Hawaiian Fun
Created | Updated Oct 14, 2004
Appendix to Hilo
Hilo is the capital of Hawaii commonly called The Big Island and has 37,000 inhabitants, mostly of Japanese descent. It is the youngest among the other habitable Islands and still has a 'working' volcano called Kilauea. The eruptions are periodical but everyday one can see the steaming evaporation with sulphoric content as it oozes out of the ground. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in the Hilo neighbourhood is the major attraction of this Island.
When the volcanoes are in action tourists come from all over and Hilo enjoys prosperous times again as hotels and restaurants fill up. It can be a very lively place from time to time.
Needless to say that, at the time of my visit, the volcanoes were sleeping. That is bad news for Hilo. However, for those visitors who are not only interested in volcanic activities, there is plenty more to find in Hilo.
There are the Hawaii University and Libraries for more intellectual investigations and there are cultural events scheduled for every month. These range from sporting events, such as marathon running, to very enjoyable nature-lovers garden affairs. Hilo and its vicinity has several notable gardens and orchid farms which are the largest in the world. The beautiful Anthuriums flower grows only in volcanic ground and large amounts of these flowers are shipped from Hilo to all over the world. There are several enterprises growing these plants and a visit to these sites is a delightful experience.
The highest mountain on the island is Mauna Kea which means 'White Mountain' - because is always covered with snow. This mountain is found in Hilo territory and is claimed to be the best site in the world for ground-based astronomy. Many scientists stay there for longer period of time. Sadly it is not open to the public.
The rugged coastline immediately around Hilo doesn't have sunny, sandy beaches but, a little further away, there are enjoyable beaches with surfing possible.
To know, in depth, about any part of the world one needs time. Many tourists in a hurry will form false pictures and impressions of a place if there is no time and opportunity to look around in more detail. My hurried, short visit disturbed with various adventures certainly did not give me an objective picture of Hilo1. I felt I owed it to the place to affix an appendix to my story from Hilo.
Those who have had more time to get to know this most interesting, very diversified city on the Big Island could probably give a fuller account.
