
Downtown Hilo
Downtown Hilo, 40 minutes north of Volcano, is lush and green, with large parks and a historic district full of interesting shops and small eateries with wonderful food from some of the many ethnicities that call Hilo home. It is famous for its near-daily rainbows and warm, friendly local culture. A short drive north of Hilo will take you past the popular surf spot of Honoliʻi and up to gorgeous Akaka Falls. Hilo itself boasts the Imiloa Astronomy Center, the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center, The Pacific Tsunami Museum, and numerous galleries and coffeehouses. Dinner choices run from Vietnamese to Indian to Italian cuisines. History buffs will enjoy the plantation-era Lyman House Museum.