HiloCruise Port Guide
A working harbor two miles from town, a volcano 30 miles up the road, and Rainbow Falls ten minutes away. Timed plans, real tour prices, and the free bus into Hilo.
Welcome to Hilo
Pro Picks
Volcano tour · 5 hrsHawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Tour
A 5-hour trip with pickup: Banyan Drive and Liliʻuokalani Gardens in Hilo, then the craters and viewpoints of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, about 30 miles up the road. Kīlauea erupts on and off, so glowing lava is a bonus, not a promise; bring a light jacket for the cooler summit.
From $189/ person
Book Now →
Snorkel · 3 hrsSea Turtle Lagoon & Black Sand Beach Snorkel
A guided beach snorkel with two stops along Hilo's coast, in calm lagoons known for sea turtles, reef fish and the odd octopus, with island snacks and juice included. It meets at a dive shop on Kamehameha Avenue in town, about 2 miles from the pier, so take a taxi or the free bus and don't run late.
From $150/ person
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Zipline · 2.5 hrsHilo Zipline over Kolekole Falls
Seven ziplines across a working farm on the Hāmākua Coast, building up to a half-mile line over a 250-foot waterfall. It starts in Honomū, roughly half an hour's drive north of the pier, so arrange transport; closed-toe shoes are required and riders must weigh 40–260 lbs.
From $245/ person
Book Now →Your time ashore
Count from leaving the ship to being back aboard.
Hilo in 2 hours
Helicopter Flight
Discover Hilo Helicopter Flight
A 50-minute flight over new lava landscapes, black-sand beaches, rainforest and waterfalls. It leaves from Hilo airport, a short ride from the pier; check in 45 minutes early or you may lose your seat.
From$479
Time required50 minutes
Whale Watching
Humpback Whale-Watching Cruise
Ninety minutes on a small boat looking for humpbacks, with snacks and drinks. Whales visit in winter, so it suits winter calls; it leaves from Wailoa Boat Harbor, about 2 miles from the pier.
From$175
Time required1.5 hours
Hilo in 4 hours
Waterfalls & Beach
ʻAkaka Falls, Black Sand Beach & Turtles
A seaside Japanese garden, hidden local beaches and a rainforest walk to ʻAkaka Falls, with park fees and snacks included. The guide meets you inside the cruise terminal and guarantees your all-aboard return.
From$113.05
Time required3 hours
Beach Snorkel
Sea Turtle Lagoon Snorkel
Two guided snorkel stops in calm coastal lagoons with sea turtles and reef fish, plus snacks. It meets at a dive shop on Kamehameha Avenue, about 2 miles from the pier; late arrivals may be turned away.
From$150
Time required3 hours
Zipline
Hilo Zipline over Kolekole Falls
Seven lines over farmland, the last a half-mile run above a 250-foot waterfall. It starts in Honomū, roughly half an hour north of the pier, and transport isn't listed, so plan a car or taxi.
From$245
Time required2.5 hours
Hilo in 7 hours
Volcano Tour
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Tour
Hilo's Banyan Drive and Liliʻuokalani Gardens, then Kīlauea's craters and viewpoints in the national park, with pickup included. Lava isn't guaranteed; bring a jacket for the summit.
From$189
Time required5 hours
Volcano & Waterfalls
Volcano & Waterfalls Morning Tour
Lava fields, a lava tube and rainforest waterfalls by van, with no strenuous hiking. The guide meets you inside the cruise terminal as soon as passengers are allowed off.
From$151.05
Time required5.5 hours
Volcano Tour
Volcanoes National Park & Hilo Highlights
Rainbow Falls first, then a narrated drive to Kīlauea's summit for viewpoints and short walks, including the Thurston lava tube. Small groups of up to 12, with pickup included.
From$195.47
Time required5.5 hours
Waterfalls & Turtles
Turtles & Waterfalls Tour
ʻAkaka Falls on an easy paved path, Rainbow Falls, then turtle spotting on the coast. It usually meets at the Keaukaha General Store just outside the port; it's new, so there are no reviews yet.
From$139
Time required4 hours
Handy Helpers
Small things that make a port day easier.
Private Driver, Waiting at the Dock
A pre-booked driver meets you at the dock for a fixed price. No haggling, no waiting for a taxi to fill.
Bike rental
Cover more ground than on foot. Book ahead and return it well before all-aboard.
Travel eSIM
Install it on ship WiFi and your maps and ride apps work the moment you land in Hilo.
Quick answers
Facts last checked .
How we checked these answers
Every answer is built from facts we checked against the sources below and cross-checked with recent port guides. Where sources disagreed, the answer says so instead of guessing a number.
- Princess Cruises — Hilo
- Norwegian Cruise Line — Hilo
- Hawaii DOT Harbors — Hawaiʻi Island Commercial Harbors 2035 Master Plan
- County of Hawaiʻi Mass Transit Agency — Take Hele-On to the Ports
- County of Hawaiʻi Mass Transit Agency — Hele-On fares
- Hilo Farmers Market
- National Park Service — Hawaiʻi Volcanoes fees & passes
- National Park Service — October 2026 events at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
- Hawaii Airports — Hilo International Airport info
- Hawaii DLNR State Parks — Wailuku River State Park
Getting ashore
Where do cruise ships dock in Hilo?
Cruise ships in Hilo dock at Pier 1, the Hilo Cruise Port, a working cargo harbor on the east side of Hilo Bay. Norwegian's Pride of America calls weekly, and Princess, Holland America, Carnival and Oceania ships also use it; with one cruise pier, every line lands in the same place. The small terminal has restrooms and information desks, and volunteers answer questions in its Aloha Room.
Is Hilo a tender port?
No, Hilo is a docking port: ships tie up at Pier 1 in the Port of Hilo and passengers walk off, with no tenders. Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess both list Hilo as a dock, and a second, shorter berth can take a smaller ship when the harbor is busy.
Is Hilo a walkable port?
Not really: downtown Hilo is about 2 miles from the cruise pier, a 40–60 minute walk along an unshaded harbor road, so most people ride. The county's Hele-On bus is free until 2028, from a stop a short walk out of the port, and taxis at the pier charge roughly $12–16. Closer in, Liliʻuokalani Gardens on Banyan Drive is about a mile on foot.
What to do at Hilo cruise port?
The Hilo cruise port itself has little beyond a small terminal and a general store at the gate, but a lot is close by. Reeds Bay Beach Park is a 14-minute walk and Liliʻuokalani Gardens about a mile; the free county bus runs into downtown, where the Hilo Farmers Market is open daily. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is about 30 miles away, which is why most people book a tour: see the full-day plans.
Beaches & sights
Are there beaches near the Hilo cruise port?
Yes. Reeds Bay Beach Park is about 0.6 miles from the Hilo cruise terminal, roughly a 14-minute walk along Kalanianaʻole Avenue and Banyan Drive; its water is calm and shallow behind the breakwater, but there's no lifeguard. Richardson Ocean Park, about 3 miles east, is on the county's free Route 101 bus, which you catch across the street from the port gate.
Can I visit Volcanoes National Park on my own from the Hilo cruise port?
Only with a car: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is about 30 miles from Hilo, 40–50 minutes each way, and the County of Hawaiʻi says its bus service there is too limited for a cruise day. Entry is $30 per car, card only. Kīlauea erupts on and off, so lava isn't guaranteed. The ship won't wait if you're late, which is why many people take a tour: see the full-day plans.
How much does it cost to visit Rainbow Falls?
Rainbow Falls costs visitors $5 per person plus $10 per car, payable by credit card only, according to Hawaii State Parks; the same fee covers Boiling Pots upstream. It's in Wailuku River State Park, about 2 miles from the Hilo cruise port (10–15 minutes by taxi), and open daily from 7:00am to 5:30pm.
Is the Hilo Farmers Market open on cruise days?
Yes. The Hilo Farmers Market, at Kamehameha Avenue and Mamo Street downtown, is open every day from 7:00am to 3:00pm, and Wednesday and Saturday are its big market days. It's about 2 miles from the cruise pier, so take the free Hele-On bus to the downtown terminal or a taxi.
Do I need reef-safe sunscreen in Hawaii?
Hawaii law bans selling sunscreen that contains oxybenzone or octinoxate without a prescription, because those ingredients harm coral, so stores in Hilo can't sell them. The law covers sales, not what you bring from home, so check your own bottle's ingredients before a snorkel trip.
Getting around
Can you rent a car at Hilo cruise port?
Not at the pier itself: Hilo's rental counters are at Hilo International Airport, a short drive from the cruise port. Some companies, including Payless, Budget and Avis, run shuttles for cruise passengers from the pier, but hours vary, so confirm the pickup time when you book.
Is there a shuttle from the Hilo cruise port into town?
The easiest ride from the Hilo cruise port is the county's Hele-On bus, which is free for everyone until December 31, 2028. Walk out of the port along Kuhio Street to Kalanianaʻole Avenue: Route 101 to the downtown bus terminal stops next to Oceanfront Kitchen and runs seven days a week, also serving Banyan Drive and Hilo airport.
How much is a taxi from the Hilo cruise port to downtown?
A taxi from the Hilo cruise port to downtown costs roughly $12–16, according to local guides; the ride is about 2 miles and takes around 5 minutes. Taxis wait at the pier on ship days. Confirm the fare with the driver before you set off.
Is Hilo on the same time as my ship?
Hilo runs on Hawaii Standard Time all year, two hours behind the US Pacific coast in winter and three in summer, and your ship may keep a different clock, so check which one all-aboard is given in. Most October 2026 calls stay from about 8:00am to 5:00 or 6:00pm, and the ship won't wait for passengers late from their own plans.
Money & documents
Do I need a passport for a Hawaii cruise?
Not for Hilo itself: Hawaii is part of the United States, so US citizens need no passport to visit, and prices are in US dollars. Whether you need one for the cruise depends on the rest of the itinerary; Norwegian Cruise Line notes that Hawaii sailings that also call in Mexico, Canada or the South Pacific may require one.