Name: Hire Car
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Exploring HILO with a hire car

With its 40,000 residents, Hilo is the largest city on the Hawaiian Big Island.

Situated on an idyllic bay, Hilo is just the place to spend a great vacation on this dream island.

Wide parks, a historic downtown and friendly residents make Hilo, Hawaii a pleasant destination.

And the surrounding area also has beautiful destinations to offer and is wonderful to explore by hire car.

THINGS TO SEE IN HILO

The Farmers Market is a good spot to start a stroll through town. On Wednesday and Saturday, more than 200 local farmers sell their produce here. Crafts and clothing are also offered. On the other days of the week there are still about 30 traders. On Wednesday and Saturday you can visit the market from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm, on the other weekdays sales start at 7:00 am.

Quite close to the market is the Bay Front. This picturesque row of houses is home to numerous shops where you can stock up on souvenirs. Especially worth seeing is the magnificent Hata Building, built back in 1912 by Japanese businessman Sadanosuke Hata.

In 1946 and 1960, Hilo was hit by tsunamis that destroyed large parts of the city. The Pacific Tsunami Museum commemorates the terrible tidal waves. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Tickets are eight dollars.

Now, if you want to catch your breath, you can head to Kalakaua Park. This beautifully landscaped, sprawling green space is a great place to relax. Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to learn details about the history of Hawaii and also about volcanism or minerals at the Lyman Museum and Mission House. The Mission House was already built in 1839 by missionaries. The museum was added in 1973. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. Guided tours are offered at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. Tickets are ten dollars.

A visit to the Imloa Astronomy Center is a nice way to end your sightseeing. Among other things, you can expect to find a spectacular planetarium, a movie theater showing science films, and an exhibit that attempts to document the history from the Big Bang to the origin of life on Earth. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. A ticket costs $17.50.

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FIND A GOOD RESTAURANT

A number of good restaurants vie for patrons in Hilo. We recommend the Hilo Bay Café. It’s located a little hidden in a shopping center. It serves tasty regional dishes in a cozy setting. The Lava Cake is considered an insider tip for dessert lovers.

FIND A GOOD HOTEL

Most tourists are drawn to the arid west coast, so the choice of hotels in Hilo is limited. You might reserve your room at the Dolphin Bay Hotel. The property is set in a tropical garden. All rooms are functionally furnished and have bathrooms, cable TV, fans and kitchenettes. Especially the friendliness of the staff is appreciated by many guests.

A REWARDING DESTINATION IN THE SURROUNDINGS

It’s only a short drive in a hire car before you reach the Historical Botanical Garden. It is only about 14 kilometres away and yet takes you into another world. You will feel like you are in the middle of the jungle as you walk through the tropical landscape with palm trees up to 30 metres high and rushing waterfalls.

The garden is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission is $15. On the drive back to Hilo, you can then consider which destinations you’d like to head to next in your hire car.

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