What To Do In Hilo Near Cruise Port?

Hilo, Hawaii is a popular destination for cruise ships, with its cargo facility located 2 miles east of downtown. The port offers limited attractions, so passengers can take a bus or taxi into town or the Hattie bus for a free ride. The west side of the island is ideal for beach snorkeling, with attractions like Chain of Craters Road, Halemaumau Crater, Crater Rim Drive, PuuOo Vent, and Kilaueaiki crater. Shore excursions include a Kona coffee tour, a trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, or ziplining over waterfalls. Visitors can also visit the beaches by trolley after the tour, which is interesting even in rain and well worth the money. Nearby attractions include Panaewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Coconut Island, and the beautiful Nani Mau Gardens. Celebrity Cruises offers award-winning cruises to Hilo, Hawaii, with top vacation itineraries and exciting shore excursions. Explore the city’s many attractions and rent a car to explore the area.

How do you get to shore from a cruise ship?

While it’s true that some mega-ships are designed as destinations in themselves, one of the most exciting parts of cruising is disembarking your vessel to do some exploring ashore. But how do you get there, exactly? There are two main ways that cruise ships transfer their passengers to land: docking and tendering. Below we compare the two methods of debarkation and tell you how being docked versus tendered can affect your cruise experience.

Similarities Between Docking and Tendering. Obviously, both tendering and docking will allow passengers to head from the ship to shore. Both also require standard exit procedures, which involve the swiping of your onboard card as you leave the ship, and standard reboarding procedures, which might involve waiting in line at peak times, but that’s basically where the similarities end.

Differences Between Tendering and Docking. The first and most common type of debarkation is docking, when a vessel ties up at a pier and cruisers exit the ship with the help of a ramp or gangplank. The second, tendering, takes place when no pier facilities are available or when the water is too shallow for ships to get closer to shore. Vessels drop anchor a short distance away and use small boats, called tenders, to shuttle passengers to terra firma. Although most tender rides are generally short in duration, the boats are tiny and often stuffy, which might be unpleasant for some passengers prone to seasickness.

Where can I walk around Hilo?

Best Walking Trails in HiloMauna Kea Visitor Center Sunset Hill Trail. Easy• 4.6 … Rainbow Falls Upper Lookout. Easy• 4.3 … Kaumana Caves. Moderate• 4.6 … Wai’ale Falls Trail. … Liliuokalani Botanical Garden, Banyan Drive, and Coconut Island. … Rainbow Falls. … Boiling Pots Viewpoint. … Queen Liliuokalani Garden Loop.

How much is the shuttle from Hilo cruise port to the bus?

The cost of a ticket is $1 and free for seniors. Buses depart hourly starting at 7:50. They then return hourly starting at 1:25 PM. There are no buses on Sundays.

There is also a “Hattie Bus” that shuttles cruise passengers to Hattie’s Shopping Centre.

Tax Service. Taxi service to downtown Hilo costs $12 to $16.

Does Hilo have a downtown?

Historic Downtown Hilo is a quaint destination, featuring centuries-old wooden storefronts — many of which are on the National Register of Historic Places — with sophisticated galleries, shops, restaurants and cultural sites tucked inside.

Be sure to visit the Pacific Tsunami Museum for a glimpse into the town’s dramatic past, and the daily farmer’s market, so you can enjoy the seasonal local produce.

Are there more things to do in Hilo or Kona?

Not only are Kona and Hilo on opposite sides of the Big Island, but they also offer distinct experiences. The main differences are the climate and types of activities available.

While Kona has drier weather and is popular for snorkeling, whale watching and coffee tours, Hilo caters to travelers seeking out lush rainforests, active volcanoes and small-town hospitality.

Hawaii is known as a tropical destination, and temperatures are fairly consistent throughout the year. The average temperature is 85 degrees during the summer (May to October) and 78 degrees in the winter. At night, temperatures can drop by about 10 degrees.

However, the weather in Kona versus Hilo can differ dramatically due to their location on opposite coasts on the island. Kona has mostly hot and dry weather, with about 18 inches of rain per year. Hilo receives about 130 inches of rain annually, making it one of the wettest cities in the U.S. The rainiest months are from November to March.

What is Hilo Hawaii known for?

A busy farming and fishing area in early times, Hilo evolved into a commercial center for the sugar industry in the 1800s. Downtown Hilo was built around its crescent-shaped bay and became the seat of county government. Today, Downtown Hilo is a charming town offering museums, art galleries, shops and restaurants.

Discover the area’s fascinating history at the Lyman Museum, learn about the terrifying tsunamis that nearly swallowed Hilo at the Pacific Tsunami Museum or head to the newly built ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, a world-class attraction housed in three striking titanium cones (representing the three tallest mountains on the island of Hawaiʻi: Maunakea, Maunaloa and Hualālai).

To taste some of Hawaiʻi’s exquisite produce or buy local crafts, try the Hilo Farmers Marketin Downtown Hilo. See more local culture when you browse the art at the East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center. Or, purchase a Hawaiian keepsake at one of Hilo’s many popular local shops.

Where do cruise ships dock at Hilo?

Cruise ships in Hilo Hawaii dock at a terminal facility located approx 3 km (2 ml) from the town’s center. The route between the cruise ship terminal and downtow is walkable, but part of it is through the town’s industrial zone. Passengers are usually greeted by locals performing live traditional music and dancing.

Ouside the cruise port’s main entrance, there is a bus stop serving the island’s Hele On Bus (marked as “Keaukaha”). This bus line goes to Mooheau Bus Station (downtown’s last stop). Hele On Bus don’t run on Sundays.

At the cruise terminal there are also taxis (to downtown Hilo) and free (sponsored by Walmart) shuttle bus service between the terminal and the Walmart store.

Can you drive around the Big Island in one day?

The Hawaii Belt Road is an approximate six hour round trip drive that encircles the entire Big Island.

Is Hilo a walkable city?

Day 1: The heart of Downtown Hilo. What makes Downtown Hilo great is it’s easily walkable. History, shopping, and ono eats are always just a short stroll away. Before striking out, get oriented with the Hilo Downtown Improvement Association’s walking tour map (downloadable from the Historic Hawaii Foundation). Even if you don’t make it to every stop, the tour map gives a nice overview of Hilo’s layout, its landmarks and architectural history.

After breakfast at the iconic Ken’s House of Pancakes, spend the morning at the Lyman Museum and Mission House. Established in 1931 by the descendants of New England missionaries David and Sarah Lyman, the museum peels back the layers of Hawaii’s natural and human history through exhibits, educational programs, and events. The 1839 mission house is the oldest wood-frame building on the island, and the mission house tour provides a fascinating peek into early 19th century Hawaii.

For lunch, stop in for a bite at the always festive Pineapple’s. As the only open-air restaurant in downtown Hilo, it’s a refreshing spot for a meal, day or night. Live music performances and the streetside ambiance pushing in from the corner of Mamo and Keawe streets will lively up your lunch, dinner or happy hour.

Is Hilo Hawaii worth visiting?

Activities in and around Hilo. There are plenty of things to do in Hilo to spend a day or two. You can go see waterfalls, visit a few museums, check out the zoo, or visit one of theblack sand beach parks in and around Hilo. Read more information on our page dedicated to activities in Hilo.

There are many easily accessible spectacular waterfalls and lush rainforest trails to pick in and around Hilo, of which the Rainbow Falls and “Boiling Pots” are the most famous.

Around Hilo there is also plenty of action for the outdoors-minded visitor:

Can I get around Hilo without a car?

The public (Hele-on) bus service is an alternative if you have plenty of time and want to avoid renting a car. The cheapest way to get around the Big Island after walking yourself is the public bus (Hele-on-Bus). This bus will get you to most places on the island, but transit times are long and connections infrequent.

The Big Island might be ‘BIG’ for Hawaiian standards but in absolute measure it is quite small. At the widest point, the island only measures 95 miles across! Regardless, it is still almost twice as big as all other Hawaiian Islands combined. If you want to be in control of your own transport there is only one viable option to navigate around the Big Island: renting a car.

If for whatever good reason this is not an option for you there are a few alternatives. Our guide to getting around the Big Island takes you through the following options:

• With public transport (the bus)
• With shared rides / Uber / Lyft / taxi services on the Big Island
• Using tours for sightseeing

What is special about Hilo?

With some of the worlds most famous volcanoes less than an hour drive away, Hilo’s most striking feature is its exquisite landscape!

One of the most iconic attractions is the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa.

Visitors can witness the raw power of nature as they explore lava tubes, steam vents, and other volcanic formations!

Hilo’s magic extends far beyond its fiery volcanoes.