| When most people think of going to Hawaii, they | | | | visitors can find every kind of Hawaiian souvenir that |
| think of going to Honolulu, somewhere on the island | | | | exists, from simple shell leis to loud Hawaiian shirts to |
| of Maui or visiting the Kona side of the Big Island. It is | | | | muumuus and toys for the kids. All of the products |
| rare that Hilo gets used as a tourist vacation spot. | | | | are made on the premises and you can see into the |
| Yes, it is a major port of call for cruise lines, but as | | | | sewing and workshops if you head toward the back |
| far as booking hotels and spending a week on the | | | | of the store. |
| beach, Hilo is just not as popular as Kona. | | | | Visiting the macadamia nut factory is also fun. It is |
| Maybe this is because the Hilo side of the island is the | | | | here that they can the tasty macadamia nut and |
| rocky side of the island. Instead of the sandy | | | | produce the variety of macadamia nut treats that |
| beaches most people expect Hawaii to have, Hilo is | | | | you friends will beg you to bring home: differently |
| famous for its black rocky beaches and coves. There | | | | spiced nuts, chocolate covered nuts and even cans |
| are a few stretches of sand here, but most is | | | | of plain macadamia nuts to be used in cooking. The |
| jagged black lava rock. Hilo is also the rainy side of | | | | trees are farmed locally and a tour through the |
| the island, so it is more likely that you will be treated | | | | facility will show you how they produce those boxes |
| to a warm sprinkle than days of endless sunshine | | | | of chocolate covered macadamia nuts that are so |
| (though there are quite a few of those as well). | | | | popular all over the world. |
| The simple truth is, however, that Hilo also offers up | | | | Hawaii is a great place to visit and makes a fantastic |
| a more authentic feel to Hawaiian life. Because the | | | | place to get away and play tourist. It has a rich |
| town is not known for being a tourist attraction | | | | cultural history—less than a century ago it was its |
| (though there are a few touristy spots close to | | | | own country—and Hawaiians take their heritage |
| town), visitors to Hawaii are more likely to see what | | | | very seriously. Hilo is a great place to see this first |
| life is like for people who live and work in Hawaii year | | | | hand. As you travel around you'll hear the local English |
| in and year out! | | | | Hawaiian dialect known as pidgin and see how the |
| Close to Hilo you will find Rainbow Falls, Banyon Drive | | | | rich cultural history weaves itself into every day life. |
| (banyon trees are amazing trees for those who have | | | | Even places most of us take for granted like |
| never seen one before) and a Macadamia Nut | | | | McDonalds and movie theaters have Hawaiian |
| factory. All of these are worth visiting. You will also | | | | touches in Hilo. |
| find Hilo Hatties—a chain tourist shop where | | | | |