What Cruise Travelers Should Know
Hilo is notoriously rainy — more than 130 inches per year falls here, which is why the surrounding landscape is so green. Pack a light rain jacket and don't let a morning shower discourage you; it often clears.
The pier is right in downtown Hilo, walking distance from the Farmer's Market (Wednesdays and Saturdays are the biggest days), the Pacific Tsunami Museum, and the waterfront. Downtown is low-key and worth an hour or two on foot.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is 45 minutes south by car or taxi. The park entrance fee applies, and the landscape changes depending on recent volcanic activity — Kilauea's summit caldera sometimes has a visible lava lake, and the Chain of Craters Road takes you down to where lava flows have crossed the highway and reached the sea. Allow at least 3–4 hours in the park. Check the park service's website before you visit for current eruption status.
Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots are 2 miles from downtown — a $12–15 taxi or easy bike ride. Both are short walks from the parking area. Akaka Falls, a 422-foot cascade, is 15 miles north and well worth the trip if you have time.
The Panaewa Rainforest Zoo, about 4 miles south of town, is a small free zoo (open daily) with white Bengal tigers and tropical birds — a good stop if you're with children.
Sugar, Tsunamis, and Volcanic Creation
Hilo was a small trading settlement when American missionaries arrived in 1820. The town grew as a sugar shipping port through the 19th century; the plantation economy brought waves of immigrant workers from Japan, China, the Philippines, and Portugal, creating the multicultural community that defines Hilo today.
Two catastrophic tsunamis — in 1946 and 1960 — destroyed much of the waterfront. The 1960 wave, triggered by a Chilean earthquake, killed 61 people and leveled 500 buildings. The town rebuilt further inland; the old waterfront district is now a park buffer zone, and the Pacific Tsunami Museum (downtown, free admission) tells the story in detail.
Kilauea, one of the world's most continuously active volcanoes, has been erupting on and off since 1983. The 2018 eruption destroyed more than 700 homes in the lower Puna district east of Hilo, added new land to the island's coastline, and caused Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to close temporarily. The park reopened with altered roads and viewpoints; the landscape is still changing.
Getting Around Hilo
**On foot:** Downtown Hilo — the Farmer's Market, waterfront, and shops — is entirely walkable from the pier.
**Taxi/rideshare:** Uber and Lyft operate in Hilo. Regular taxis are also available at the pier. To Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: expect $40–50 each way; many drivers offer a wait-and-return rate for park visits.
**Rental car:** Available near the pier and at Hilo airport (HNL). A car gives you the most flexibility for the park, Akaka Falls, and the coast road. Reserve in advance on ship days.
**Bike rental:** Several shops rent beach cruisers and e-bikes. Rainbow Falls and the botanical gardens are easy on a flat-bar bike; the route to Akaka Falls has significant hills.
Tipping in Hilo
Hawaii is a US state. Tipping norms match the continental US.
- **Restaurants:** 18–20% is standard; Hawaii has a high cost of living and service workers depend on tips. - **Taxis and rideshare:** 15–20%. - **Tour guides (volcano tours, helicopter tours):** $10–20 per person for a half-day; helicopter pilots receive tips separately from the ground crew. - **Farmer's Market vendors:** Not expected, but rounding up on a purchase is always welcome.