travel42 Port Guide: Hilo

travel42 Professional Cruise Port of Call Review

Hilo, the largest city on the island of Hawaii and the second largest in the state, is a must-see, daylong visit for garden enthusiasts and probably a half-day trip for everyone else.

Hilo is also a perfect base for visiting what residents simply refer to as The Volcano. Only 30 mi/48 km south of Hilo along Highway 11, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the home of the active Kilauea Volcano.

Keep in mind that Hilo gets 280 days of rain a year (129 in/328 cm annually), but the rains don't l...