Cute playground, right in the center of town for the kids. I wish you could see the ocean from here…read moreor be beach side but no such luck. The structure is a bit older and a bit dirty. There is a swing on site which my daughter loves.

The OLD lady security guard couldn't stop a fight and kids seen a fight happen! I also seen her…read morekick someone out because their music was too loud. He turned it down and she still kicked him out! I think it was because he is black!

Best playground equipment in all of Hilo and surrounding areas. This is a convenient playground to…read morevisit when I run errands in town because it's close to grocery and other shopping. Added bonus, I found $12 unclaimed dollars here

Pana'ewa is the go-to gym in Hilo if you want to get a game of pick-up basketball in. With three…read morefull-size covered courts, there's plenty of space for games to run. That said, not all of the courts are always open at the same time, as children's basketball and volleyball practices do take place in the gym later in the afternoon, depending on the time of year. Being that there's not really anywhere else that is open on a regular basis in town, however, you just deal with it and are happy to get a game in when you can. The majority of people who come to play here are really nice and easy to get along with. And as long as you don't act like a jerk, they're pretty accepting as well.

Lucky me we had the entire beach park to ourself. Not meant for adult swimming or diving deep to…read moresnorkeling but for a families with young kids or those who can't swim this is the best to cool off. Known for the sandy shallow ocean pools and a bountiful tide pools to explore. The natural lava rocks surround the area making protected lava pools blocking the crashing waves. The parking itself was plentiful, but when school is out and the island is at its peak tourist season you never get the seclusion I got today. The park has tables, restrooms and even horseshoe courts. Anytime I can get out and dip in the water is a win!

So many beautiful sights to see on the Big Island. I love that we planned ahead and packed some…read morefood to enjoy while out sightseeing. We like to go exploring off and on the main roads finding great spots and meeting some friendly locals. We bring enough food to share.

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.

This is easily one of the best things we did on the Big Island. Luckily we saw a couple of You Tube…read morevideos that told us to bring a good flash light. We went by WalMart and picked up a decent power Flash light. Don't think you can do this with you cell phone light. The caves are not modified with railings and walkways and colorful lights. This is raw spelunking. At first it feels a little creepy but once you get in and start exploring the anxiety of being underground goes away. The floor is uneven and jagged. Don't come in flip flops. Bri g some sturdy sneakers or hiking boots. Water is constantly dripping from the roof but none of that matters cause you are so enthralled by the experience. You go through giant tubes carved out by lava you also enter giant cavernous rooms formed by the intense molten flow. Breathtaking is the best way to describe it. I wouldn't recommend little kids under eight. It is very hard to traverse some of these rocks. But go! Please go. You will thank me. Definitely Recommended.

When we went it was on and off raining. The stairs are quite steep- down to the two caves. One on…read morethe right and one on the left. If you have trouble with balance etc. you should consider waiting in the car as the caves were wet and slippery. Was just accross the street from the parking lot. We were there for about 1/2 an hour. And it's FREE! I enjoyed seeing what the lava had created. We went to the volcano after this. Recommend flashlights and at least one head lamp. Phone lights are just too little!

This was a peaceful stroll around a beautiful Japanese…read more Garden. A gift from Japan as a sister city in 1987. Overcast, very empty today Right on the Harbor.

This beautiful Japanese park and garden is tucked along the shores of Hilo Bay, offering a peaceful…read moreescape filled with towering banyan trees, colorful flowers, and singing birds. Stroll along scenic walking paths lined with decorative pagodas, stone lanterns, charming bridges, and tranquil ponds. Best of all, it's completely free to visit -- a must-see when you're in Hilo!

A great park for filling your lungs with fresh air and sight with fresh colors. And, your canine…read morebuddy will think the same. Say Aloha to the Kolea birds from September to April and meet a stranger everyday with a nod and smile. No bathrooms, so prepare yourself before visiting.

Review #9 for 2021…read more Machado Park is a great park to walk your dog and to get some fresh air and exercise, especially during the pandemic. I don't know what my family would've done this last year without this park! There's lots of space in the park for people to stay spread apart, and the paved trail is great too. Some nice park goers tie plastic bags on the bordering fence so that in case others forget to bring bags to pick up after their dogs, there are bags available. The grass is well maintained, and the surrounding neighbors are all really nice too. Parking is only allowed on the park side of the street.

This Beach park happened by accident when my niece was looking for a place for us to eat lunch in…read moreKona. This happened to be the closest picnic area that we could come to, thanks to a little tik- tok video she watched. If you're looking for a traditional beach with sand, this isn't the place. But what you'll get instead are the famous black lava rock formations Kona is known for that spill into several lagoons full of crystal clear water. As for eating, there are plenty of places to lay down a blanket in the grass, picnic and relax. The park has several trash cans for you to use as well and I did happily notice that the park was clean. I did not have to use the bathroom here so I can't comment on that. What impressed me the most was that they had built in stairs for you to walk into the ocean. In my entire life of traveling, I've never seen a beach park with built in stairwells to walk into the lagoons. This was a treat for me. If I have one big tip, it's to remember to have your water shoes because the rocks are sharp to walk on and can easily cut you if you're not careful. I also did read that they do have outdoor showers but I didn't see them when we were here. Lots of folks brought their own snorkeling gear because there were a lot of fish, not to mention at least 3 turtles that I saw swimming around. As I'm writing this review, I'm already missing Kona and the uniqueness of this island. If you plan on going to Kona, you must come and enjoy this place. It's truly special and I would recommend it to anyone.

After coming across social media post, Carlsmith Beach Park was a must visit for me! I added it to…read morethe list of places for my uber driver/hubby to take me. We missed it the very first time, the hubby took me to the wrong beach & had to re-route. I remember it is hard to find via GPS if you miss the turn. We found parking after the beach and walked down. When I walked to Carlsmith Beach to finally check it out for the very first time, my heart just melted and just had that Wow, grateful, OMG moments and also feels like DeJaVu. I also asked my husband to pinch me, that I am not dreaming. It was so nice to just experience this live in real life, such tranquil atmosphere, crystal clear waters. I just love the color of the water, the ocean, so beautiful! Carlsmith Beach Park in Hilo is a hidden gem for sure! After we took our tons of photos, enjoyed the scenery which I really wanted to stay longer but we had a busy day ahead. For next time I visit, I would love to picnic & enjoy lunch under the coconut, palm trees and go swimming. Although I didn't sea turtles during my visits, hopefully next time.

A quiet neighborhood park...surprisingly large for the area it's tucked into...a side street off a…read moremain road. Perfect for letting the kids run around on the grass or for setting up a volleyball net and getting a picnic game on. Small public restroom area and a small covered picnic table area is available. Simple and no frills, this park is a good spot for a neighborhood walk or meet up.

Check for access before planning to visit Coconut Island. The pedestrian bridge connecting it to…read more land collapsed earlier this month under the weight of a small excavator. The bridge was closed pending repairs.

Fun, beautiful hang for the whole family. Definitely a great location for swimming and on my top 5…read moremust visit spots in Hilo town