Island Goode's Hilo Hawaii Bed and Breakfast

Island Goode's Hilo Hawaii Bed and Breakfast is only 5 minutes from Hilo and 10 minutes from the Hilo Airport. The perfect location to experience The Big Island. New Luxury B&B with spectacular view of Hilo Bay. Each room has King Size "Select Comfort" adjustable beds, large bathrooms with full size tub and shower, and 9 foot ceilings with two fans. Sparkling clean! Large covered Lanai, and Gazebo. Very private 8 acre estate, tropically landscaped with exotic palms and fruit trees. This is a great location for touring all the sites on this side of the Island. Come relax and enjoy paradise.

May 2011
"Dear Laura & Garvin, This has been the most comfortable, relaxing, & amazing stay my husband & I have ever had.  Every morning we woke up with anticipation to your delicious & bountiful breakfast like a child at Christmas morning.  We really enjoyed our conversations with you both & your beautiful garden!  Thank you for your warm caring hospitality & your beautiful smile!"  Your friends Linet & Oliver
 

Hawaii's biggest small town lies at the feet of three volcanoes, Mauna Kea, the world's tallest; Mauna Loa, the world's most voluminous; and Kilauea, the world's most active volcano. Hawaii's biggest visitor attraction is due south in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Hilo's centuries-old wooden storefronts house surprisingly sophisticated galleries, shops, restaurants and cultural sites all of which you can explore on foot. This sleepy town looks out towards beautiful Hilo Bay and is filled with a genuine aloha spirit. Excerpt from http://www.gohawaii.com/big_island/learn/hilo

Top places to visit in Hilo:

• Hilo Farmer's Market: Discover fresh fruit, flowers, and local crafts.
• Hilo Art Galleries: Find unique local art by Hilo's finest artisans.
• Palace Theater: Built in 1925, this is a neo-classical jewel.
• Pacific Tsunami Museum: Learn about Hilo's harrowing Tsunami encounters.
• East Hawaii Cultural Center: This is the central hub of Hilo's arts scene.
• Lyman Museum and House: Built in 1839, this museum honors Hawaii's heritage

Palace Theater: Hawai'iana Live at the Palace Theater Every Wednesday 11 am. Now in its second year, "Hawaiiana Live" is a 45 minute cultural tourism program hosted by Leilehua Yuen. It features live on stage presentations that share the history and traditions of the Hawaiian culture through storytelling, film, music, oli and hula.

Mokupapapa Discovery Center: The center was constructed to interpret the natural science, culture, and history of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and surrounding marine environment. Interactive displays, engaging three-dimensional models, and immersive theater allow the visitor to experience the wonder and majesty of this special ocean region. A 2,500-gallon salt-water aquarium provides a habitat for some of the fishes from the NWHI reefs. Next to the aquarium, in a small alcove is a mock-up of Hawai`i Undersea Research Laboratory's Pisces V submersible. Using working robot arms visitors can experience what it might be like as a researcher descending into the dark depths of the ocean. This exhibit is a major hit with the kids, as well as adults.

Merrie Monarch Festival: Begun forty-five years ago by the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce and continued by the private Merrie Monarch Festival community organization, the major purpose of the festival is the perpetuation, preservation, and promotion of the art of hula and the Hawaiian culture through education. The festival is considered the world's premier forum for people of all ages to display their skills and knowledge of the art of ancient and modern hula.

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park: A true geological hot spot, this national park contains two of the world's most active volcanoes. Measured from the seafloor, broad Mauna Loa is the tallest mountain on Earth, and Kilauea continues to spew and spit, constantly reforming the landscape around it. Magma vents on the seafloor send lava shooting to the surface, erupting into molten streams that flow straight into the Pacific, forming new land as they cool. Visitors can hike on lava trails and see firsthand the forest regeneration that takes place constantly here. Scenic drives also wind through the Ka`u Desert and a rain forest, home to a rich concentration of Hawaiian birds and other wildlife.

'Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai'i: The 'Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai'i tells dual stories of the renowned Maunakea volcano, with its world-famous astronomy and rich traditions of Hawaiian culture. 'Imiloa, which means "exploring new knowledge," reflects both the Hawaiian voyages of discovery and the explorations of astronomy.

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens: The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is a spectacular Garden in a Valley on the Ocean - acclaimed as one of the most beautiful areas in all Hawaii. The Garden is located on the Big Island of Hawaii, 8 1/2 miles north of Hilo on the four-mile Scenic Route at Onomea Bay.

East Hawai'i Cultural Center: The East Hawai'i Cultural Center is operated by the East Hawai'i Cultural Council, a coaliton of organizations and individuals dedicated to preserving cultural, creative and traditional arts in Hawai'i, to foster community involvement with culture and the arts; and to coordinate activities and resources among East Hawai'i arts and cultural community. The Council was founded in 1967 with six charter organizations reflecting Hilo's multi-ethnic heritage.

Downtown Hilo: When you visit the Hilo area, you will glimpse the Hawaii of old. From the quaint downtown to the outlying areas you will find the true spirit of aloha. Here there are no strangers but rather one big ohana (family). Should you experience trouble, someone will come forward to help. The local people willingly take time to answer questions and "talk story." When driving you will seldom have to wait to enter traffic, as someone will certainly stop and wave you into line. Visit Hilo, and you will begin to learn the true meaning of aloha."

Lili'uokalani Park and Gardens: The Lili'uokalani Park and Gardens was named in honor of Hawaii's last queen and features a meticulously manicured Japanese landscape ringed by sprawling banyan trees.Stroll across arched stone bridges and pause in pagodas that overlook the bay.One of the most gorgeous views of Hilo Bay is from the edge of the gardens. The sun glistens on the calm bay waters while palm trees gently sway in a warm breeze, and in the distance you can see clouds banking on the slopes of Mauna Loa.

The Pacific Tsunami Museum: The main goal of the museum is to promote public tsunami awareness and education for the people of Hawai`i and the Pacific Region. The Pacific Tsunami Museum strives to preserve the social and cultural history of Hawai`i as it relates to tsunami devastation and to serve as a testament to the perseverance of the communities in rebuilding their lives. Thus, the Pacific Tsunami Museum Archives is a repository for materials that promote and understanding of and appreciation for tsunamis.

The Lyman Mission House and Museum: The nationally accredited Lyman Museum showcases the natural and cultural history of Hawai`i in its exhibit halls and its 1839 historic missionary home. Featherwork of Hawai`i, a display of Hawaiian feather creations with live demonstrations by local artists, Lei Hulu of Hilo, will be featured at the Lyman Museum from May 1 through July 12, 2008. For the past three years Aunty Doreen Henderson and her students, collectively known as Lei Hulu of Hilo, have provided the Lyman Museum with a display of feather masterpieces such as lei hulu (feather lei).

Rainbow Falls & Boiling Pots: Rainbow Falls is an 80 foot tall waterfall that drops over an ancient cave said to be the home of Hina, the mother of the demigod Maui. In the early morning sun, rainbows are easily seen in the mist that rises as the water hits the pool below. A couple of miles upriver you'll find Peepee Falls and Boiling Pots. This is a particularly rough area of the river. Water falls over Pe'epe'e Falls and then enters an area of rapids known as Boiling Pots where the water rushes through old lava rocks and lava tubes and appears to bubble up or boil as it makes it way downstream.

Hilo Farmers Market: The Hilo Farmers Market is No Ka Oi (one of the best around!). There are papayas 5 for $1, bunches of orchids and anthuriums for around $5, blooming orchids for around $6, lychee, rambutan and longan (in season), mangoes, white pineapples (da kine!), fresh fish, hot bread, bento lunches and all sorts of "ono" produce. As an added bonus the people there are full of island friendliness and kokua.

Pana`ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens: Located on the "Big Island" of Hawaii, this 12 acre zoo is the only tropical rainforest zoo in the United States. It is home to more than 80 animal species including the endangered Nene (Hawaii State Bird) and Namaste', a white Bengal Tiger.

Excerpt from http://www.downtownhilo.com