Akaka Falls

If you’re prepared for a half-mile hike that includes plenty of stairs (we’re talking 300 plus!), you’ll experience one of the best sights Hilo has to offer. Akaka Falls is 422 feet of plunging, misty, majestic glory framed by lush, tropical greenery. Even if you don’t make the entire hike up, the falls are visible from afar, offering the lesser-inclined a pretty decent panoramic view nonetheless. And for you adrenaline junkies, there’s a zip line that’ll whisk you straight over Akaka Falls and across the gorge for the absolute best, although fleeting, view of the falls available. There’s a small charge ($5 at the time of writing this) for parking in the lot, but street parking is free.