The Nani Mau Gardens are located on Makalika Street in Hilo and cover an area of some 53 acres. This stunning garden comprises of 20 acres of landscaped displays of indigenous and exotic tropical flowers and plants, a fabulous orchid garden, rare palms and tropical fruit orchards with lily ponds and waterfalls. The gardens are divided into a number of areas, the European Garden, the Orchid Garden and the Water Garden; there is also a museum, gift shop and two restaurants at the venue.

The Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii is located on Imiloa Place in Hilo. This outstanding centre is an information hub about the culture of the Hawaiian people and the continually changing understanding of the Universe. Interactive exhibits encourage the exploration of astronomy, Hawaiian language and history. The facility also has a high-tech planetarium theatre and native landscape design.

The Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium is located on Kalanikoa Street in Hilo. The stadium was named after a famed local dancer and singer. The stadium is also used for the special events such as the yearly Merrie Monarch Festival (a week long cultural event).

The Palace Theatre is located on Haili Street in Hilo; it was originally constructed in the 1925 and reopened in 1998 as an art house. It is very popular, showing movies and live performances on a regular basis.

The University Theatre is located on the Campus of the University of Hawaii. The theatre stages many plays and musicals all year round, including dance, jazz, special events, and ethnic concerts. 

Hilo Bay Beachfront Park is located immediately east of Hilo, along Kalanianaole Avenue. The beach has a stretch of black sand that stretches for around 3,000’. The Hilo Bay front area is particularly popular with canoeing and surfing enthusiasts.

The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is located around 8 miles north of Hilo on the four-mile Scenic Route at Onomea Bay. The garden is set in a Valley on the Ocean, where nature trails twist through a tropical rainforest, crossing bubbling streams, passing numerous gorgeous waterfalls and the exhilarating Ocean vistas along the rugged Pacific Coast.

The Garden displays a huge diversity of palms, heliconias, gingers, and hundreds of other exceptional and exotic plants from the entire tropical world. There are currently over 2,000 species, and the collection is forever growing. This non-profit nature preserve is committed to providing a plant sanctuary, a living seed bank, and a study centre for trees and plants of the tropical world and to preserving the exceedingly striking natural surroundings of Onomea Bay. 

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is positioned on two of the most active volcanoes in the world - Kilauea and Mauna Loa. There are great opportunities for hiking, backpacking and lava viewing. Two scenic drives are also available:

The Crater Rim Drive is 11 miles and the Chain of Craters Road is 20 miles. The Kilauea Visitor Center is based just inside entrance to the park, where you can obtain information about safety in the park and ranger-led activities. There are various hike trails that take place both day and overnight. All day hikers and overnight backcountry users need to register and obtain a free permit at the Kilauea Visitor Center (07:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. daily).The permits are issued on a fist come first served basis and no sooner than a day before your hike. Overnight stays at campgrounds are limited, you must confirm with rangers at the Kilauea Visitor Center for precise campground locations and permissible numbers.

Rainbow Falls is located off Waianuenue Avenue, in downtown Hilo. Cascading water falls 80’ into a large pool that is nearly 100’ in diameter. The mists toss a series of rainbows into the air as the water cascades below. The best time to see a rainbow is early in the morning. Beneath the waterfall is the legendary home of the goddess Hina, mother of the powerful demigod Maui and creator of the Hawaiian Islands. Stone steps lead up to a viewing area near the parking lot, which overlooks the waterfall.

Akaka Falls State Park consists of both Akaka and Kahuna Falls and is located above Honomu, just north of Hilo. To get to the park is around a twenty mile drive north of Hilo and takes you through the old sugar cane fields. The hike is a pleasant, shady, half-hour walk on a half mile circular path scented with tropical flowers and vines. Kahuna Falls cascades down 400’, while Akaka Falls, which thunders 442’ into a pool of water below.

Parker Ranch is a 150,000 acre working ranch that is located in Waimea - north from the Kohala Coast. It is amongst the largest and oldest ranches in the United States. Parker Ranch takes visitors back to Hawaii’s paniolo (cowboy) days. There is a variety of things to do such as: watch rodeos, go horseback riding, jump on an All Terrain Vehicle and travel around the ranch lands. Today, Parker Ranch comprises of the Parker Ranch Museum & Visitor Center, which gives an enlightening introduction to the ranch and its history. Also, just a short drive away is two historic homes: Mana Hale and Puuopelu.

The World Botanical Gardens is located around 16 miles west of Hilo adjoining the Belt Highway on the east. The Gardens are situated on 300 acres of previously sugarcane fields, and includes the impressive triple tiered Umauma Falls. Take a relaxing stroll along the nature trail that meanders through the rain forest, or the 80m long wall that is covered with hundreds of wild orchids and the vibrant Rainbow Walk.