Hilo, HI

Hilo, Hawaii

Introduction to Hilo, Hawaii

Hilo is situated along the shore of Hilo Bay on the east side of the island of Hawaii. It's the largest city on the island and is located in Hawaii County. The active Mauna Loa volcano as well as the dormant Mauna Kea volcano are nearby. Prominent astronomical observatories are located on Mauna Kea.

The Manuna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation, one of the major producers of macadamia nuts in the world is situated in Hilo. The city receives a vast amount of rain and is recognized as one of the wettest cities in the entire world. Fortunately for residents and tourists a significant amount of the rain occurs at night.

History

During the ancient days of Hawaii, the area was a primary trading center for natives. Missionaries arrived in Hilo during the early 1800's and establish several churches. The city became a prominent trading center due to the nearby sugar plantations. In 1946 an earthquake occurred close to the Aleutian Islands which produced a large tsunami which struck Hilo and killed 160 people. Another powerful tsunami hit the island in 1960 and ended the lives of 61 people. In the 1990's the sugar plantations were closed down which significantly harmed the economy.

Attractions

• King Kamehameha Statue.
• Chase Gallery.
• The Lyman House Memorial Museum includes numerous exhibits of Hawaii culture and is well known for its exhibits of shells and minerals.
• Pacific Tsunami Museum offers exhibits regarding two of the devastating tsunamis that struck Hilo.

Nature Attractions

• Banyan Drive is also called the "Hilo Walk of Fame." Celebrities have planted banyan samplings which over the years have developed into beautiful, huge trees.
• Hilo Tropical Gardens features lily ponds, waterfalls as well as Oriental style bridges.
• Liliuokalani Park and Gardens includes Japanese gardens and a Japanese Teahouse.
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park offers views of the active flow area of the Kilauea volcano and several excellent hiking locations.
• Nani Mau Gardens is a commercial botanical center which features a vast number of species of plants, fruit trees and orchids. It includes a Japanese type bell tower, a butterfly house and a botanical museum.
• Pana'ewa Rain Forest Zoo showcases a variety of species and is situated in a beautiful rain forest.
• University of Hawaii at Hilo Botanical Gardens provides a notable cycad collection, containing close to one hundred different species. It also includes palm tree varieties from all over the world.

Activities

Opportunities for surfing can be found on the island shores. The Richardson Ocean Park is popular for snorkeling and having a leisurely time on the beach. Four Mile is a notable location for swimming. Scuba diving and snorkeling are popular at the excellent reefs off the coast.

Tourists enjoy exploring the Kaumana Caves. Charming shops are located on the Bayfront. The Big Island Hawaiian Music Festival offers steel guitar and ukulele music. The Merrie Monarch Festival features one of the worlds most prominent hula competitions. The Hilo Municipal Golf Course is situated in a lush setting.

High Points

Hilo strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Hawaii):

Category	Trophy
Affordability of Property Taxes (vs. Peers)	Top 2%
Short Commute Times (vs. State)	Top 9%
Affordability of Rents (vs. State)	Top 15%

Comparative Profile of Hilo, HI

Comparing Hilo to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Hawaii (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Senior Citizens
Age of the Population
Male Share of the Population
Racial Diversity
Female Share of the Population
Well-Paid Single Men
Well-Paid Single Women
Children Under 5 Years Old

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Average Household Size
Portion of People Married

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
College Educated Adults
Median Family Income
People in Middle Class or Better
People Above Poverty

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Working at Home
Short Commute Times
Walking and Biking to Work
Public Transportation Use

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Affordability of Property Taxes
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Affordability of Rents
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
Housing Recently Built
People Living Alone

Hilo Almanac

Hilo Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Hilo Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Political Contributions (2004)

Money donated by Hilo residents to parties and candidates for the 2004 elections.

by Political Party

by Presidential Candidate

Nearby Cities and Towns

Hilo Hospitals

HILO MEDICAL CENTER
(Government - State)
1190 WAIANUENUE AVENUE
(808) 974-4700
Emergency Service: Yes

Starbucks in Hilo

Wal-Mart in Hilo

Hilo High Schools (2004)

HILO HIGH SCHOOL
556 WAIANUENUE AVENUE
808-974-4021
A Title I school.
Serves 1,511 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 16.7

WAIAKEA HIGH SCHOOL
155 KAWILI STREET
808-974-4888
Serves 1,292 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 17.8

WATERS OF LIFE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
100 KAMAKAHONU STREET
808-935-5882
A charter school.
A Title I school.
Serves 131 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 13.1

KE ANA LA'AHANA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
1500 KALANIANAOLE HIGHWAY
808-961-5242
A charter school.
A Title I school.
Serves 97 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 13.9

Hilo Colleges

Click school name for a detailed profile.

Hawaii Community College

University of Hawaii at Hilo

(List of All Hawaii Colleges)

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