Carlsmith Beach Park
Carlsmith Beach Park is one of many parks along Kalanianaole Street east of downtown Hilo, but it might be...
Hilo
Beaches in Hilo
Haena Beach (Shipman Beach)
Ha’ena Beach is located in a remote area south of Hilo. The beach is open to the public, but...
Coconut Island (Moku Ola)
Coconut Island is a picturesque public park on the waterfront in Hilo. The county maintains the park and the...
Honolii Beach Park
Honoli’i Beach Park is a popular surf spot located a couple miles north of Hilo. The beach at Honoli’i...
Richardson Ocean Park
Richardson Ocean Park is a popular and scenic family-friendly beach on the shore east of Hilo. It has a...
Liliuokalani Gardens Park
Lili’uokalani Gardens is an awe-inspiring park on the shore of Waiakea Peninsula in Hilo Bay. It has walking paths...
Hawaiian Paradise Park Shoreline Access
The large housing subdivision of Hawaiian Paradise Park (HPP) near Hilo has a rocky shoreline that spans about two...
Wailoa River State Recreation Area
Wailoa River State Recreation Area is a large park surrounding Waiakea Pond right in the center of Hilo. It’s...
Reeds Bay Beach Park
Reeds Bay Beach Park in Hilo has a couple small sandy beaches that are good for keikis (kids) and...
Hilo Bayfront Beach
Hilo Bayfront Beach is the largest sandiest beach in the Hilo area – by far. But it’s not your...
Onekahakaha Beach Park
Onekahakaha Beach Park is a popular place for families in Hilo. Swimming, picnicking, tossing a football, and even horseshoes...
Kuhio Kalanianaole Park
Kuhio Kalaniana’ole Park is a small beach park on the shores of Reeds Bay in Hilo. It’s typically not...
Keaukaha Beach Park
Keaukaha Beach Park is a long park spanning about one-third of a mile of the Hilo waterfront just east...
Waiuli Beach Park (Leleiwi)
Wai’uli Beach Park is a small park east of Hilo that’s surrounded by ponds and protected swimming areas. With...
Waiolena Beach Park
Waiolena Beach Park is a small grass park on the shore east of Hilo. It has a picturesque swimming...
Kealoha Beach Park
Kealoha Beach Park in Hilo is a popular local gathering spot especially in the evenings. If you are not...
Hilo Breakwater Shoreline Access
Breakwater Beach is a small public shoreline access at the Hilo Breakwater. It’s useful if you want to walk...
Lehia Beach Park
Lehia Beach Park is the easternmost public beach access in the city of Hilo. It’s a quiet spot with...
Chocks Beach (Chalks)
This hidden beach access is frequently referred to online as either Chalks Beach or Chocks Beach, but either way...
Explore Hilo
Nearby Hotels
Nearby Attractions
The Boiling Pots & Pe'epe'e Falls
The Boiling Pots and the triple waterfall known as Pe’epe’e Falls are a popular stop in the Hilo area....
About Hilo
Hilo is the largest city and county seat of the Big Island (Hawaii County). It's home to the Port of Hilo, Hilo International Airport, the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus, and about 44,000 residents. Tourists have the option of staying on the Hilo side of the island for a different experience than the dryer Kona side. For supplies in Hilo there's a Walmart, an excellent farmers market that's open seven days a week (7am-3pm), and many shops and restaurants along the downtown waterfront. Hilo has several large parks to enjoy including Wailoa River State Recreation Area, Wailuku River State Park (Rainbow Falls and the Boiling pots), and the majestic Liliuokalani Gardens. The waterfront of Hilo outside of the port is mostly made up of lava rock and has about ten different beach parks. The best-known of these are Richardson Ocean Park, Carlsmith Beach Park, and Onekahakaha Beach Park. These parks don't have sandy beaches, but they have swimming areas, grass lawns and shade trees. The scenery at Hilo's parks makes up for the lack of sand. Hikers can walk the Donkey Trail on Onomea Bay (shorter trail) or hike to Shipman Beach from the trailhead in Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision (longer and slippery). Surfers can head to the break at Honoli'i Beach Park. Hilo also has a zoo, a botanical garden, an astronomy center, golf courses, lava caves, and more. It's a wonderful place to visit for the day, or your entire stay.