Lonely Planet
15 things to know before visiting Hawaiʻi
Hawaiʻi is one of the most popular destinations on the planet. Here are a few tips to do what’s best for the locals, the land, the ocean and visitors.
Condé Nast TravelerNov 26, 2025
The Big Island's Sleepy East Coast is Waking Up
On Hawaii's Hāmākua Coast, Jen Murphy finds not only verdant canyons striped with waterfalls but also a burgeoning food scene and a community approach to tourism
23 things in this story
- Waimea Butcher ShopRestaurantServes slow-cooked brisket and beer.
- Elsewhere
- Na‘auRestaurantHilo, United StatesPreserves Hawaiian foodways with local ingredients.
- SCP Hilo HotelHotelHilo, United StatesCommunity-minded property preserving original spirit.
- Carlsmith Beach ParkParkHilo, United StatesSnorkel turquoise pools on black sand beach.
- Richardson Ocean ParkSightHilo, United StatesBlack sand beach with sea turtles and fish pond.
- KapohoKine AdventuresPlaceHilo, United StatesOffers kayak tours of Hilo's historic bay.
- Wailoa RiverSightHilo, United StatesRiver with bubbles from a freshwater spring.
- Merrie Monarch FestivalFestivalHilo, United StatesAnnual hula competition, the Olympics of hula.
- Ka Haka ‘Ula o Ke‘elikōlaniPlaceHilo, United StatesHawaiian language school, first college in indigenous language.
- ‘Imiloa Astronomy CenterMuseumHilo, United StatesCenter for astronomy and Hawaiian culture.
- SuisanMarketHilo, United StatesThird-generation family-operated fish market.
- Lili‘uokalani GardensSightHilo, United StatesLargest Edo-style garden outside Japan.
- Locavore StoreMarketHilo, United StatesGrocer receiving poi crafted from Waipi‘o-grown taro.
- The Hidden NēnēRestaurantHilo, United StatesSpeakeasy with craft cocktails and Victorian decor.
- Lehua RestaurantRestaurantHilo, United StatesSpotlights Royal Berkshire pork and deep-fried taro.
- O.K. FarmsPlaceHilo, United StatesFamily-run farm, model for sustainable agriculture.
- Rainbow FallsSightHilo, United StatesBroad cascade viewed from O.K. Farms gazebo.
- King Kamehameha IPlaceHilo, United StatesStatue in Hilo, first capital after unification.
- Big Island Coffee RoastersRestaurantHilo, United StatesMicro-roaster with a new café.
- I Luv DumplingsRestaurantHonoka'a, United StatesServes saimin noodles in a historic building.
- Waipi'o ValleySightHonoka'a, United StatesValley with cliffs, waterfalls, heiau, and black-sand beach.
- Hamakua HotelHotelHilo, United States
- Onomea Scenic DriveTrailHilo, United States