Such a cool experience for me and my children. I can't believe I've never heard of this place. My…read morekids are 7 and 9 and they really enjoyed themselves. There were fun interactive games, lots of hands on activities and cool tech to play with. We really enjoyed the planetarium and the showing of Spark, as well as all the Hawaiiana info. The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable. The gift shop was cute and offered lots of neat souvenirs. Highly recommend visiting if you can.

Mixed review, wish I could give them a four and a half. For locals, the price didn't really make…read moresense. I know it's through the university, but activities like this should be close to free, especially for kids. As pointed out by other guests, the planetarium really made the trip worth it... But overall the astronomy center was lacking something. The exhibits were mixed, and though I appreciate having other things like local birds and trees, our kids get that through school and we really wanted to see astronomy stuff. The farm animal color wall was stupid, it's off subject and doesn't really teach kids anything. We liked the canoe/sailing exhibit, it tied in historical Hawaiian history and astronomy. We will return eventually, but if the exhibits were stronger or the price more reasonable, we'd be more likely to stop by sooner. I feel like the old Ellison Onizuka museum at the Kona airport had better space/astronomy exhibits.

I was in for the surprise of a lifetime with a proposal at the end of my adventure…read more The Crew, Gavin and Reed and our driver Heno were awesome in coordinating this special experience for me and my now fiancé! Had the best experience the ladies in office were also sooo kind and supportive in the whole process. 10/10 experience and customer service!! Thank you botanical world adventures for a great day and unforgettable experience!

Set in the heart of a beautiful rainforest, Botanical World Adventures' Zipline tour is truly one…read moreof the most scenic excursions! Nick, Kavahi, Lish, and Heno are the dream team who helped guide us through the adventure, offering fun insights on the local flora and fauna along the way, as well as some some stellar "dad" jokes and banter! You truly can't go wrong with the ziplines at Botanical World--the team is communicative, enthusiastic, and safety conscious, while the location is unmatched!

Wonderful displays and interactive learning activities for all ages!! The owner did a fabulous job…read moreputting together a center for learning and play.

What a fun, relaxing, STEAMpunk-y space! Can't wait to come back and hang out again!read more

Spocked this little spot when we headed to Walmart. They're off to the side in a small parking lot…read moreoff the main Walmart parking lot. It shares an entrance with a small food court and it was cute how someone had a party set up. One of the smaller locations I've been to but had a good enough variety of games for every age.

Huge Mahalo Nui Loa to Taire the manager for working with us during times of hardship having…read morecomplete understanding and support! The best costumer service, quick response and going over and beyond for our Ohana! Go support this local business and have fun while doing it!!! We can't wait to go back and celebrate our little one's birthday once our van is up and running and we again are so thankful for the service we have always received true aloha with every interaction with any of the staff and experiences! They do birthday parties ya'll they setup a table they have packaged deals! They have so much to offer your keiki so go!!!

The Amber Glass provides an AMAZING EXPERIENCE !!! Drinks are amazing, dancers amazing!! The owner…read moreis always at the events & really brings life into the party!! If you get a chance to check out their Instagram or Facebook page, DO!

Super great hospitality, being able to turn a small family gathering into something extra fun!read more

I'm new in town and grateful there's at least a movie theater to go to! I took my toddler to his…read morefirst ever movie to watch Toy Story 5 and he loved it! The seats were okay, he is small and kept getting sucked back but we adjusted and made it work. It wasn't busy at all which was shocking since it was opening day. Overall we had lots of fun. Employees were friendly, popcorn was delicious and we had a blast! They even had photo ops in the lobby with the characters on the props. Restrooms were also clean. We will be back as long as the theater is around!

I saw "Wicked" here Nov. 29 -- my first time in this theater. It may be the worst-run movie theater…read moreI've experienced in 68 years of living. I habitually arrive early, so I went into the theater and got into the refreshment line at 6:40, 20 minutes before the 7 pm show I had a ticket for (I had bought my ticket online about a week prior). It was crowded, as one might expect on a holiday weekend. And the line moved incredibly slowly: I finally had my drink and candy at 7:10, starting to worry that if I didn't get to my seat soon, I might miss the start of the movie. I glanced again at my ticket: Auditorium 5, seat E15, headed there immediately and went straight into the theater. But something was clearly wrong: The prior movie had just ended, final credits still rolling, at what was now about 7:13. And it clearly wasn't "Wicked." What the...? I looked around, didn't immediately see any helpful signage, so I asked a kid from the cleaning crew that was just entering the auditorium between shows. He said that "Wicked" was on screen 6, so I headed over there -- only to find that in that auditorium THERE WAS NO SEAT E15!!! Most of the audience was seated and trailers had started, but I had no seat. I looked frantically for anyone who looked like a manager -- no luck. So I went back to no. 5, bothered the cleaning crew again, and one of them said he could change my ticket. He looked up the show and found that a few seats were unsold, and gave me one of them. I finally got a seat -- not as good a seat as the one I'd paid for, but at least a seat -- about 30 seconds before "Wicked" started. There's no excuse for this. They had my email and had sent me my ticket that way. They could have notified anyone who had bought a ticket that the show had been moved to a different screen and seats might need to change, but apparently no one thought of it or cared enough to notify paying customers. I have no clue whether this place is always run this ineptly, but I will do my best not to find out.

Came here the first day my husband and I arrived to the Big Island, and it was great! We typically…read moreclimb at indoor climbing gyms all over California (I'm about V4 solid and husband is V6 solid), and considering the limited space they have, I can say they've done well! The routesetting (I heard was done by all women?) was fun and challenging, there are both slab and overhung-ish problems, routes of varying difficulties (so beginner-friendly and above!), and the customer service and pricing are on point! Keep in mind that it's street parking only, but with that, they're walking distance to different restaurants and stuff. Also note that this is a boulder only gym, so no ropes. Fear not though, there are tons of soft crash pads around, the walls aren't incredibly high, and the team gives you a safety run down before you get going! Give them a try! We'd definitely come back.

They were so awesome. We were just visiting Hilo for the day and had an hour left before our flight…read moreback to Oahu. We walked in and they were closed for a private event. We started just talking story and they let my nephew climb for an hour while the party set up. I wish I got her name but she was so kind. Gave him pointers on how to climb and still went out of her way to make us feel welcome even though they were supposed to be closed. If ever we visit Hilo again we will definitely stop by. And if you are visiting they are worth going to! So much Aloha found there.

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.

In a new location, the Mokupapapa Discovery Center serves as a museum and educational center for…read morethe Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, a huge area of oceans and islands around Hawaii. While most are off limits outside of scientific stations, this is a great way to learn about them and the history of the monument. The center has many events, that can viewed on their website. It's free and open Tuesday through Saturday during the day. A highlight for me was the large aquarium of reef fish at the back, as well as maps and historic photos from the different islands. They also have clean restrooms, which can be hard to find while walking around Hilo. They have free information to take as well. It's worth it to talk to the attendant as they are knowledgeable about the center and monument. This is a worthwhile activity for any visitor to the islands.

The woman at the front desk provided great educational information…read more There is no admission fee and is completely free. They accept donations at the front desk and by the aquarium. It wasn't crowded and has Air Conditioning. You can probably see the whole place in about an hour. There are additional exhibits upstairs, i don't believe there is an elevator. Public restroom is available. Lots of free parking available.

This is THE premiere hula event in the world. For Hula aficionados, sitting on old hard benches for…read more5-6 hours, navigating the crowds, migrating their way to sleepy Hilo town is a labor of love. My mother is one of those who sits through every second of the four day event. The population of Hilo swells with all of the halau's and visitors alike. They come from all over the world, especially many from Japan, to be immersed in the chants and dancing for a few days. In addition to the actual competition they have parades and a ton of craft shows that showcase many of Hawaii's premiere artisans. This is our favorite part. We've bought everything from necklaces to clothing, food, and toys. The only real drawback of watching it in person is that you have to really know your stuff. On television they explain things and there isn't a bad seat in the house. They also use a biker "club" for security and they're not really known for their customer service as well. One great suggestion, bring your own pillow to sit on. Located in Edith Kanaka'ole Tennis Stadium (http://www.yelp.com/biz/edith-kanakaole-tennis-stadium-hilo ) it's really a great festival. If you're interested in attending, I'd check the website for information. There are strict guidelines for ordering tickets and they sell out almost instantaneously.

Absolutely one of the best Hawaiian events all year and undoubtedly the best hula event in the…read moreworld!! The passion and talent expressed by hula dancers and their kumu dancing and chanting their hearts out, the sweetness of pikake and plumeria from leis and headpieces wafting through the air cut only by the smells of laulau and chicken long rice, Hawaiian melodies drifting through the stadium by some of the best and well-known musicians in Hawaii, and the best display of Hawaiian culture as the Merrie Monarch himself, King David Kalakaua, would have wanted it. First off: tickets - HARD TO GET as there are only 4,200 seats for the event. You don't buy these "day-of" (unless you're willing to press your luck as one of those many people holding a sign at the stadium entrance asking for tickets), you buy these about 3 months prior. The only way is to send money (i.e. money order - no checks) with a completed ticket request form w/ SASE on/after 12/26 and NO SOONER, then pray and wait! Like a lottery - only some win and tickets show up one day in your mailbox! While you may not get the seats you request, you may get a lesser category of seats (if you indicate you're willing to accept this option) but at least you get inside! Unfortunately, the vast majority (and those who postmarked their requests BEFORE 12/26) will get their requests & money sent back. Tickets for 2013 were sold out by February since it was the 50th year. Seats - well, closer to the elevated stage are rows and rows of folding chairs on the main floor. There are rows of benches up three sides of the stadium (the stage-rear benches are for the halau). The event organizers do their best by providing padded folding chairs, but the 1st night sitting on them really tested our tailbones and blood circulation! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND bringing a discrete pad to help comfort your tush for nearly 6 hours of hard sitting! (Many people did!) In addition to the 3 nights of competition - which runs from 5:45 p.m. till about midnight - there is the ho'ike: a non-competitive celebration of hula and the festival itself. Keep in mind the entire Merrie Monarch Festival is not just the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights of hula competition but a week-long event starting with the ho'olaule'a on Sunday. Arts & crafts fairs, hula events, art exhibits, even a Kalakaua beard look-alike contest occur throughout the week turning the sleepy town of Hilo into an active visitor scene. But it's the 3 nights of competition that receives all the attention and live television coverage. We were lucky enough to receive tickets to the 50th Merrie Monarch Festival and what a wonderful experience it was... 24 Miss Aloha Hula performances and 58 halau performances over 3 nights by the best hula dancers and kumu in the world! The beauty of the performances often left us with misty eyes and fond memories we will not soon forget... Hana hou!!