For disembarking passengers, Hilo Airport is only ten minutes away. For port of call passengers, there is more than enough to do until the ship is ready to sail. There are a lot of attractions to see on the island, but don’t rush off right away. Historic downtown Hilo has plenty of its own charm that shouldn’t be missed.

Downtown is within easy walking distance of the port, and the scenery is so beautiful that it is well worth the extra time that it takes. The Pacific Tsunami Museum is an excellent place to go to learn more about the disaster that reshaped Hilo. Many of the staff at the museum are tsunami survivors.

For a more lighthearted tour, visit the Lyman Museum and Mission House. This attraction explores the social and natural history of Hawaii. The mission house is the oldest wooden house on the island and still contains some of the original furniture from the 1830’s.

Things to do on The Big Island
This biggest attraction on the island is the Volcano National Park. Guided tours are available to take you to Kilauea, the most active volcano on earth. Helicopter tours are also available. These will fly you over recent eruptions sites. While molten lava cannot be guaranteed, there is an excellent chance that you will be able to see a lava flow.

The black sand beaches of Hilo are popular for their volcanic origins. Ocean Park is the most popular beach on the island. While it is safe for swimming, the waters do get dangerous just a short distance down the coast. Onekahakaha Beach is smaller but safer, particularly for tourists with children. Akaka Falls State Park features beautiful tropical vegetation, as well as Akaka Falls and Kahuna falls. For an easier waterfall to view, Rainbow Falls is much closer to downtown Hilo.