Hilo Cruise Port
Hilo, United States · Pacific
Cruise ships dock at Pier 1 - Hilo Harbor, Hilo.
Plan my port daysRelaxed Big Island port with a walkable bayfront town and waterfalls nearby; the headline sights need a car or tour.
At a glance
Port summary
Ships dock at Pier 1, a short ride or long walk from downtown Hilo. Town, gardens and Rainbow Falls are easy independently, but Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Akaka Falls are a 30-60 minute drive.
Cruise dock
🚢 Pier 1 - Hilo Harbor
The cruise berth at the Port of Hilo. Ships dock directly at Pier 1 (no tender); a small terminal building and greeting kiosks sit at its base, with downtown Hilo a short ride away.
📍 Latitude: 19.730276, Longitude: -155.053306
See dock on port map →Getting to Hilo
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Cards and phones cover almost everything; bring a few dollars for market stalls and tips.
Build your perfect day in Hilo
Tell us your cruise line, ship and departure date and we'll give you a complete set of full port information and playbooks of how to spend your day.
Inside the Hawaii collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Hilo cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
4 comparedHawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Rainbow Falls
≈ 7 h · sold by 6 cruise lines
Cruise line
€140$162
Do it yourself
€75$87
Save ≈ €65Save ≈ $75 (46% off)
Hilo's pier has no public transport that reliably reaches the park within a cruise day, so the practical DIY is a rental car. Avis/Budget/Enterprise sit at Hilo International Airport ~3 mi from the pier with a free/short shuttle; cars run from ~$75/day. It is 28 mi (about 50 min) south on Highway 11 to the park; entry is $30 per vehicle (7-day, credit card only). Rainbow Falls is a free 2-min walk from its car park on the way back into Hilo.
See the DIY plan →
ʻAkaka Falls and Rainbow Falls waterfalls loop
≈ 4.5 h · sold by 4 cruise lines
Cruise line
€95$110
Do it yourself
€65$75
Save ≈ €30Save ≈ $35 (32% off)
Same rental-car logic as the volcano day — there is no useful transit to ʻAkaka. ʻAkaka Falls State Park is 11 mi north of Hilo near Honomu, about 30 min by car; entry is $5pp plus $10 parking, credit card only, open 8:30am–5:00pm. The loop trail is a flat paved 0.4 mi. Rainbow Falls and Liliuokalani Gardens are free stops back in town.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
11 plansHawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park by Rental Car
The Big Island's headliner: Kīlauea crater, steam vents, lava tubes and Rainbow Falls on the drive back, all at your own pace.
ʻAkaka Falls and the Hilo Waterfalls Loop
Three waterfalls in half a day — the 442-ft ʻAkaka, the bubbling Boiling Pots and the misty Rainbow Falls, all by rental car.
Historic Hilo, Gardens and Bayfront Walk
The easy walking day: Liliuokalani Gardens, Banyan Drive, downtown Hilo's tsunami history and the farmers market — all without a car.
Hilo Food Trail: Poke, Market and Mac Nuts
The edible side of Hilo — farmers market grazing, the island's best poke counter, Big Island Candies and a mac-nut factory, no car needed.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Hilo?
- Your ship docks directly at the Hilo cruise terminal in United States.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Hilo?
- Yes. Hilo is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Hilo centre?
- Typical options include Taxi, Shuttle bus, On foot, Car rental, Local bus, Ride-hail (Uber/Bolt). Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Hilo?
- Plan for at least 4 hours ashore to see Hilo independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Hilo and are cards accepted?
- Hilo uses the US Dollar. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Hilo cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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