Which side is better to stay on Kona or Hilo?
Kona, not Hilo, is the place to stay on the island of Hawaii during your vacation. Kona offers better weather, the best beaches and snorkeling, newer resorts, more vacation rentals, and more nightlife compared to Hilo Town. Hilo is worth a visit but may not be worth staying for more than a night.
The Kona side of the island (roughly the western half) is the more tourist friendly side. It's sunny, dry, and where all of the best beaches are hence…all of the best resorts. At all budget levels, probably 90% of accommodations on the Big Island are on the Kona side.
Not only is it worth spending a day or two in Hilo itself, if you're in search of a homebase to explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Mauna Kea and the Hamakua Coast, this town is the logical choice.
Kona is generally more expensive than Hilo in terms of hotel accommodations. Food also is a little more expensive on Kona side. In Kona, everything is centered around tourists and prices are usually high. Hilo has more locals than Kona and the prices are generally a bit cheaper than Kona.
Hilo is the wettest city in America. The opposite of Kona, rain is more common in the morning than the afternoon. A clear and sunny Hilo morning is a rare treat. Puna is similar to Hilo and is very wet.
When the winds bring humid ocean air up against the mountains it provides lots of rain on the East side of the Island. The mountains then leave the west side of the Island sunny, dry and warm. It is said to be “eternal springtime” on the West side of the Island, with almost constant warm and sunny weather.
The sunny Kona District stretches almost two-thirds of the entire West side of the island of Hawaiʻi—from just south of ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay (Waikoloa Beach Resort) to Manukā Park (Kaʻū). Along this expansive area, you'll find everything from coffee farms to historic Hawaiian landmarks.
Kona offers better weather, the best beaches and snorkeling, newer resorts, more vacation rentals, and more nightlife compared to Hilo Town. Hilo is worth a visit but may not be worth staying for more than a night.
Hilo Beaches
Enjoy swimming and snorkeling in the calm waters at Carlsmith Beach. And, don't forget to keep an eye out for honu (sea turtles) in one of the vast lagoons.
As mentioned above, Hilo lies on the windward (rainy) side of the Big Island and receives quite some precipitation. For example, downtown Hilo gets 142 inches of rain per year. Compare this to the 9 inch at the resorts close to Waikoloa, and 27 inches in downtown Kona.
How far apart are Kona and Hilo?
If you could fly over a flat map it's about 56 miles (91 km) from downtown Kona to Downtown Hilo.
At least five days. As the largest Hawaiian island, you'll definitely want time for beaches and snorkeling on the Kona side and waterfalls and rain forest on the Hilo side with a stop at Volcanos National Park.
The best time to visit Hilo is March-April
Although Hilo is a great destination to visit almost all year round, March-April is the best time to go due to its perfect climate conditions.
Kona is the only region in the islands where summer rainfall exceeds winter rainfall. Our wettest month is September but this is no reason to avoid Kailua this month as in general (but by no means as a rule) it rains in the late afternoon or in the early evening.
Top cities between Kailua-Kona and Hilo. The top cities between Kailua-Kona and Hilo are Waikoloa, Captain Cook, and Pahoa. Waikoloa is the most popular city on the route — it's less than an hour from Kailua-Kona and 1 hour from Hilo.
Kona is a walkable seaside village, so allocate the early hours to exploring every inch of the town on foot. There's plenty of shopping opportunities, an excellent farmer's market and key attractions such as Mokuʻaikaua Church, the oldest Christian church in the Hawaiian Islands.
The best times to visit the Big Island of Hawaii, taking into consideration the weather, how crowded, or not, the island is, and demand for accommodations are the month(s) of April, May, August, September, and October. Some call these Hawaii Island's 'off-season periods' or the 'shoulder months.
The best time to visit Hawaii is between March and September. This is when the islands see the highest temperatures and the lowest amount of rain. It's the perfect time to enjoy the beach or the water.
Hawaii's heaviest rains are come from winter storms between October and April. While the effects of terrain on storm rainfall are not as great as on trade wind showers, large differences over small distances do occur, because of topography and location of the rain clouds. Differences vary with each storm.
Kona coffee is a specialty coffee that differs from other varieties primarily because of its prime farming location and production processes. Kona coffee farms are only in one place in Hawaii called the Kona Coffee Belt, on Hualalai and Mauna Loa in the North and South districts.
Which is drier Kona or Hilo?
What's the difference between Kona and Hilo? They have a completely different vibe. Kona is definitely the resort area with tons of tourists and it's much drier and rockier than Hilo.
The west side (Kona side) is called the 'dry side' of the island, and the east side (Hilo side) the 'wet side'.
A busy farming and fishing area in early times, Hilo evolved into a commercial center for the sugar industry in the 1800s. Downtown Hilo was built around its crescent-shaped bay and became the seat of county government. Today, Downtown Hilo is a charming town offering museums, art galleries, shops and restaurants.
The Kona (west) side of the Big Island definitely wins the prize for best snorkeling coast of the Big Island. The calm waters and many beaches offer snorkeling spots that are superior to those on the Hilo side. Our 3 favorite Big Island spots are on the Kona side, but there are many more.
What makes Downtown Hilo great is it's easily walkable. History, shopping, and ono eats are always just a short stroll away.
Explore Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park: The national park is one of the must-do items to include on your Big Island itinerary, in my opinion, and if you want to have more than a few hours there, staying in Hilo is a good choice, given that the park is only about a 40 minute ride away.
5: Carlsmith beach park (four mile)
Excellent beach park with anchialine (a landlocked body of water with a subterranean connection to the ocean) ponds and a protected white sand lagoon along lava shoreline. Also known to locals as “four mile”. This is one of our two favorite beaches in Hilo.
With 227 miles of shoreline, Oahu is the best Hawaiian Island for beaches. Oahu has the best beaches in Hawaii due to Oahu's many protected bays, reefs surrounding the island, gold-sand beaches, and calm waters year-round.
The Hilo side of the island is the “non-touristy” side and it rains a lot but it's also the side of the island that's green, lush, and… honestly, what most people expect Hawaii to be like.
The swimming season in this location lasts all year round. Average annual water temperature on the coast in Hilo is 78°F, by the seasons: in winter 77°F, in spring 76°F, in summer 79°F, in autumn 79°F. Minimum water temperature (74°F) in Hilo it happens in March, maximum (81°F) in September.
What is the coldest month in Hilo?
Hilo's coldest month is February when the average temperature overnight is 63.5°F. In September, the warmest month, the average day time temperature rises to 83.4°F.
HVNP is located 30 miles southwest of Hilo and 96 miles southeast of Kona. It's open year-round, 24 hours a day. HVNP is home to Kilauea Volcano, the most continuously active volcano in the world, and the park offers the unique experience of walking on land that is younger than you are.
Is there a direct bus between Kailua-Kona and Hilo? Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Luhia Street @ Loloku Street and arriving at Bayfront Park and Ride . Services depart every four hours, and operate every day.
Driving along Hawaiʻi Belt Road and Mamalahoa Highway would be considered the scenic route—the 125-mile trip takes about three hours. Fortunately, there's a lot to see on the way from Kailua-Kona to Hilo, so if you've got the time—and gas—to spare, here's a guide on what to look out for on your journey.
The cheapest time to fly to Hawaii is during February and March. The most expensive month to fly is December when the holiday period falls, with January being very expensive as well. The peak travel months of June and July are surprisingly not the most expensive months for flights, with middle figure prices.
The winter months between November and March rank as generally the best time to visit Kona. It's then that Kona often experiences clear skies, which means it's prime time for viewing constellations.
Driving around the island takes about six hours – and that's without stopping or running into any traffic. If you're looking to break up your trip a bit, try taking a self-guided tour like the one Action Tour Guide offers.
Tip: Go in the morning when its most calm (turtles like calm water). While you search for turtles, check out some of the other sea life found here, including octopus, eels, triggerfish, angelfish, and more.
#1: When is Whale Watching season in Hawaii? Humpback whale season on the Hawaiian islands is between November and Early May, but some months are better than others.
Between mid-March and early-April 2023. This can also be one of the highest-priced times of year to visit Hawaii. Don't expect to see many deals offered for spring break, although spring break season sometimes has a few pleasant surprises.
What is the driest month in Hilo Hawaii?
Hilo weather is rarely dry for days at a time. The driest month is June, with just over 7 inches of rainfall on average. The wettest month is November with an average rainfall of nearly 16 inches.
Hawaii is no different – rainy season is typically November to March. But there is good news! Even Hawaii's “rainy season” isn't too much rainier than the rest of the year, and a lot of my clients have come here during the rainy season and not reported any rain at all.
– Overall June is the driest month in Hawaii, while December is the wettest month.
The top stops along the way from Hilo to Kailua-Kona (with short detours) are Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Akaka Falls State Park, and Mauna Kea. Other popular stops include Saddle Rd Junction, Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area, and Rainbow Falls.
How long is the drive from Hilo to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park? The direct drive from Hilo to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is 31.7 mi (51 km), and should have a drive time of 57 mins in normal traffic.
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is located on the island of Hawai'i. From Kailua-Kona: 95 miles southeast on Highway 11 (2 to 2.5 hour drive), or 125 miles through Waimea and Hilo via highways 19 and 11 (2.5 to 3 hours).
The Kona side of the island (roughly the western half) is the more tourist friendly side. It's sunny, dry, and where all of the best beaches are hence…all of the best resorts. At all budget levels, probably 90% of accommodations on the Big Island are on the Kona side.
On average, count 3 days to discover the Kona region and the west coast, 1 day at the Volcanoes National Park, 1 half to one day if you want to go up to Mauna Kea, 1 day for the north of the island and 2 days around Hilo, without counting the travel times which are relatively long here.
Big Island by Bus
Hele On Bus is the Big Islands Public Transportation system. If renting a car isn't an option for you, but you want to get out of Kona, you can Hele On to some pretty awesome places. Keep in mind, the bus does not run Sundays and public holidays and the fare is $2 exact change each way.
So, where are the wettest and the driest spots on the Big Island? The windward/east side of the island (Hilo) receives by far the most rain. As you can see on the map below, Hilo gets between 10 and 40 times as much rain as the driest parts of the Big Island.
What is the safest area on the Big Island?
East Honolulu
Along with being the absolute safest place to live in Hawaii, the city offers tourists numerous beaches and hiking trails to enjoy, together with all the fun that comes with visiting the tropical paradise.
Hapuna Beach, the largest sandy beach on the Big Island, is one of Hawaii's best boogie boarding and body surfing beaches.
Kona is the best area to stay on the Big Island as it is the driest, sunniest part of the island with the nicest beaches. In particular, look for accommodation near Kailua-Kona or Waikoloa.
As mentioned above, Hilo lies on the windward (rainy) side of the Big Island and receives quite some precipitation. For example, downtown Hilo gets 142 inches of rain per year.
Kona is the only region in the islands where summer rainfall exceeds winter rainfall. Our wettest month is September but this is no reason to avoid Kailua this month as in general (but by no means as a rule) it rains in the late afternoon or in the early evening.
The wettest city in the world is Buenaventura, where it rains 258 days per year. Australia's rainiest city is Cairns in Queensland, with 117 days of precipitation. The UK's wettest city is Londonderry in Northern Ireland (147 days). The wettest city in the US is Hilo, Hawaii (211 days).
Hilo is a major town with a population of about 45,579. Its crime rates are 70% higher than the national average, which is very shocking. It is one of the most dangerous regions to reside on the huge island. In Hilo, the chances of becoming a victim of crime are 1 in 23.
So, if you're visiting the Big Island in Hawaiʻi, you'd like to ask “is Kona safe to travel?” if the city is on your travel list. Crime rates in Kona are lower than average when compared to similar size cities across the United States, making it a safe place for residents and visitors.
If you're looking to get away from the tourist experience, the Big Island is an excellent option for visiting Hawaii. In addition to its 186,000 residents, the island receives about 1.7 million tourists every year. However, despite the size of “Big” Island, the island is actually much less crowded in comparison.
Located on the sunny West Coast, Mauna Kea Beach (also known as Kauna'oa Beach) received a top ranking on the Top US Beaches, a spot well deserved. The soft white sand beach is one of the loveliest you'll ever see, it's relatively uncrowded, and on a clear day, you can spot the impressive Mauna Kea volcano.
What is the best secluded beach on the Big Island?
Waipio Valley Beach, Big Island
Of all the beaches on the Big Island, the unspoiled crescent of black sand at the base of Waipio Valley is easily the most secluded: It's sheltered by 2,000-foot cliffs, and it's a grueling three-mile hike down.
Hapuna Beach is one of the best beaches on the Big Island for swimming. This 1/2 mile white sand beach is regularly voted among the 'best beaches in the world'. There is a wide (in the summer months up to 200 ft) white sand beach that slopes gradually into the ocean – perfect for playing in the waves.
The best times to visit the Big Island of Hawaii, taking into consideration the weather, how crowded, or not, the island is, and demand for accommodations are the month(s) of April, May, August, September, and October. Some call these Hawaii Island's 'off-season periods' or the 'shoulder months.