We know traveling to Hilo is expensive and time consuming, so we completely understand if you're unable to attend. We know you'll be there in spirit (and possibly also in some photoshopped pics).
Visiting Hilo
Flying to Hawaii Island
There are no direct flights to Hilo from the U.S. mainland. The three practical indirect routes are shown below in different colors. Beneath the image are descriptions of the pros and cons of each route.
Arrive directly in Hilo or save money with a drive from Kona
Flying to Hilo via Honolulu on O'ahu (HNL) and via Kahului on Maui (OGG) are similar: you book a flight for Hilo International Airport (ITO) and drive your rental car 10 minutes to a Hilo hotel. The downside of this approach is that daily flight service to Hilo ends around 8 PM, so if your flight from the mainland is delayed, you will be stuck on a different island overnight. This has happened to us. However, both O'ahu and Maui are fun places, so it's fine as long as your schedule is flexible.
The alternative to flying the entire way to Hilo is flying to Kona on Hawaii Island (KOA) and then drive your rental car about 90 minutes across the island to your hotel in Hilo. If you're planning to rent a car anyway, this can easily save you a couple hundred dollars per ticket, the drive is easy and pretty in the daylight, and delays are less likely to result in you being stuck on the wrong island (although that can still happen). The downside of this approach is that the drive at night is mostly on unlighted highways occasionally crossed by feral animals (mostly goats).
We generally recommend flying to KOA because it's cheaper and less likely to result in delays.
Price estimates
Sample round-trip ticket prices to KOA for one economy seat with one checked bag and one carry-on bag. Prices are as of early March for the weekend of our wedding in November.
- $492 Austin (AUS)
- $702 Omaha (OMA)
- $782 Raleigh (RDU)
- $840 Newark (EWR)
- $1,242 Sioux Falls (FSD)
Flight booking details
Arrive in Hilo via HNL or OGG
Your destination is Hilo International (ITO). Last flight for the day is scheduled to arrive around 8:30 PM and car rental is usually open until 9:00 PM (check your specific rental agency's details). Upon arrival, go downstairs, exit the building to the outside, and turn right. Checked luggage pick up is outside the building all the ways to the end. The rental car pavilion is the long building across the street. Hotels are an easy 10 minute drive. There is also a free once-hourly bus that runs until 6 PM and goes indirectly to near most hotels (email us if you plan to use it). There's good cell phone signal throughout town.
Arrive in Kona and drive to Hilo
Your destination is Kona International (KOA). Last flight for the day is scheduled to arrive near midnight but car rental closes around 11:00 PM (check your specific rental agency's details). There are no jet bridges: you will deplane by walking down portable stairs; if you need mobility assistance, let them know or fly to Hilo.
Upon arrival, leave the secure area and follow the signs to pick up your checked luggage. USE THE BATHROOM; you're about to go on a long drive through a barren volcanic landscape with no trees to hide behind. Take a shuttle for your car rental agency to its desk. DO NOT GET AN ELECTRIC CAR and CHECK YOUR GAS; you're about to drive 75 miles from sea level to over 7,000 feet; you need at least half a tank of gas. LOAD YOUR DIRECTIONS BEFORE LEAVING THE AIRPORT; parts of the drive have no cell phone signal.
All of the drive is on well paved roads, most of them ~60 MPH highways, but there is no street lightning for most of them, so they get really dark. During rush hour, especially if it's raining on the downhill parts of the road, your trip can take an extra 30 to 60 minutes. There are also free public busses that run 6 times a day at all hours from Kona airport to downtown Hilo (about 1 mile from the hotels); email us if you're interested in using a public bus.
Where to Stay
$160 - $200 per night
Our recommended budget hotel. It's a converted apartment complex, so it doesn't have great views or resort amenities, but every suite does have its own kitchen and proper bathroom. Parking is free and it's easy walking distance to downtown Hilo.
$170 - $400 per night
A mid-range hotel on Hilo Bay with many rooms with ocean views. It has a restaurant and a pool. There is a covered parking garage. It is unclear whether the parking is included in the price. It's across the street from Liliuokalani Gardens.
$250 - $350 per night
Our recommended upscale hotel. It's directly on the bay, has many rooms with ocean views, and is walking distance to a nice park and a pretty beach (although we don't recommend swimming there as it's close to the port and may contain industrial waste). Valet parking is included in the price.
Price varies
AirBnBs & VRBOs
There are about 200 AirBnBs and VRBOs in the immediate Hilo area. Note that rentals more than about 5 miles away from Hilo may be partially or fully off-grid (no city water, sewer, or electricity). Feel free to contact us if you want our analysis of a listing.
Our recommendations for
Touring Big Isle
If you're planning to tour the island before or after the wedding, we highly recommend Hawaii: The Big Island Revealed by Andrew Doughty. The author is a previous resident of the island and even locals frequently consult the book when planning activities.
Questions& Answers
What about the volcanoes?
As of this writing (March 2024), none of three active volcanoes on this island are erupting. It's expected that the volcano Kilauea may erupt at any time, but that will not affect Hilo (except to increase the number of tourists in the area). If an easily accessible part of Kilauea is erupting during our wedding weekend, we will probably arrange a night-time trip to it for any interested guests. The other two active volcanoes on this island (Mauna Loa and Hualalai) show no signs that they'll erupt in 2024.
What about earthquakes and tsunamis?
Earthquakes up to magnitude 6.0 are a frequent occurrence in Hilo. They'll get your pulse racing but they rarely cause even minor damage. Larger earthquakes happen every few decades and do cause damage, but only two people have died on this island from an earthquake in the past 150 years.
Your hotel and the wedding reception will be in the tsunami inundation zone. Large tsunamis happen about once every twenty years, but recent advances in monitoring and reporting technology mean that we typically get several hours of warning before they hit. Hilo is covered in emergency warning sirens; if you hear them go off, simply walk uphill until you see a sign that says "Leaving tsunami evacuation area" or until you're about 50 feet above sealevel, which is typically about 1/4 mile distance from the shoreline (meaning an easy 5 to 10 minute walk).
What about rain?
It rains a lot in Hilo and there's a high probability that it will rain for at least part of our reception. We will be in a large permanent pavilion with a roof, so you should be able to stay dry. We recommend wearing clothes and shoes that can get a little wet and packing an umbrella for walking to/from your car. If you're planning other outdoor activities, be sure to bring rain gear.
What about travel restrictions?
With a few small exceptions, all Hawaiian airports operate just like any other U.S. airport. The notable exceptions are: you cannot bring any animals to Hawaii without government permission and you cannot bring any animals or plants back to the mainland from Hawaii without permission. On the flight to your first stop in Hawaii, you will be asked to fill out a declaration and visitor information sheet, so bring a pen for the plane. You do not need a passport---any TSA-allowed identification document (such as a driver's license) is fine. You don't need any vaccinations to travel to Hawaii (but consult your doctor if you have concerns).