Skip the Sunday Farmer's Market unless you're interested in flowers. All the "good stuff" sells out on Saturday and prices are lower on Wednesday. 

Save the Lyman Mission House and Museum for the rainy days possible in Hilo all year and common in winter. 

SPECIAL EVENT: If you're lucky or foresighted enough -- a year ahead is barely enough -- to be in Hilo the weekend after Easter, the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival has offered real hulas, (as opposed to the cellophane tourist-type skirt), since the early 1960"s. All the hula schools, "halau" gather for a deadly serious competition in both old and modern hula. The Merrie Monarch Hula Festival. Hawaii Naniloa Hotel, 93 Banyan Drive, Hilo, Hi 96720 808.935.9168.