Is it better to fly into Hilo or Kona?

Practical Differences Between Kona And Hilo Airports Hilo International Airport is located in Hilo Town on the east side of the island. In general, you'll want to keep in mind that Kona is sunnier and more popular with visitors. With that comes convenience, more activities, and a plethora of things to do nearby.



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Island of Hawai?i Travel Tips Travel to Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA) in Kona to the west, or Hilo International Airport (ITO) in Hilo to the east. Most visitors arrive in Kona.

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Kona is the more popular town among tourists for one reason: Kona is how we image Hawaii to look like. It has hot weather with beautiful beaches. If you goal is to sit on the beach while staying at your luxury beach front resort for your entire Big Island vacation, then Kona is perfect for you.

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If you only have 4-5 days, perhaps spent 1 day in Hilo and the rest of your time in Kona and Volcanoes National Park. Kona and Hilo are both worth visiting – just adjust your schedule based on whether you prefer beaches and upscale shops or rainforests and history. You can't go wrong with either destination!

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In West Hawaii, Kailua-Kona is typically a few degrees warmer and quite a bit more arid than tropical Hilo. It can stay warmer in the evening (unless you are higher up in the Kona hills.) It's typically warm and sunny near the ocean, and partly cloudy in the hills.

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Lower Tourist Population = Lower Prices This means greater room availability and lower prices for accommodations in and around Hilo, making a Hawaii vacation within easier reach for those traveling on a budget.

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Driving along Hawaii 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.

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In West Hawaii, Kailua-Kona is typically a few degrees warmer and quite a bit more arid than tropical Hilo. It can stay warmer in the evening (unless you are higher up in the Kona hills.)

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Hilo is more pedestrian-friendly, with more of a proper downtown area, whereas Kona isn't very walkable. Recommended Hilo Tours: What is this?

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Good guests are always welcome. The occasional bad guest isn't, but Hilo doesn't get a lot of those. FWIW, locals in Kona resent mainlanders too, but there are so many mainlanders that they have a sort of quorum, whereas in Hilo one is a minority.

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Cheapest airport to fly into Hawaii. The cheapest flights to Hawaii generally land in Honolulu at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Hawaii's capital, or at Kahului Airport (OGG), on Maui.

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Must-do Big Island Activities
  • The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park which offers stunning and ever changing landscapes.
  • Visiting the Mauna Kea summit with its world-class telescopes for stargazing and out-of-this-world sunsets.
  • The manta ray night dive/snorkel.
  • Seeing red-hot lava (only when the volcano is active).


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2 spot in analysis of 100 busiest airports.

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Bus from Kona Airport to Hilo To take the Hele-On Bus, you will need to first take the airport shuttle from the terminal to the Kona International Market bus stop, which is about a 5-minute ride away. From there, you can catch the Hele-On Bus Route 1, which runs between Kona and Hilo.

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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.

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Regardless, it is still almost twice as big as all other Hawaiian Islands combined. If you want to be in control of your own transport there is only one viable option to navigate around the Big Island: renting a car. Getting around without a rental car: With public transport (the bus)

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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.

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Hilo is a very supportive town and a fun community to be a part of. a city but not a city. hilo has such a homey feel for the so called big city of the bis island. its such a green place because of all of the rain but its beautiful and the community is filled with amazing people.

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Hilo Beaches Enjoy swimming and snorkeling in the calm waters at Carlsmith Beach.

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Farther up the road, Onekahakaha Beach Park has it all: safe swimming, small white-sand beach, lifeguards, and amenities. Turn left onto Onekahakaha Road and park in the lot of Hilo's favorite family beach.

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