How to Vacation Cheaply in Hilo, Hawaii

On the eastern cost of Hawaii's Big Island lies Hilo, a tropical city that averages 140 inches of rain annually. This wet climate is conducive to tropical foliage, making Hilo the orchid capital of the United States. South of Hilo, puffing and billowing smoke (and sometimes even erupting), are the two awe-inspiring volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea, among the most active volcanoes in the world. Here's how to visit Hilo without breaking the bank.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Where To Stay

1. Book a flight on any continental carrier to Hilo. Rent a car or take public transportation directly into town.

2. Stay at a bed and breakfast if you'd like breakfast provided. For budget lodging, Arnott’s Lodge, popular for hikers, offers dorm-style rooms at affordable rates.

3. 

   Bring a tent if you want to camp out. You can pitch it on one of the beach's available camping facilities, or camp inside the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park near the volcanoes. Advance reservations are required with the park.

4. Rent a car at the airport to get you around the island. If that isn’t in your budget, use public transportation or rent a motor scooter or a bicycle to get around.

Where to Go

5. 

   Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the most popular destination near Hilo. It costs $10 per car (or $5 if you're on foot) to get inside inside the park, where you can hike to the lava flows and steam vents, black-sand beaches and rainforest. Go to the 4000-foot elevation at Kilauea Crater and gaze out at the breath-taking views of the volcano.

6. Stock up on food and supplies by shopping for homegrown tropical fruits and vegetables and other local foods at Hilo Farmer’s Market, where 200 venders set up stalls. Area residents and tourists all converge at the market, which is open all year round, for the best produce Hilo has to offer.

7. Stop in at the Pacific Tsunami Museum, dedicated to tsunami public awareness for the people of Hawaii and the Pacific Rim region. Learn about the history of tsunamis, the Pacific tsunami warning system and public safety measures for tsunami disasters. The museum is slated to become a Worldwide Center for Tsunami Research. Admission for adults is $7.

8. 

   Don't miss the Akatsuka Orchid Gardens, along the route to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Take a free self-guided tour of the gardens, which feature over 200,000 orchid varieties. Later, visit the shop and have an orchid shipped free of charge anywhere in the United States.

9. Visit the Mokupapa Discovery Center, where you can learn about the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands' delicate ecosystem, natural sciences, culture and history. The center features interactive displays, three-dimensional models, a theater and an aquarium inhabited by coral-reef fish. Admission is free.