find any space to post up. Also couldn't find an actual beach. I'm factoring in the bikers in not giving this a lower rating, but it was so bad that we ate the cost of the second night of our hotel stay, checked out later and went to Kona which was way better!

The beach is wide open and clean, but the construction is not good and orderly. The most inconvenient thing is that there is no "restroom" for tourists or visitors to go to the bathroom. Why? Is this island so poor that it can't even build a restroom? Only 3 "toilet boxes" seats in the street are always dirty and full of human feces. Who will come to rent the canopies?

Great location to kill some time between meetings or to eat your lunch!

Beach good for walking along bay.

WARNING: Kaaliali Trail is NOT suitable for DIRT BIKES unless you like MARBLES! CHOKE MARBLES! Unfortunately, all of the ATVs have turned up loose ground, revealing large rocks all over the trail, averaging from 2-4 inches up to 4-8 inches. NOT A JOKE!!! Which sucks because the trail goes all the way around the mountain to the other side and would be a perfect trail. Our reps need to know the trail is not being maintained and eroding too much!

Worth a visit but for us, we were covered in clouds there. The visitor center had a huge line outside of it so we skipped it. It was hard to see anything but the clouds were cool to watch. Very cold, bring warm clothes, layers and a rain jacket too.

You can experience some out of the world views from here (plan for the sunset). And its a great drive, even if you do not plan to visit the summit. Please do not miss this spot in the Big Island!

If you're going to the top, bring warm clothes! It's cold! Really cold.

It’s a great pitstop between Kona and Hilo. Especially if you’re feeling sleepy, the cool fresh air will wake you up!

Great place to spend a couple of hours

Absolutely beautiful and humbling, the summit is just plain gorgeous, the views absolutely stunning. Everytime is the perfect but time to go -sunrise, sunset, night, day, anytime in between. Although I'll say midnight was the best drive up, just you and all. I went for the stars all of it, best place for celestial bodies and their machinations and just to re-energize. And remember to be humble, courteous, respectful wherever you are on this island, or any other Island you happen to find you self.

We are a family that has used this park for years for soccer practice and games. The homeless presence continues to grow. I refuse to walk the trail now because one of the homeless men yelled inappropriate comments about my body while walking with my newborn and 7 year old. I do not feel safe. They smoke drugs in the bathroom. I’ve walked in on a naked woman showering at the sink while soccer practice was happening. The bathrooms are dirty and smell awful at the end of the day. I find it unfair that our tax dollars are not used appropriately.

It's a great field for soccer. The only thing that would make it perfect is adding another restroom by Field 1 or the Pauahi side of the field. The only restroom available is in the center of all these fields. Heaven forbid you have diarrhea or bladder problems..you'd have a better chance fertilizing the trees nearby than reaching the restrooms if you're watching a game parked on Pauahi Road. There are quite a few homeless people that congregate within or around the park, but they don't seem to bother anyone. Anyways, I say..Build it (restrooms on Pauahi side) and they will come! 😊

Ok...This is Wailoa State Park! NOT Hilo Bayfront soccer fields! I don't know how to correct this, as it was an automatic location from my device! So anywayzzz... MaileGirl and I come here often, to eat our takeout lunches. We also walk over the bridges, after eating to exercise, while enjoying the scenic views of Hilo Bay. I suggest eating your takeaway food in your vehicles. There are so many homeless people who have taken over the pavilions, which are covered in graffiti and who knows what else. The single picnic tables in the smaller pavilions, when you can find an unoccupied one, are broken and not safe to sit on, let alone eat on. Wailoa pond is both brackish and sea water. However do not swim in it. It is quite polluted. MaileGirl loves to swim, but I take her across the street to the ocean and let her swim there. There are lots of ducks, Nene, and other fowl that you can hand feed. My kiddos and I would take stale bread and feed them. They will also gather round you while eating outside your vehicle. The bathrooms in the pavilions are filthy. The state workers try to keep them clean, but the homeless continually use and abuse them. If you have little ones, locate a public restroom nearby, prior to getting here.

Shows you that the good for nothing County workers do as little as possible to maintain what could be a beautiful sports park. I mean come on they can't even keep up with cutting the grass. How hard is it to sit on a riding lawnmower ??

My kids have soccer practice and games here several times a week. The fields are great but the parking can be hard to come by on game days and the bathrooms are a little shabby.

💘Lovely place to enjoy a picnic with friends & family while the children play ⚽. Walking distance to everything in down town Hilo 🚶& 🚻 bathrooms are available to the public.

You know, I'm going to be very straight forward about this field! To watch children play and people enjoy brings a smile to my face!! Let it rain and it's a brown sea of runoff trash!! 45 years I've seen this but nothing done!!! I don't want to go any deeper-

Ok view - not great due to fencing and overgrowth. There's also a ton of trash, and even though it's supposed to be a place where you can stop and eat, there are no trash receptacles.

I've come here for views of hilo city at night for awhile. That being said , it is sketchy to stop here at night alone, yoyll get a great view at night , but if you're alone and the park is empty take your photos and go, I give it a higher rating because of the view. But in terms of saftey stop here for a snack stretch your legs get the photos and go. Day or night. Be safe enjoy the view day or night.

As the name indicates, this is a scenic outlook with a view of Hilo Bay. There is a small parking lot here to stop and take some quick photos before getting back on Hawaii Belt Road, the main road headed to the other parts of Hawaii Island or travelling back to Hilo town. The view is just so-so. You can see the ocean from here, but the view is obstructed by an ugly fence and unkempt grass. I would skip this spot if you are short on time visiting Hilo as there are better locations to take photos of the water.

Definitely worth 5 minutes to stop and take in the beautiful panoramic view of Hilo Bay, the breakwall and the endless ocean. Looks like it has been recently weed whacked so the view is clear. This would be a spectacular spot to watch the sunrise over the ocean and there is a gorgeous tree to shade you while you eat your lunch.

Not the best scenic point I’ve been to, would not recommend lol

Fantastic nightime view of current Eruption in Puna 25 miles away...quiet the gathering of Photogs and others...bring tripods and binoculars.

Great view of Hilo Harbor and the entrance through the breakwater.

What could be a great little park is ruined by the poor entry signage and the homeless people camping in the woods.

Great park with a wonderful view. No bathrooms, only portables. The homeless population isn't as prevalent during the day, and the parking lot is tiny. The food trucks that park nearby are great. 🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽

This is a quiet little Park opposite Reeds Beach if you want to be away from everyone. There are a couple of picnic tables and several benches. The only facilities are porta potties.

Great spot for snorkeling! We saw sea turtles, several types of fish, and sea urchins. The depths change drastically and quickly across the bay, so be careful with kids, as they would need to be able o swim back to more shallow areas if they come across a deeper patch. Also make sure you wear water shoes! The rocks can be very sharp.

Great spot for plane watching for flights arriving at Hilo International Airport. Note: There is a surprising network of somewhat hidden trails (😏) just to the right after you enter from the street and prior to the parking spaces. There is a beautiful pond to be seen.

There used to be a trail to access freshwater ponds near here but it was closed off, anybody know if pacific quest has the rights to prevent access to those ponds?

Quiet, almost secluded yet its right out here in the open! Between Reed’s Bay and before you go All the way to Keaukaha, turn left into Kuhio Kalanianaole park. Shhhh, Hilo’s Best Kept Secret! (Was!)

Enjoy the gorgeous views from dolphins to whales and precious ohana time!

Like a lot of the coast on the Big Island, this area is rugged and beautiful. The unpaved road can be a challenge if it has not recently been leveled. We still always manage, even in a small car.

Keep driving to the end. Beautiful area to explore

It's a nice place for some beautiful pictures. Also several different places to swim. There is an Old breakwall that you can walk, a short fairly easy hike to a separate pool. very nice place. The downfall is there are no restrooms, no electricity or Pavilions. And no Plumbing. Still a very nice place to visit on the big island

Beautiful place at the end of the road from Hilo. Great views of the ocean and surf. Mostly I nice quiet place to hang out. On a nice clear day Mauna Kea can be seen rising majestically above the island through the trees.

Beautiful,not aways crowded we visit a few times a week.

Really cool spot. Different from most others, like a clean swamp cold water ponds, nice view of the bay.

Easy to walk park, free to visit! Nene around

Very nice park but we didn't get to stay long and it was raining lightly while we were there, we'd love to come back

🌺😎🤙🌴

A beautiful and serene place. The grounds are very well preserved and even though it’s not too big it feels larger with several sections, mini lakes and bridges and interesting nature.

Nice quiet place to come and sit. The gardening is beautiful.

Just gorgeous! Right near the ocean. Meandering path through well-maintained grass, sculptures, trees, and water features. There are a few places to sit in the park but most of the benches are over by the sea wall rather than in the park.

Beautiful, historic, free and 100% Worth 10 minuites after dinner... Google photo to translate if you like, perfect time is while the sun sets behind it.

Beautiful field for kids to play, covered picnic tables, restrooms.

Had a double header kupuna softball today against onipaa's at mohouli park won 2 games the Grinds was so... ono, compliments of the onipaas bradahs. Mahalo plenti🤙turned out to be an awesome kanekapila day. God Bless

Obnoxious homeless person ruined the experience, wouldn't move until the cops were called and then argued with them. The park is nice with bathroom facilities, baseball field, tennis courts, picnic tables and even a water fountain (to drink from). Popular.

Dead end of rd so used for late night meeting spot relative low park activity under construction most of the time .has basketball hoop under construction however has an outside shower connected to bathroom but not a shower stall fyi.

Lovely little neighborhood park with covered picnic tables, restrooms and a ballpark. Cool view of Hilo and the bay. Quiet.

I love this Park , Great place for families to spend quality time working out , having birthday celebrations , picnics , etc !!!:) , There's a Big Basketball Court , Nice Baseball / Softball field , Tennis courts , Tables and a Pavillion with Restrooms !!!!!!:)

Pleasantly surprised, not only was it the closest park to my residence it also offered all the amenities. Baseball, kick ball and football field, tennis court, playground and clean bathrooms. Lots of parking aswell.

The park is immaculate! Great baseball field, tennis courts, and the view from the playground is so soothing. My 6 and 3 yo played happily. **Seems to be the lunch spot for many service technicians. I didn't feel entirely comfortable being a lone female & child with the male/female ratio 8:1

Baseball field, basketball court, tennis and volleyball court, playground and covered pavilion with bathrooms.

You gotta check this place out!

Kids like it. Playground is Little smaller but always less people.

Nice little quiet park in the neighborhood. My son loves it. Lots of little hills to roll down.

All kine people at nite stay there

Great park. Great people!

4 basketball goals, 3 nets, broken glass on court. Decent bathrooms, nice grass and small baseball field.

Needs lighting..

Union workers are good for wasting tax dollars and do as little work as possible