Melissa (the owner of JAWS) was an excellent swim and triathlon coach. She really went above and…read morebeyond to provide me with personalized swimming tips. She remembered the details of each session and would customize the following sessions to work on my personal strengths and weaknesses as a swimmer. I highly recommend her as a coach for beginner, intermediate, or advanced swimmers!

Best playground equipment in all of Hilo and surrounding areas. This is a convenient playground to…read morevisit when I run errands in town because it's close to grocery and other shopping. Added bonus, I found $12 unclaimed dollars here

Pana'ewa is the go-to gym in Hilo if you want to get a game of pick-up basketball in. With three…read morefull-size covered courts, there's plenty of space for games to run. That said, not all of the courts are always open at the same time, as children's basketball and volleyball practices do take place in the gym later in the afternoon, depending on the time of year. Being that there's not really anywhere else that is open on a regular basis in town, however, you just deal with it and are happy to get a game in when you can. The majority of people who come to play here are really nice and easy to get along with. And as long as you don't act like a jerk, they're pretty accepting as well.

We found out about this oceanside swimming pool (250 feet long)from the Big Island Revealed app…read more It's five feet deep in some spots. Bring your water shoes and snorkel gear! It's 2.7 miles north of the corner from Highway 132 and 137 (so, go North on Government Beach Road). This is a paved road. Around 2.7 miles, you'll come across a small hill, on the downside of the hill, you'll see a dirt road on your right through a hau bush (twisted looking trees that are entwined). If you hit Pakaka Road, you went too far. There is no parking lot. There is a small one-spot parking space that you can back into (perpendicular to the road). There are two roadside beams indicating this spot. You can also park along the road. From Government Beach Road, on the dirt road, it's 1500 feet to the shoreline. The pool is 100 yards to the left once you hit the shoreline. I do not recommend driving down the path to the shoreline because the branches are low and it's super muddy. It's an easy walk. Towards the shoreline, you'll see an abandoned turquoise minivan. It's obvious that someone was squatting in the van at some point. The engine has been torn out, windows broken, carry-out boxes everywhere, and the rainforest has started to entwine itself with the car. On the coast, there were more signs of squatters. The pool was beautiful. We went during high tide and the pools were super full and the waves were crashing hard against the rocks. The app said we should go during low tide...whoops. We didn't run into a single person. It was super secluded and beautiful. Although the walk was really neat through the hau bush and having an oceanside swimming pool to ourselves was cool...I would not do this again. Honestly, I didn't feel safe. We didn't see any squatters but the signs made me uneasy. There is no cellphone signal and your completely isolated. I recommend this for large groups of people only.

Dharma the Owner is amazing! He's super down to earth and knowledgeable about everything Health…read moreRelated! If your looking for a gym that is unpretentious then here you go!

Amazing gym with great atmosphere prices are the best around hilghy recommend this placeread more

Penn Fitness & Training Center stands out because it blends the grit of a true training gym with…read morethe warmth of a community hub, creating an atmosphere where people feel both challenged and supported. The space is packed with everything from heavy weights and functional training tools to dedicated mat rooms for striking and grappling, giving members the freedom to train however they want. What really elevates the place is its deep MMA heritage--decades of local fighters, coaches, and everyday people pushing each other to get better. It's the kind of gym where you walk in and immediately feel the energy: no ego, just hard work, real coaching, and a sense of belonging that keeps people coming back.

When in Hilo, gotta honor the legends that created greatness. Drove by this spot and here was our…read moreexperience. AMBIANCE: Parking: Street parking so be sure to come early. Feels: The spot is nothing flashy, just your usual grit and grind town. The space itself is pretty spacious with all the equipment needed to get that workout from sparring, weight lifting, or cardio. TL; DR OVERALL: 4 Stars. Promising spot. It would be great to get a workout here to channel in that gold standard mentality. Hope to check this spot out next time. TIPS: * Members only

If you are looking for physical growth along with building immeasurable confidence in your life,…read moreand tapping into a strength you didn't even know you had, FitByWhitt is the trainer for you. Her training is not easy, it will be difficult but you will break boundaries you didn't think you could. I have seen her help change people's lives in so many ways because of her dedication to helping people grow confidence even when they think they can't. There is a comradery in her group training sessions that fills the room with an uncontrollable strength; It brings people back, and makes you hungry for more. In a world where you're told to be reserved, she gives you a space to be a savage. She breathes consistency and her daily mottos are #TrainDifferent #EveryDamnDay. If you've come across her Instagram and thought about joining her training sessions, I recommend you make the leap. It will be the greatest decision you'll make for YOURSELF.

We absolutely LOVED our experience at Escape Hilo. Whether this is your first or 50th escape room,…read moreyou will be charmed by the unique story and vibe of this one-man owned and operated game. From the moment we walked in, it was clear that Ryan was extremely passionate about his escape room and very enthusiastic about the experience we were about to have. He even designed and built the entire room on his own! At first, we thought that the game might be a little quirky and jank. But no--this room is LEGIT. My partner and I have done about 15-20 escape games and this one provided an exciting level of challenge but was still doable for two experienced people. We actually ended up being just one number away from solving the number code to escape! Ryan did a fantastic job setting expectations and providing helpful hints when asked. The puzzles are challenging, but never punishing. The next task always reveals itself in a really neat way. If you're on the Hilo side, we highly recommend trying out this escape game! You literally will not find another game like it!

He relocated by the Tavern! Also added some new puzzles and got some new puzzles coming up soon! We…read morewent and conquered the room with a little over 1 minute remaining! Our Jujitsu kids had a blast along with parents. We learned to work together and this night we will never forget! We challenge other Jujitsu schools to see if they have it to beat the escape room like we did! Highly recommend this place the only escape room in Hilo! Support this guy Ryan! He added a little Halloween theme too to it!! Mahalos for the experience and memories! #AJJ Alameda Jujitsu

With so many beach parks on the north shore, it is quite difficult to tell where one park starts…read moreand the next door one ends. Such is the relationship between Kealoha and the neighboring Carlsmith parks. I think a fair number of reviews of Carlsmith include the coves that are north of Kealoha property, so you may want to read about that park to for more info. Kealoha is a stretch of public beach near the Hilo Yacht Club and Mahikea Island (to the north). It is long and narrow with a large parking strip off the road between the road and ocean. There is a stretch of green lawn with shade, restrooms, and picnic tables. During our visit, we did see scuba divers training in the nice sized cove that reportedly is an area frequented by sea turtles. It appeared to be about chest deep on the divers, so the bottom is clearly visible. Although we didn't see any turtles on the stormy day of our visit, we did see lots of small fish. Because of the light rain and storm, we really got our attention was the waves smashing into the lava reef that protected the coves. So much power in each wave as it hits that immovable reef, creating an explosive blast of spray as rhythmic as breathing. Very cool for someone who lives in a landlocked state to see. I wonder if the locals ever become bored with it. Anyway, we enjoyed the visit even without climbing down to swim. Maybe I can get back before I'm too old to enjoy it. I think I'd like to. Review #2409