Green and tropical Hilo, on the east side of island of Hawaii, offers a very different nightlife than Kailua, where tourists flock on the sun-baked Kona Coast. The town on Hilo Bay has a more laid-back feel, and locals tend to be early birds instead of night owls, but that doesn’t mean you're destined to spend the evening in your room. The island's county seat with more than 40,000 residents offers excellent opportunities for arts and entertainment, Hawaiian style, a couple decent nightspots -- and if you look toward the skies or the volcano, things really get interesting after the sun drops behind Mauna Kea.
Arts After Dark
- At Hilo's "First Friday Night Market," view art, enjoy local entertainment and sample goodies from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Afterward, sip margaritas at Reuben's Mexican Restaurant or enjoy an Italian dinner at romantic Pescatores -- both have been serving patrons for decades. On just about any weekend night, there's a production at The Palace. Part of Downtown Hilo's renovation, The Palace opened in 1925 and was the grandest of theaters in all Hawaii outside of Honolulu. Built before the days of sound systems, the theater's natural acoustics are impressive. The bright marquee features big names in Hawaii and beyond, such as ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro.
Nightspots
- Nightclubs, unlike the hole-in-the-wall long-standing local bars, typically don't survive long in Hilo, so time will tell with some of Hilo's newer club, at time of publication: 100% Moxie in downtown Hilo. Dance, drink, shoot pool and keep the energy going with appetizers and sandwiches. The club attracts college students and locals. On Banyan Drive, catch class-act contemporary Hawaiian entertainers at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel's Waioli Lounge. "Wai" means water, and "oli" means happy. Overlooking Hilo Bay, Waioli Lounge brings smiles with its tropical concoctions during Friday and Saturday late-evening happy hours. But first, feast on the seafood buffet at the hotel's long-running and renovated Queen's Court with its panoramic views of Hilo Bay, enchanting on a clear night, under a full moon.
Planetarium
- At the Imiloa Astronomy Center perched above the University of Hawaii-Hilo, a 3D stereoscopic and surround sound system enhances the planetarium's shows. Long-running shows include Pink Floyd's “Dark Side of the Moon” and “Mauna Kea: Between Earth and Sky.” The latter pays tribute to the Big Island's cultural and astronomy heritage, as it takes you in a Polynesian voyaging canoe guided by the stars, and then through the galaxies to the universe's beginnings. Check Imiloa's website for other shows and activities.
Star Parties
- Live sky shows are provided at the Imiloa Astronomy Center, but to see a truly star-studded sky, drive up Mauna Kea, about a one-hour drive from downtown Hilo, to the Onizuku Center and Visitor Information Station, where a free, stargazing program takes place nightly above the clouds at 9,300 feet. The stargazing program begins with a documentary film and continues outdoors, where volunteers assist with the telescopes and pointing out various objects in the sky. Sunsets above the clouds are also spectacular.
Fiery Nights
- Hilo is the gateway city to Hawaii National Volcanoes Park. While visiting the park, linger after sunset to see the glow above Halemaumau Crater -- best seen from the park's Thomas A. Jaggar Museum and also seen from the park's restaurant aptly named “The Rim,” in the renovated Volcano House from which in the late 1800s Mark Twain viewed Halemaumau's eruption. To see red-hot molten lava pouring into the sea, take one of the lava boat tours from Pohiiki Bay. For a less spectacular but still amazing experience, take the free, night hike in the Kalapana Viewing Area -- conditions vary, so call first.
Considerations
- An umbrella is a necessity in Hilo; the rainiest city in the United States averages about 130 inches at sea level and 200 inches upland annually. Pack summer clothes, and for Hilo evenings when temperatures plummet into the 60s, a lightweight sweater. If visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or Mauna Kea, add warm clothes for frosty nights. Check event calendars for more night activities, such as block parties and parades. The Merrie Monarch Festival in spring draws hula dancers from around the world and leaves no vacancies at Hilo hotels.
