A good start to go places in Hilo

It started off as a tour & ended up with an "as needed" bus 🚌—super flexible for going with the flow! Our driver narrated the area & places of interest as we passed by 🗣️, making the ride feel like a little local lesson. One of the stops was Queen Liliuokalani Garden 🌸—we had plenty of time to wander, snap photos 📸, and soak up the calm vibe. It also seemed like such a cozy spot for locals to hang out, which made it feel extra authentic! The tour hit all the good spots: Rainbow Falls 🌈 (so pretty with the water cascading!), Big Island Candies 🍬 (we grabbed a few sweet treats to munch on), and the King Kamehameha Statue 🗿—we had enough time at each to look around, take photos, and even stock up on snacks from Big Island Candies (total must-try!). Our last stop was Old Town Hilo (downtown) & the Farmer's Market 🛒—so many good finds! Most of the foods, flowers, and gifts are locally made or sourced, so buying something feels like a nice way to support the islanders too 💛. We had to hop on a bus back to the main building first, then switch to another one to get to the beaches—they’re on the opposite side of Downtown Hilo 🌊. The ride to the beaches was through residential areas, and I couldn’t help but think, “I wonder what they do for a living to live here?!” 😊—the neighborhoods were so charming, plus there was beautiful scenery peeking through every now and then. Our driver dropped us off at the assigned spot and said she’d make several back-and-forth runs 🚌, so no rush at all! We walked to the black sand beaches ⚫️—on the way, we passed a few little inlets where you could float in a tube 🛟 and relax, or spread out a blanket for a picnic. A bit further along, we got closer to the ocean, but the beach was still nice and calm for laying out. We had plenty of time to do whatever we wanted—chill on the sand, explore the inlets, just take it easy—and still made it back to the bus with time to spare. Such a laid-back, perfect day! #HiloAdventure #BigIslandTour #HawaiiTravelDiaries #FarmerMarketFinds #BlackSandBeachVibes