The lush, rainy side of the Big Island — where active volcanoes meet towering waterfalls, black-sand beaches, and a relaxed small-town vibe that most Hawaii visitors never see.
⚓ Docked — pier in town🕒 Typical call: 8–10 hrs💵 US Dollar (USD)🗣️ English · Hawaiian
Docking
Pier 1 / Pier 2, Port of Hilo
To center
~2 miles · taxi or walk
Best For
Volcanoes · Waterfalls · Nature
Don't Miss
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
📄 Take this port with you
A printable port guide — key info, things to do & tips. Includes an editable “My Day in Port” box for your ship times & booked excursions.
Ships dock at the Port of Hilo's commercial piers, about 2 miles from downtown Hilo. The route to town passes through an industrial zone — most passengers take a taxi, Uber, or shore excursion bus rather than walking.
Getting from the pier into Hilo
1
Pier 1 / Pier 2 — Port of HiloCruise ships berth at Pier 1 or Pier 2 in the Port of Hilo commercial harbor. The port is on Kuhio Street, roughly 2 miles (3 km) southeast of downtown Hilo along Bayfront Highway.
2
Taxis, Uber & rideshareTaxis and Uber/Lyft are readily available at the pier. The ride to downtown Hilo takes about 10 minutes. Rideshare is active in Hilo — more reliable than many small Hawaiian towns.
3
Shore excursion busesMost cruise lines and independent operators pick up at the pier. If visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (45–60 min drive) or Akaka Falls (30–40 min), a guided excursion or rental car is the practical choice — public bus service is limited.
💡 Pro move: A rental car unlocks the most flexibility: Volcanoes National Park, Akaka Falls, and Rainbow Falls are all reachable independently. Reserve ahead — car rental counters near the port fill fast on ship days.
Piers & Tendering by Cruise Line
Hilo is a docked port — no tendering required. Both Pier 1 and Pier 2 are in the commercial harbor, about 2 miles from downtown.
Hilo's big draw is the natural world: an active volcano 45 minutes away, a string of dramatic waterfalls, lush rainforest gardens, and black-sand beaches patrolled by sea turtles. These are the experiences worth your day.
Nature
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The must-do from Hilo. Drive into Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to see Kilauea Caldera, steam vents, lava fields, and the Nāhuku (Thurston) Lava Tube — a walk-through tunnel formed by ancient lava flows. Active volcanic activity varies, but the landscape is otherworldly regardless.
An 80-foot waterfall plunges into a lava rock pool at Wailuku River State Park — best visited on a sunny morning when rainbows arc through the mist. Nearby Peʻepeʻe Falls (Boiling Pots) shows a series of cascading pools in the same gorge. Only 10–15 minutes from port.
Hawaii's most spectacular single-drop waterfall: 442-foot ʻAkaka Falls plunges into a jungle gorge, accessible via an easy 0.4-mile loop trail through bamboo forest and tropical plants. The smaller 100-foot Kahuna Falls is on the same loop.
⏱ 1.5–2 hrs🚗 30–40 min north of Hilo🌿 Easy loop trail
Soar over active lava fields, the Kilauea summit crater, black-sand coastlines, and the Hilo side's dense rainforest canopy. A 45–60-minute flight gives perspectives impossible from the ground, including any active lava flows if Kilauea is erupting.
⏱ 45–75 min flight🚁 Departs Hilo airport🌋 Best if lava is active
Hilo's historic downtown has kept its 1940s–50s storefronts intact. The Hilo Farmers Market (open daily, busiest Wed & Sat) overflows with local produce, tropical flowers, macadamia nuts, and handmade crafts. The Pacific Tsunami Museum and Lyman Museum are a short walk away.
A striking black-sand beach at the end of Kalaniana'ole Avenue, known for reliable Hawaiian green sea turtle sightings in the shallows. Good for snorkeling when conditions are calm. About 10–15 minutes from the pier.
⏱ 1–2 hrs🚗 10–15 min from pier🐢 Sea turtle sightings
Downtown Hilo is compact and walkable once you're there — but the pier is 2 miles from the action, so plan a taxi or rideshare to start.
Liliuokalani Gardens & Coconut Island
~1.5 km loop · 1–1.5 hrs · easy
A 30-acre Japanese-style garden on Hilo Bay, complete with pagodas, fishponds, and stone lanterns. A footbridge connects to tiny Coconut Island (Mokuola) — a park island in the bay with picnic tables and views back to the city and Mauna Kea. One of the most scenic free strolls in all of Hawaii.
Start at the Hilo Farmers Market on Mamo Street, then stroll the historic downtown along Kamehameha Avenue facing the bay. Look for the 1920s-era storefronts, the old S. Hata Building, and Banyan Drive — a road lined with massive banyan trees planted by celebrities like Amelia Earhart and Babe Ruth in the 1930s.
Climate normals for Hilo, Big Island, Hawaii, USA (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
Month
Avg High
Avg Low
Rainy Days
Sunrise
Sunset
Jan
75°F / 24°C
65°F / 18°C
16
6:57 AM
6:02 PM
Feb
75°F / 24°C
65°F / 18°C
19
6:49 AM
6:19 PM
Mar
75°F / 24°C
66°F / 19°C
22
6:28 AM
6:29 PM
Apr
76°F / 24°C
67°F / 19°C
24
6:02 AM
6:38 PM
May
77°F / 25°C
68°F / 20°C
25
5:44 AM
6:48 PM
Jun
78°F / 26°C
69°F / 21°C
24
5:41 AM
7:00 PM
Jul
79°F / 26°C
70°F / 21°C
27
5:50 AM
7:02 PM
Aug
80°F / 27°C
71°F / 22°C
26
6:01 AM
6:48 PM
Sep
80°F / 27°C
71°F / 22°C
23
6:08 AM
6:22 PM
Oct
80°F / 27°C
70°F / 21°C
22
6:15 AM
5:56 PM
Nov
78°F / 26°C
68°F / 20°C
22
6:29 AM
5:40 PM
Dec
75°F / 24°C
66°F / 19°C
22
6:47 AM
5:44 PM
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Insider Tips
🌋
Volcanoes NP is the headline — book early. If you want to see Kilauea Crater and the lava tube, reserve a guided excursion or rent a car before your cruise. Entry requires a $35/vehicle park fee; no cruise line discount.
🌧️
Pack a rain layer. Hilo is the rainiest city in the US, averaging 130+ inches a year. A brief shower is likely even on sunny days — a light packable jacket keeps you comfortable on waterfall walks.
🚗
Rent a car for flexibility. A rental unlocks Rainbow Falls, Akaka Falls, and Volcanoes NP at your own pace. Reserve in advance — cars near the port sell out quickly on ship-call days.
🐢
Sea turtles: look, don't touch. Hawaiian green sea turtles (honu) are federally protected. Approaching within 10 feet or touching them is illegal and carries hefty fines — keep your distance and let them rest undisturbed.
🌅
Visit Rainbow Falls in the morning. The rainbows in the waterfall mist only appear when sunlight hits at the right angle — typically 9–11 AM. Afternoon visits miss the namesake effect.
🛒
Farmers Market is best Wednesday and Saturday. The Hilo Farmers Market on Mamo Street has the biggest selection on those days — fresh local fruit, flowers, macadamia products, and crafts. Arrive early for the best picks.
Getting Around
Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
Metered taxis from the pier to historic downtown Hilo run about $12–16 (2–3 miles). Readily available on ship-arrival days.
📱 Uber / Lyft
Similar to taxi
Both Uber and Lyft operate on the Big Island and serve Hilo. Prices are comparable to taxis for the short downtown run.
🚌 Hele-On Public Bus
$1 (free 55+)
Hawaii County's Hele-On Bus stops near the pier and runs to downtown for just $1; seniors 55+ ride free. Does not operate Sundays.
🚐 Free Shuttle
Free
Hilo Hattie operates a complimentary shuttle from the terminal to its store in town. Some cruise lines also offer a free downtown shuttle on port days.
Cruises Calling Here
Upcoming cruises that call at Hilo, Big Island, Hawaii, USA. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
