So we basically decided to visit Hilo just so that we could go to the zoo and see the white tiger…read more The zoo did not disappoint! There were so many animals and loved the fact that we were basically walking through a rainforest. It was so beautiful and peaceful just walking through the zoo. You do have to pay now to get in, but it's totally worth it. There's even an awesome playground for the kids to go to while they take a break in between visiting the animals. This zoo is highly recommended!!!

We're all for paying a fee to help keep the zoo going. Today was our 1st time since they began…read morecharging. The lady at the window asked me if I was kama'aina, I said yes. She asked for ID, and saw my original Maui address. She said she had to charge me full price because my address on my license (not expired) is not a Hawai'i island address. Then, my husband presented his ID which has our Hawai'i island address and he got a discount! If you ask me, that was wrong. We were charged $17 for 2 adults. Kama'aina should be state wide! When you go to O'ahu zoo, they don't ask for your address, they see the pink license and know kama'aina. Same thing when you go Maui, they see the pink ID and they know kama'aina.

Amazing little farm run by the sweetest family! I…read moreaccidentally booked our tour for the wrong day, but when we showed up, they were so kind and still welcomed us in. We were so grateful! The animals are clearly well loved--there were baby pigs, goats (one with her adorable kids), huge tortoises, a beautiful dairy cow, baby bunnies, and the sweetest donkey named Arthur who looked like he was smiling! My kids had such a great time. Their son Isaiah gave us the best little tour--he was so knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommend this place for a wholesome, fun family outing!

This is truly a beautiful and unique spot up at volcano. If you are in the area, driving by, or…read morepassing through, I definitely recommend it especially if you have kiddos. The farm is a family owned and operated space. You will be able to interact and learn from each family member there. Take a moment to speak to them, you might learn something new. The petting zoo was the highlight of my kids day. We prepaid online, showed up, and went to feeding the animals our grocery store foods: baby carrots and lettuce. We saw another patron had brought cut apples and cut bananas with peels on. I saw another person with feed so I'm thinking they may give you stuff, but highly recommend bringing your own because it makes the experience so much better, especially for the kiddos. They had bunnies, ducks, turtles, turkeys, goats, pigs, a donkey, cows, and chickens. Food/drink: nothing included for the petting zoo tour but they have a tea tasting with scones and tour which I wanted to do but the days didn't line up with our stay. They had a bunch of drinks like coffee, tea, hot chocolate for purchase and a really nice tent area to enjoy it. The mother and daughter duo were behind the counter serving up drinks! Tour: very laid back in the tour. Not sure if there was a start or finish cause our little one ended up running straight to the petting zoo. However, We ended up getting a tour of their vegetable garden including a "she shed" set up for quick shelter during the passing showers that might occur while gardening. The beautiful garden was such a delight to walk in. We spoke to the husband/owner at the end and learned a lot about the farm. Really an amazing business and I hope they are able to grow and flourish! The quietness is breathtaking. The weather always a bit interesting up at volcano but it was nice and cool with a bit of a mist here and there. Recommend boots if you can because there is poop if you don't watch your step. There is a lot of space to roam about through the petting zoo and tables in the garden. Only tight areas might be the bunny pen and vegetable garden. Bathroom: porta potty. Make sure to bring some wipes or hand sanitizer for your hands after. Pretty clean considering. Parking: lots of space in their designated parking are. Be respectful of the drive up there because there are a lot of locals and no other attraction around. I wish I could give this place more stars. But if the Yelp elite community is looking for a fun event, this is the place!

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 farm was amazing. We were greeted by a the nicest staff member who gave us a brief rundown on…read morethe rules. We bought some feed for a small fee. I wish we could have spent more time there, but we had to leave for Maunakea. The baby goats touched my soul. They were so well behaved, so cute and so loving. Most of them were so gentle taking each feed by hand. No biting or nipping. There were a few very small timid gentle ones. These especially stole my heart. I highly recommend this for everyone , and if you visit you should really support their cause.

Such a great stop on our Big Island trip, Honomu Goat Dairy is a hidden gem! The gal working there…read morewas super kind and welcoming, and she let us sample all the different goat cheese flavors. You can tell she really cares about the farm and the animals just good vibes all around. We ended up grabbing the Original and Big Island Spice goat cheeses... both were creamy, not too pungent, and so ono, especially with the $1 crackers they sell on the side (definitely worth it). Perfect little snack while enjoying the view. Also picked up some of their goat milk chapstick which was such a cute little find and super moisturizing (& only $4) If you're driving through Honomu or heading to Akaka Falls, this place is totally worth the quick stop. Support local, eat cheese, and enjoy the aloha!

Super fun, thoughtful crew; Nick, Avery and Myra!! Beautiful park and a great value. We learned…read moreabout some flora and fauna as well!

Hands down one of the best experiences we had on the Big Island. We got super lucky -- it ended up…read morebeing just me and my boyfriend on the tour, and it felt like a completely personalized adventure from start to finish. The entire team was unbelievably nice. Not just polite -- genuinely warm, fun, and so welcoming. They took the time to get to know us, made us laugh, hyped us up, and really made the whole experience memorable. You can tell they love what they do, and it shows in how they treat every guest. The ziplines were gorgeous, safe, and such a thrill, but the guides truly made it next level. It didn't feel rushed or routine at all. Instead, it felt like hanging out with friends who just happen to be amazing at their job. We loved it so much and would recommend this place in a heartbeat. If you're on the Big Island, this is absolutely a must-do.

I'm smiling just thinking about this place because if I could ever imagine a tropical paradise,…read morethis would be it. Best money spent on the Big lsland. At $35 for adults, $25 for kids aged 6-12, and free for kids 5 and under-- it's money well spent. Some might call this place pricey but after coming here, I disagree. Places like this are so rare and unique that they can just take my money. I've never been to a garden so full of exotic plants, flowers that I'd never seen before, mini waterfalls, a pond, and to top it all off-- getting to see the ocean waves crashing onto the lava rocks at the end of the garden. Prior to this I had never seen orchids growing in the wild off of tree trunks. These guys were everywhere here. And how do I know this place is cool even for Gen Z?-- I caught my 20 year old nephew taking videos of a beautiful flower that he was admiring. Of course I didn't make a huge deal out of it because he would have blown me off. Once you walk the paths and over the bridges, you can see how meticulously this garden is maintained. When you find out the history of how Mr. Dan Lutkenhouse Sr. and his wife Pauline who bought this parcel of land back in 1977 and decided to turn it into a garden, you'll be even more amazed. There was no machinery used to turn this place into the garden it is today. It was 40 years of Dan and his assistant Terry Takiue who worked with *just* cane knives, sickles, picks, shovels and a chainsaw to clear paths through the jungle. Another fun fact: He had no formal training in botanical gardening... Insert mind blown emoji here... Can you imagine that?? I can only respect that these guys did this just so that we could enjoy this garden paradise for us and future generations to see. Bravo to this place coming from our fam that came and loved it.

The variety of plant life here is huge. The walkways for the most part are very steep and paved…read more but there are also handrails and benches. The grounds are spectacular with so many varieties of flowers and flowering plants. The waterways and waterfalls have a calming effect splashing over rocks and between ferns. There is a small gift shop, but as far as refreshments go, they only sell popsicles or small boxes of water.

This is more than just a waterfall, it's an experience where you immerse yourself in a rainforest…read moreand appreciate the beauty, sounds, smells, and little creatures around you. Although the entire hike is about half an hour, I would recommend you take your time and see everything around you. The hike itself is not strenuous. Some of the reviews indicate the steps were arduous, but our little 3-year-old had no problem. The paths are paved with railings. It didn't take long before we reached where Akaka falls was visible. It is beautiful against the mossy green backdrop. Then we climb the stairs to see the other waterfall, but when we got there, it was pretty anti-climatic. It's a small little fall, but still worth seeing. Overall, this is a beautiful spot to discover new plants, see a couple of waterfalls, and take a ton of pictures.

Our first stop of the day. 2 waterfalls , one narrow and one huge…read more Many stairs to each one. Very small crowd.

Everything was amazing the people there were so nice, the cabins were amazing, and the pets are…read morereally sweet too. They have a Tv in the barn and a speaker for music and they play the news for us while serving us food as well. In conclusion the ranch is one of the best ranches you can go to.

Beautiful site, comfortable lodging, WONDERFUL family!! We unexpectedly stayed during the tsunami…read moreand were treated so well, it turned to be an awesome experience

very nice views and a fun experience only problem being some of the tour guides were annoyed with…read morehelping people who were stuck and telling us to cannonball without explaining what it or how to do to it

My husband and I booked the Umauma Falls ATV experience while visiting the Hilo side, and it ended…read moreup being his favorite part of the entire trip. From the start, the experience feels a little more special than your typical ATV tour because you're riding through private farmland rather than a crowded trail system. You follow your guide across wide open pastures where you pass horses, cows, and even pigs, which adds such a fun, local feel to the ride. The terrain changes throughout, moving from grassy stretches to rocky sections and muddy patches, so it never feels repetitive or boring. One thing we really appreciated was that the guide adjusted the pace to match the group. If you want to take it slow and steady, you can. If you're feeling more adventurous, they'll pick up the speed. It made the experience feel personalized rather than rigid. Toward the end, there's a short hike down to a beautiful waterfall area that feels tucked away and peaceful. Unfortunately, we had a lot of rain during our visit, so the falls were running strong and it wasn't safe to swim. While that was a bit of a bummer, it was still impressive to see the power of the water and didn't take away from the overall experience. If you're looking for something active and scenic on the Hilo side, this is absolutely worth adding to your itinerary. It's a great mix of adventure, views, and a little glimpse into local farmland life, and clearly a highlight of our trip.