So what's the big deal about this street and the enormous trees?…read more These old, gargantuan and unusually shaped trees that lined a street in the Waiakea Peninsula in Hilo, Big Island, is known as the "Hilo Walk of Fame." The trees thrive in Hilo's moist air since it rains a lot on this side of the island. We passed through a lot of lush greenery and vegetation on the way here. As we approached the "drive" the canopy of trees became more prominent and blanketed most of the entire drive with shade. Yeah, while you might say that they're just a bunch of trees on the road, it's interesting to note that many of the trees were planted by celebrities (politicians, actor, musicians, historic figures and other famous personalities) to commemorate their visit: FDR, Louis Armstrong, Babe Ruth, Amelia Earhart, Richard Nixon, etc. The trees dated back to 1933 when film director and producer, Cecil B. DeMille and his cast were filming in Hawaii and planted the first set of trees... the last tree was planted in 1964 by a first female politician from the Big Island. It is also amazing to learn that these resilient trees have survived many storms and tsunamis that devastated part of the Big Island. Also, I had no idea that the banyan tree is the national tree of India. Review #2282

Hilo as a town is a pleasant surprise: it's historic, it's beautiful, and it's verdant. It rains a…read morelot, leading to beautiful greenery everywhere with parks and trails galore. One such area is Banyan Tree Drive; a planned road around which many of the major hotels are. All along this road are huge old Banyan trees. Each tree has a plaque on the ground with the name of the politician, actor, or musician who planted it in the 1950s. In that 70 years, they've grown and aged well. The road is very shady and comfortable. Green vines are everywhere. The trees are the perfect habitat for vibrant birds and vocal coquí frogs, which come alive with song at night. There are beach and bay parks around the drive, with the Queen Liliuokalani Gardens at the far end. If you're on a driving tour of the island, it's worth your time to come here. I personally had a wonderful time running around the loop a few times on my visit; the sidewalk is large and safe away from the traffic. This would be a great place for an evening walk to just appreciate the trees and read the signs along the way; you may find one belonging to favorite movie star!

Definitely recommend this hike. It's easy and quick. The trees provide a nice shade and the breeze…read morefrom the ocean makes this a relaxing walk.

You pass a beautiful and scenic drive on the way to the trail. The trail is a bit bumpy, so it can…read morebe difficult for younger toddlers. It is definitely not ideal for strollers, so use a baby carrier instead, if you have it. The trail is relatively quick, and ends at at a breathtaking view of the water. Definitely one of my favorite moments so far in Hilo! If you continue up the jungle-like path, you will end up at the botanical gardens. So if you don't wish to walk there and then back after the gardens, you should take the same route back, to avoid the extra walking.

When I'm in Hilo, I always love visiting Big Island candies. It's always fun seeing the factory…read moreprocess and seeing the cookies dipped, but what I enjoy most is the complimentary samples. This place is a piece of heaven. Those cookies, brownies and rocky road are things I dream of. I do prefer dark chocolate over milk, but milk chocolate stuff is really yummy too. Who am I kidding if only milk chocolate dipped cookies in front of me I'd totally take them. The packaging is also beautiful, but if you just want cookies for you or to make goodie bags save a little money and get the bagged cookies vs boxed ones. And if you have any product questions, make sure to ask the friendly staff.

Bigger of an operation now compared to back when I was growing up in Hilo. But they have always…read morekept the fact that you can walk in and see the workers hand dipping cookies and whatnot. They've not changed much besides having newer items here and there. They've classic chocolate dipped shortbread cookies are always a winner. Best part about visiting is that you get samples of their products if you just ask kindly! The staff are always so friendly and helpful. I wish they would bring back the Peanut Butter Crunch Bars!

Puna Chocolate Company is one of my favorite local chocolate artisan shops, conveniently located in…read moreDowntown Hilo. Since my time away, they have beautifully renovated the interior to have a sit-down booth area. I love the abundance of nene decor honoring our state bird, along with high quality chocolates made in Hawaii. The store clerk was very knowledgeable and described how each cultivars of chocolate differ in their taste profiles. We had the horchata 50% milk chocolate bar, and I don't have a picture because we devoured it in one sitting! Overall, Puna Chocolate Co. is an elegant, delightful, and elevated experience that rivals big names like Big Island Candies and Dandelion Chocolates in San Francisco. Highly recommend in stopping by!

Apparently I was wrong about the service! Lol. The owner angrily ranted at me about how there…read morewasn't any AI in his shop, despite the fact that when I visited, nearly every single poster on the walls advertising events either utilized AI generated art or was wholly generated by it. You'd think that as the owner of a small business, he'd want to support the many local artists to create promotional material and consider customer comments with some grace and humility, but I suppose this isn't that kind of place. Genuinely embarrassing for the owner and the company he's representing.

Although we only had a few days to spend in Hawai'i, and a lot of activities to experience, we were…read moreexcited about trying out the variety of food available in Hilo. Thankfully, Pono and the Hilo Food Tours delivered. It was a treat to hear about the food we sampled through the lens of Hawaiian history. I would recommend Hilo Food Tours to anyone interested in sampling some great flavors. We hope to come back some time for the cocktail tour too!

From the owner: Hilo Food Tours is an experience, a walking culinary and historical journey which we make together…read morethrough Hilo town. These tasty dishes have become a part of the food landscape of Hawaii and are enjoyed by everyone. Our customers will experience the history and culture of Hawaii through their taste buds, leaving them with an appreciation for a place known for its beauty and mystery. This is what makes Hawaii unique and this is what we want you, our customers, to experience. Our 2 hour walking tour takes place in our quaint town of Hilo. We will tour five different eateries throughout Hilo town and sample the wonderful flavors each offers in their dishes. As we walk her streets you will learn the history and background of the area and be taken away to another time and place. A place rich in diversity that makes Hilo unique. You will experience each individual culture through your taste buds, savoring the richness and unique spices used in every dish.

The Island of Hawaii is…read more 1. one of seven islands making up the Hawaiian Islands chain. 2. largest land mass (approx 4000 sq. mi) of all the islands (and the youngest) 3. southern most of all the islands geographically 4. only island with a LIVE volcano(s) - Kilauea Iki and Mauna Loa 5. island with 3 named and recognized national parks- Hawaii Volcano National Park, Honokahau National Park, Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Park also referred to as the City of Refuge 6. island with the most Hawaiian history and legacy- Captain James Cook discovered the Hawaiian Islands when he landed on the south west side of the island now known as Kona, King Kamehameha 1st, also known as King Kamehameha the Great as he united the people of the islands in the late 1700's. Then in the 1800's the missionaries came for a visit, never left and the rest my reading friends is history. I am born and raised on the Island of Hawaii, city of Hilo. While I'm a Honolulu resident all of my adult life, I still consider the Island of Hawaii; nicknamed the Big Island (for obvious reasons) my home. If you love nature, history and a laid back way of life, then, the Island of Hawaii is the place for you to visit. Fun Facts- Modern day Iron Man Triathlon held on Island of Hawaii. Cruise ships stop in two ports; Hilo and Kona, and if you are lucky, you might get to see and experience a live volcanic eruption

A third island for us (Oahu and Maui previously), our fourth visit to Hawaii. Just as gorgeous as…read morethe other two, and less visited. This large island mass could contain the entire rest of the chain in its boundaries alone. But beware of those lava flows if you're even thinking of relocating here. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is this island's biggest tourist drawing card.

Take a scenic drive to an amazing working cacao farm where you can learn all about the art of…read moregrowing cacao. Chocolate lovers of all kinds will appreciate this event. Serene setting, knowledgeable hostess (host) We were greeted by the "security "dog named Darwin and knew this was the adventure for us. Travel with curiosity, be ready to have a Chocolate experience.

My family planned a trip to Hawaii a bit of of nowhere. Honestly, I was happy to just tag along and…read moredo whatever except I insisted I MUST visit a cacao farm. As the area where cacao can grow is incredibly small, I knew this might be my only chance, and I am nothing if not a dedicated chocolate fanatic. I also love gardening and growing my own food, so suffice to say this was right up my alley. I had previously tried (and adored) Manoa Chocolate, so I had to check if they offer a farm tour and happily, they do! I roped my mom and two sisters into the adventure, and we booked the Farm Tour and Hawaiian Craft Chocolate Tasting. There is also a shorter experience with just the tasting, but I was so glad we did the full tour. From the first moment we arrived I knew it would be magical. We got there a bit early in a huge van as some of my family was dropping us off to go on their own adventures. Wrenn was so welcoming to everyone and suggested those not staying take a little walk and explore the farm, even suggesting they take some star fruit to go! And then the tasting area! It is a large open space with a bar and tables around the edges, thankfully covered for shade, but the view of the farm and then out to the ocean was absolutely swoon worthy. We each had our own spot set up with plates, glasses, napkin, notepad and pen for notes, and tasting information. You can tell they know what they are doing as they've thought of anything you could possibly need. We started out with a tasting of about half the bars. Wrenn and Jude were kind and patient and really helped us learn how to find the different notes in the different varieties. It was such fun conversing with my family and the other guests, comparing the flavors we each discovered. We then did a little mini tour of the farm and learned how cacao trees grow, seeing them from sapling to full grown, and leaning of many different varieties, even some that are grown more for their fresh pulp than for the actual cacao beans. Speaking of which, we got to try some of that pulp! Ah! It was a true dream come true as this is not something you can just grab at the grocery store, and it was very yummy and tropical. Not only that, but once we got back to the tasting area for the second round, we got to try cacao juice (also tropical and delicious!). We also learned how cacao is processed and met loads of cacao-crazy geckos. We then tried the remainder of the chocolate as well as two different (and wonderful) teas. At the end we were welcome to ask for a second tasting of any chocolate bars we particularly loved and shop the goodies they have available. Besides the chocolate bars and tea, there was vanilla, honey, soap, jam, and maybe a couple other goodies. Truly, this was an experience like no other and one of the highlights of my trip to Hawaii. If you are even remotely a fan of chocolate or interested in farming, it is not to be missed.

Lucky me we had the entire beach park to ourself. Not meant for adult swimming or diving deep to…read moresnorkeling but for a families with young kids or those who can't swim this is the best to cool off. Known for the sandy shallow ocean pools and a bountiful tide pools to explore. The natural lava rocks surround the area making protected lava pools blocking the crashing waves. The parking itself was plentiful, but when school is out and the island is at its peak tourist season you never get the seclusion I got today. The park has tables, restrooms and even horseshoe courts. Anytime I can get out and dip in the water is a win!

Fun place for kids. I would never come here without kids. The place was nice but they seriously…read moreneed to clean the bathrooms. I'm literally traumatized at how disgusting it was, floor was flooded, stepped in god knows what, then in the toilet there were 3 HUGE roaches walking around, horrible.

The OK Farm tour is a great way to learn about post sugarcane agriculture in Hawaii. Cassie was…read moreour tour guide and was very informative of the OK Farm history teaching us about all the crops growing on the farm. The in season fruit and macnuts were a nice treat as we overlooked the best view of Rainbow Falls!

One of the most interesting, informative tours I've ever been on. If you're a foodie or like to…read morecook this is a great place to visit! Ala and Cassie were great tour guides, driving us on a tour bus and stopping a few times to show us different fruit crops, but my favorite was spice road. Tasting, smelling and learning about the harvesting process. Don't misunderstand this was not at all a boring tour, it was just enough information and then we would move on while sipping seltzers,beer, and trying unusual fruits of the island not to mention snacking on macadamia nuts by some beautiful waterfalls. They also have a store where they sell some of their products and produce.

We loved our visit to Lavaloha! It was great for kids--interesting, and not too long or too short…read more Plus, there's the chocolate tasting, and you get to support a small business, which is wonderful. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone visiting the Big Island

Location has beautiful view and is so isolated. Tour and tasting was very interesting, however…read moredue to a recent fire at the location, we were not able to see the actual production of seeds into chocolate, but they did show a video on how it was done. Very informative guide, making it easy to ask questions.