View source for Hilo, Hawaii

{{Short description|Census-designated place in United States}}
{{Redirect|Hilo}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Hilo, Hawaii
|native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]]
|nickname                 =
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -------------->
|image_skyline            = Hilo Montage.png
|image_caption            = From top to bottom, left to right: [[S. Hata Building]], [[Hilo Masonic Lodge Hall-Bishop Trust Building]], [[Hilo Bay]] with [[Mauna Kea]], [[Rainbow Falls (Hawaii)|Rainbow (Waiānuenue) Falls]], [[Federal Building, United States Post Office and Courthouse (Hilo, Hawaii)|Federal Building, Post Office and Courthouse]] and [[Liliuokalani Park and Gardens]].
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps ---------------->
|image_map                = Hawaii County Hawaii Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Hilo Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location within [[Hawaii County, Hawaii|Hawaii County]] and [[Hawaii]]
|image_map1               =
|map_caption1             =
|pushpin_map              = Hawaii#United States Hawaii (island)
|pushpin_label            = Hilo

<!-- Location ------------>
|coordinates_footnotes    =
|coordinates              = {{coord|19|42|20|N|155|5|9|W|region:US-HI_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Hawaii]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[Counties of Hawaii|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Hawaii County, Hawaii|Hawaii]]

<!-- Established --------->
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         =
|established_title1       = [[Platted]]
|established_date1        =
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        =
|named_for                =

<!-- Government ---------->
|government_footnotes     =
|government_type          =
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = [[Mitch Roth (politician)|Mitch Roth]]

<!-- Area    ------------->
|area_footnotes           =
|area_total_sq_mi         =
|area_land_sq_mi          =
|area_water_sq_mi         =
|area_total_km2           = 151.0
|area_land_km2            = 138.3
|area_water_km2           = 12.7
|unit_pref                = Imperial

<!-- Elevation ----------->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 20

<!-- Population   -------->
|population_footnotes     = <ref name=2020census/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 44186
|pop_est_footnotes        =
|pop_est_as_of            =
|population_est           =
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|population_density_km2   = auto

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time Zone|Hawaii-Aleutian]]
|utc_offset               = −10
|timezone_DST             =
|utc_offset_DST           =
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 96720-96721
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code                = [[Area code 808|808]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 15-14650
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info              = 359187<ref name=gnis>{{cite gnis2|359187|Hilo, Hawaii}}</ref>
|website                  =
}}

'''Hilo''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|iː|l|oʊ}} ({{IPA|haw|ˈhilo|language}}) is the largest settlement in and the [[county seat]] of [[Hawaii County, Hawaii|Hawai{{Okina}}i County]], [[Hawaii]], [[United States]],<ref name=gnis/> which encompasses the [[Hawaii (island)|Island of Hawaii]], and is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP). The population was 44,186 according to the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref name=2020census>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/hilocdphawaii |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Hilo CDP, Hawaii |publisher=Census.gov |date= |accessdate=2022-07-20}}</ref> It is the fourth-largest settlement in the state of Hawaii, the largest settlement in the state outside of [[Oahu]], and the largest settlement in the state outside of the Greater Honolulu Area.

Hilo is in the District of South Hilo.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The city overlooks [[Hilo Bay]] and has views of two [[shield volcano]]es, [[Mauna Loa]], an [[active volcano]], and [[Mauna Kea]], a [[dormant volcano]]. The Hilo bay-front has been destroyed by [[tsunami]]s twice. The majority of human settlement in Hilo stretches from Hilo Bay to [[Waiākea-Uka]], on the flanks of the volcanoes.

Hilo is home to the [[University of Hawaii at Hilo|University of Hawai{{Okina}}i at Hilo]], [[ʻImiloa Astronomy Center]], as well as the [[Merrie Monarch Festival]], a week-long celebration, including three nights of competition, of ancient and modern [[hula]] that takes place annually after [[Easter]]. Hilo is also home to the [[Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation]], one of the world's leading producers of [[macadamia]] nuts. Hilo is served by [[Hilo International Airport]].<ref>"[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US1514650&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on Hilo CDP, Hawaii] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124023957/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US1514650&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |date=2011-11-24 }}." ''[[U.S. Census Bureau]]''. Retrieved on May 21, 2009.</ref>

==History==
Around 1100 AD, the first Hilo inhabitants arrived, bringing with them [[Polynesia]]n knowledge and traditions. Although archaeological evidence is scant, [[oral tradition|oral history]] has many references to people living in Hilo, along the [[Wailuku River|Wailuku]] and [[Wailoa River (Hawaii)|Wailoa]] rivers during the time of [[ancient Hawaii]].<ref>{{Hawaiian Dictionaries |Hilo |dic=hpn |HASHbe6bbaa7d9c7c80616c1b0 |access-date= February 18, 2011 }}</ref> Oral history gives the meaning of ''Hilo'' as "to twist".<ref>{{Cite book
| url = https://archive.org/details/legendsofwailuku00hapa
| title = Legends of the Wailuku: as told by old Hawaiians
| last = Hapai
| first = Charlotte
| date = 1920-01-01
| publisher = Honolulu, The Charles R. Frazier company
| access-date = 2016-08-18
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170705050339/https://archive.org/details/legendsofwailuku00hapa
| archive-date = 2017-07-05
| url-status = live
}}</ref>

Originally, the name "Hilo" applied to a district encompassing much of the east coast of the [[Hawaii (island)|island of Hawai{{okina}}i]], now divided into the District of South Hilo and the District of North Hilo. When [[William Ellis (British missionary)|William Ellis]] visited in 1823, the main settlement there was [[Waiakea, Hawaii|Waiākea]] on the south shore of [[Hilo Bay]].<ref>Ellis, W. ''A Narrative of an 1823 Tour through Hawai'i'', republished 2004, Mutual Publishing, Honolulu {{ISBN|1-56647-605-4}}, chapters 11 and 12</ref> Missionaries came to the district in the early-to-middle 19th century, founding [[Haili Church]].

Hilo expanded as [[Sugar plantations in Hawaii|sugar plantation]]s in the surrounding area created jobs and drew in many workers from [[Asia]]. For example, by 1887, 26,000 Chinese workers worked in Hawai'i's sugar cane plantations,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://immigrationtounitedstates.org/541-hawaii.html|title=Hawaii|website=Immigration to the United States|language=en|access-date=2019-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905025036/https://immigrationtounitedstates.org/541-hawaii.html|archive-date=2019-09-05|url-status=live}}</ref> one of which was the Hilo Sugar Mill. At that time, the Hilo Sugar Mill produced 3,500 tons of sugar annually.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://keolamagazine.com/then-now/hilo-sugar-mill-wainaku-center/|title=Then & Now: Hilo Sugar Mill/Wainaku Center|last=Laitinen|first=Denise|date=2013-09-18|website=Ke Ola Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114214730/https://keolamagazine.com/then-now/hilo-sugar-mill-wainaku-center/|archive-date=2019-11-14|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Distant view of the suburbs of Hilo, Hawaii, 1907 (CHS-427).jpg|left|thumb|Hilo, Hawaii, 1907]]
[[File:Hawaii - Hilo - NARA - 23937301 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Hilo Iron Works, 1929]]

A breakwater across Hilo Bay was begun in the first decade of the 20th century and completed in 1929. On April 1, 1946, an [[1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake|8.6-magnitude earthquake]] near the [[Aleutian Islands]] created a {{convert|14|m|ft|order=flip|adj=mid|-high}} [[tsunami]] that hit Hilo 4.9 hours later, killing 159 total in the islands,<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-023-06076-w | doi=10.1007/s11069-023-06076-w | title=A qualitative review of tsunamis in Hawaiʻi | date=2023 | last1=Fisher | first1=Scott | last2=Goff | first2=James | last3=Cundy | first3=Andrew | last4=Sear | first4=David | journal=Natural Hazards | volume=118 | issue=3 | pages=1797–1832 | bibcode=2023NatHa.118.1797F | doi-access=free }}</ref> with 96 deaths in Hilo alone. In response, an early warning system, the [[Pacific Tsunami Warning Center]], was established in 1949 to track these killer waves and provide warning. This tsunami also caused the end of the [[Hawaii Consolidated Railway]], and instead the [[Hawaii Belt Road]] was built north of Hilo using some of the old railbed.<ref>{{Cite thesis |type=M.A. |title=Personal Accounts from Survivors of the Hilo Tsunamis of 1946 and 1960: Toward a Disaster Communications Model |last=Johnston |first=Jeanne Branch |year=2003 |publisher=[[University of Hawaii at Manoa]] |hdl=10125/7104 }}
</ref>

On May 22, 1960, another tsunami, caused by a [[1960 Valdivia earthquake|9.5-magnitude earthquake]] off the coast of [[Chile]] that day, claimed 61 lives,<ref>{{Cite book|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=b1sXfJCiCHQC|page=49}}|title=Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes|last1=Gates|first1=Alexander E.|last2=Ritchie|first2=David|date=2006|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=9780816072705|language=en}}</ref> allegedly due to the failure of people to heed warning sirens. Low-lying bayfront areas of the city on [[Waiakea, Hawaii|Waiākea]] peninsula and along Hilo Bay, previously populated, were rededicated as parks and memorials.

Hilo expanded inland beginning in the 1960s. The downtown found a new role in the 1980s as the city's cultural center with several galleries and museums opening; the [[Palace Theater (Hilo, Hawaii)|Palace Theater]] reopened in 1998 as an [[arthouse action film|arthouse cinema]].

Closure of the sugar plantations (including those in [[Hamakua|Hāmākua]]) during the 1990s hurt the local economy, coinciding with a general statewide slump.<ref name="WaPo"/> Hilo in recent years has seen commercial and population growth.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lauer |first1=Nancy Cook |title=Hawaii Island leads state in population growth, despite some towns seeing declines |url=https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2019/12/22/hawaii-news/hawaii-island-leads-state-in-population-growth-despite-some-towns-seeing-declines/ |access-date=July 25, 2020 |work=[[Hawaii Tribune-Herald]] |date=December 22, 2019}}</ref>

==Geography==
Hilo is on the eastern and windward side of the island.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is classified by the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]] as a [[census-designated place]] (CDP), and has a total area of {{convert|151.0|km2|order=flip}}, {{convert|138.3|km2|order=flip}} of which is land and {{convert|12.7|km2|order=flip}} of which (8.4%) is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1514650| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Hilo CDP, Hawaii| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=May 24, 2017}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
Hilo has a [[tropical rainforest climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Af''), with substantial rainfall throughout the year. Its location on the [[Windward and leeward|windward]] coast (relative to the [[trade wind]]s), makes it the fourth-wettest city in the United States, behind the [[southeast Alaska]]n cities of [[Whittier, Alaska|Whittier]], [[Ketchikan, Alaska|Ketchikan]] and [[Yakutat, Alaska|Yakutat]], and one of the wettest in the world. An average of around {{convert|126.72|in|mm|sigfig=3}} of rain fell at Hilo International Airport annually between 1981 and 2010, with 272 days of the year receiving some rain.<ref name="NCDC txt PHTO"/> Rainfall in Hilo varies with altitude, with more at higher elevations. At some weather stations in upper Hilo the annual rainfall is above {{convert|200|in|mm}}.<ref>[http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/climate/phto_clim.php Hilo, Hawai{{Okina}}i information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115025122/http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/climate/phto_clim.php |date=2009-01-15 }} on [[NOAA]] web site</ref>

Monthly mean temperatures range from {{convert|71.2|°F|1}} in February to {{convert|76.4|°F|1}} in August.<ref name="NCDC txt PHTO"/> The highest recorded temperature was {{convert|94|°F|0}} on May 20, 1996, and the lowest {{convert|53|°F|0}} on February 21, 1962.<ref name = NOAA/> The wettest year was 1994 with {{convert|182.81|in|mm|1}}, and the driest was 1983, with {{convert|68.09|in|mm|1}}. The most rainfall in one month was {{convert|50.82|in|mm|1}} in December 1954. The most rainfall in 24 hours was {{convert|27.24|in|mm|1}} on November 2, 2000.<ref>[http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/2000/november/extremes1100.html Record 24-hour rainfall] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509034118/http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/2000/november/extremes1100.html |date=2009-05-09 }} on [[NOAA]] web site</ref>

Hilo's location on the shore of the funnel-shaped [[Hilo Bay]] also makes it vulnerable to [[tsunami]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Where is Hilo Hawai'i? |work=Frequently Asked Questions |url=http://www.tsunami.org/faq.html |access-date=2009-07-23 |publisher=The [[Pacific Tsunami Museum]] web site |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528094603/http://www.tsunami.org/faq.html |archive-date=2009-05-28 }}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = [[Hilo International Airport]], Hawaii (1991–2020 normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1949–present)
|single line = Y 
|Jan record high F = 92
|Feb record high F = 92
|Mar record high F = 93
|Apr record high F = 89
|May record high F = 94
|Jun record high F = 90
|Jul record high F = 93
|Aug record high F = 93
|Sep record high F = 93
|Oct record high F = 91
|Nov record high F = 94
|Dec record high F = 93
|year record high F = 94
|Jan avg record high F = 85.2
|Feb avg record high F = 84.8
|Mar avg record high F = 85.0
|Apr avg record high F = 84.1
|May avg record high F = 85.4
|Jun avg record high F = 85.7
|Jul avg record high F = 87.1
|Aug avg record high F = 87.2
|Sep avg record high F = 87.7
|Oct avg record high F = 87.4
|Nov avg record high F = 85.9
|Dec avg record high F = 84.2
|year avg record high F = 89.6
|Jan high F = 78.7
|Feb high F = 78.4
|Mar high F = 78.5
|Apr high F = 79.0
|May high F = 80.7
|Jun high F = 81.8
|Jul high F = 82.8
|Aug high F = 82.9
|Sep high F = 83.3
|Oct high F = 82.4
|Nov high F = 80.3
|Dec high F = 78.8
|year high F = 80.6
|Jan mean F = 71.4
|Feb mean F = 71.2
|Mar mean F = 71.9
|Apr mean F = 72.5
|May mean F = 74.0
|Jun mean F = 75.2
|Jul mean F = 76.3
|Aug mean F = 76.6
|Sep mean F = 76.5
|Oct mean F = 75.7
|Nov mean F = 74.0
|Dec mean F = 72.2
|year mean F = 74.0
|Jan low F = 64.1
|Feb low F = 64.1
|Mar low F = 65.2
|Apr low F = 66.1
|May low F = 67.3
|Jun low F = 68.7
|Jul low F = 69.9
|Aug low F = 70.4
|Sep low F = 69.8
|Oct low F = 69.0
|Nov low F = 67.6
|Dec low F = 65.7
|year low F = 67.3
|Jan avg record low F = 59.3
|Feb avg record low F = 59.1
|Mar avg record low F = 61.1
|Apr avg record low F = 62.4
|May avg record low F = 63.6
|Jun avg record low F = 65.2
|Jul avg record low F = 66.1
|Aug avg record low F = 66.7
|Sep avg record low F = 66.1
|Oct avg record low F = 65.2
|Nov avg record low F = 63.4
|Dec avg record low F = 61.3
|year avg record low F = 58.2
|Jan record low F = 54
|Feb record low F = 53
|Mar record low F = 54
|Apr record low F = 58
|May record low F = 58
|Jun record low F = 61
|Jul record low F = 62
|Aug record low F = 63
|Sep record low F = 61
|Oct record low F = 62
|Nov record low F = 58
|Dec record low F = 55
|year record low F = 53
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 7.86
|Feb precipitation inch = 10.22
|Mar precipitation inch = 12.68
|Apr precipitation inch = 9.40
|May precipitation inch = 6.99
|Jun precipitation inch = 7.30
|Jul precipitation inch = 9.24
|Aug precipitation inch = 11.30
|Sep precipitation inch = 8.70
|Oct precipitation inch = 10.24
|Nov precipitation inch = 14.39
|Dec precipitation inch = 12.07
|year precipitation inch = 120.39
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 15.7
|Feb precipitation days = 16.6
|Mar precipitation days = 21.8
|Apr precipitation days = 24.5
|May precipitation days = 22.9
|Jun precipitation days = 25.4
|Jul precipitation days = 26.6
|Aug precipitation days = 27.2
|Sep precipitation days = 23.3
|Oct precipitation days = 23.4
|Nov precipitation days = 23.3
|Dec precipitation days = 22.3
|year precipitation days = 273.0
|Jan humidity = 76.6
|Feb humidity = 76.0
|Mar humidity = 78.1
|Apr humidity = 80.2
|May humidity = 78.9
|Jun humidity = 77.4
|Jul humidity = 79.5
|Aug humidity = 79.5
|Sep humidity = 79.2
|Oct humidity = 80.0
|Nov humidity = 80.3
|Dec humidity = 78.7
|year humidity = 78.7
|Jan sun = 161.0
|Feb sun = 152.0
|Mar sun = 152.7
|Apr sun = 135.9
|May sun = 155.0
|Jun sun = 176.9
|Jul sun = 167.2
|Aug sun = 174.9
|Sep sun = 161.5
|Oct sun = 136.3
|Nov sun = 115.0
|Dec sun = 129.0
|year sun = 1817.4
|Jan percentsun = 47
|Feb percentsun = 47
|Mar percentsun = 41
|Apr percentsun = 36
|May percentsun = 38
|Jun percentsun = 44
|Jul percentsun = 41
|Aug percentsun = 44
|Sep percentsun = 44
|Oct percentsun = 38
|Nov percentsun = 34
|Dec percentsun = 38
|year percentsun = 41
|Jan dew point C = 17.1
|Feb dew point C = 16.9
|Mar dew point C = 17.6
|Apr dew point C = 18.4
|May dew point C = 18.9
|Jun dew point C = 19.3
|Jul dew point C = 20.1
|Aug dew point C = 20.3
|Sep dew point C = 20.2
|Oct dew point C = 20.0
|Nov dew point C = 19.2
|Dec dew point C = 17.9
|year dew point F = 
|source 1 =  [[NOAA]] (relative humidity, dew points and sun 1961−1990)<ref name= NOAA>{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=hfo
|title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = September 11, 2021}}</ref><ref name="NCDC txt PHTO">
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00021504&format=pdf
|title = Station: Hilo INTL AP, HI
|work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = September 11, 2021
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230618041052/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00021504&format=pdf
|archive-date = 2023-06-18}}</ref><ref name="WMO 1961–90 PHTO">
{{cite web 
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/TABLES/REG__V/U1/91285.TXT
|title = WMO climate normals for Hilo/WSO AP 87, HI 1961−1990 
|publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] 
|access-date = 29 April 2015
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230618040412/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/TABLES/REG__V/U1/91285.TXT
|archive-date=2023-06-18}}</ref>
}}
{{Graph:Weather monthly history
| table=Ncei.noaa.gov/weather/Hilo, Hawaii.tab
| title=Hilo monthly weather statistics
}}

===Note===
{{notelist}}

==Demographics==
{{Section update|date=April 2023}}{{US Census population
|1910=6745
|1920=10431
|1930=19468
|1940=23353
|1950=27198
|1960=25966
|1970=26353
|1980=35269
|1990=37808
|2000=40759
|2010=43263
|2020=44186
|footnote=source:<ref name="census.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/popfinder|title=US Census Bureau – 2010 Population Finder – Hilo CDP -|access-date=2017-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116034919/http://www.census.gov/popfinder/|archive-date=2014-01-16|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population And Housing|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-19}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]] of 2020, 44,186 people lived in 16,225 households in the census-designated place.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/hilocdphawaii/PST045221 |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Hilo CDP, Hawaii |publisher=Census.gov |date= |accessdate=2022-07-20}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|796.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 16,905 housing units reflected an average density of {{convert|311.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}} in 2010 (No update on the Census for 2020).

The racial makeup was 32% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 18.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 10% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander]], 0.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|American Indian & Alaska Native]], 0.6% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 38.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 13% of the population.<ref name="census.gov" />

21.1% of the households had children under the age of 18 living with them. The average household size was 2.71.<ref name="census.gov" />

The age distribution was 21.1% under age 18, 4.5% under age 5, and 21.10% 65 or older. The percent of females are 51.1%.<ref name="census.gov" />

The median household income on the 2020 census was $70,356, and the per capita income was $34,678. 16.1% of the population is under the poverty line. <ref name="2020census" />
==Transport==
[[File:Puhi and Kuhio Bay, Hilo (503745) (20340913684) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|''[[Pride of America]]'' docked at Hilo Harbor; [[Hilo International Airport]] runway is visible in the background]]

===Air===
Hilo is served by [[Hilo International Airport]], where [[Hawaiian Airlines]], and [[Southwest Airlines]] operate.

===Bus===
Hilo is served by the county [[Hele-On Bus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://heleonbus.org|title=Hawai'i Island Hele-On Bus|website=County of Hawai'i Mass Transit Agency|language=en|access-date=2018-04-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503091916/http://heleonbus.org/|archive-date=2009-05-03|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Maritime===
Hilo is served by the Big Island's largest harbor, Hilo Harbor, which is on [[Hilo Bay]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hidot.hawaii.gov/harbors/files/2012/10/Hilo-Harbor-Hawaii.pdf|title=Hilo Harbor (Harbor Division, Hawaii Department of Transportation)|access-date=2018-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107183854/http://hidot.hawaii.gov/harbors/files/2012/10/Hilo-Harbor-Hawaii.pdf|archive-date=2017-01-07|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Education==
{{Main|Schools of Hilo, Hawaii}}
Hilo is home to a number of educational institutions, including two post-secondary institutions, the [[University of Hawaii at Hilo|University of Hawai{{Okina}}i at Hilo]] and [[Hawaii Community College|Hawai{{Okina}}i Community College]], and the Hilo and Waiakea primary and secondary school districts. Charter schools in the area serve primary and secondary students.

== Government ==
{{Unsourced | section|date=February 2024}}
Although sometimes called a [[city]], Hilo is not an incorporated city, and does not have a municipal government. The entire island, which is between the slightly larger state of [[Connecticut]] and smaller [[Rhode Island]] in size, is under the jurisdiction of the [[Hawaii County|County of Hawai{{Okina}}i]], of which Hilo is the county seat. Hilo is home to county, state, and federal offices.

==Economy==
{{Hilo Bay parks}}
The oldest city in the Hawaiian archipelago, Hilo's economy was historically based on the [[Sugar plantations in Hawaii|sugar plantations]] of its surrounding areas, prior to their closure in the 1990s.<ref name="WaPo"/>

===Tourism and events===
While Hilo has a fairly significant tourism sector,<ref name="Hawaii.com">{{cite web |last1=Yamanaka |first1=Katie Young |title=Hilo: The Hub of Natural Wonders |url=https://www.hawaii.com/big-island/places/hilo/ |website=Hawaii.com |access-date=July 25, 2020}}</ref> it gets less than half the annual visitors as the western coast of the Big Island, which has much sunnier weather and significantly less rain, with sandy and swimmable beaches and numerous major resorts.<ref name="WaPo">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45445-2004May21.html |title=Hello, Hilo |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2004-05-23 |access-date=2010-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701163950/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45445-2004May21.html |archive-date=2014-07-01 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A main source of tourism in Hilo is the annual week-long [[Merrie Monarch Festival]], the world's preeminent [[hula]] competition and festival, which brings in visitors and participants from all over the world.<ref name="Hawaii.com"/> It is held in the spring of each year beginning on Easter Sunday.

The local orchid society hosts the largest and most comprehensive orchid show in the state, the annual Hilo Orchid Show, which has been presented since 1951 and draws visitors and entrants worldwide.<ref name="jewels">{{Cite news |url=http://bigislandnow.com/2017/06/05/jewels-of-the-jungle-sparkle-at-hilo-orchid-show/ |title=Jewels of the jungle sparkle at Hilo Orchid Show |last=Richard |first=Crystal |date=5 June 2017 |work=Big Island Now |access-date=15 December 2017 |department=Arts & Entertainment}}</ref><ref>largest and most comprehensive in the state</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.voitstudios.com/blog/63rd-annual-hilo-orchid-society-show-and-sale|title=63rd Annual Hilo Orchid Society Show and Sale}}</ref>

Hilo is home to Hawaii's only [[Pacific Tsunami Museum|tsunami museum]], mostly dedicated to the [[1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake|1946 Pacific tsunami]], and is notable for the [[banyan tree]]s planted by [[Babe Ruth]], [[Amelia Earhart]] and other celebrities. It is home to the [[Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo]], shopping centers, cafés and other eateries, movie theaters, hotels, restaurants, and a developed downtown area with a Farmers Market.<ref name="WaPo"/> Downtown Hilo is bounded approximately by the [[Wailuku River]], [[Hawaii Belt Road|Kamehameha Avenue]], Ponahawai Street, and Kapiolani Street.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.downtownhilo.org/home/walking-tour |title=Walking Tour |publisher=Hilo Downtown Improvement Association |access-date=1 June 2021}}</ref>

===Corporations and science===
The [[Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation]] is in Hilo, south of the main town off [[Hawaii Belt Road|Hawaii Route 11]], north of [[Keaau, Hawaii|Kea{{okina}}au]].

Hilo is home to most of the [[Mauna Kea Observatories|astronomical observatories]] on [[Mauna Kea]] as well as the [[ʻImiloa Astronomy Center|ʻImiloa]] Planetarium and Museum.  Astronomy has an economic impact of $100 million annually on the island.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2014/12/23/hawaiis-astronomy-sector-brought-an-economic.html|title=Hawaii's astronomy sector brought an economic impact of $168 million in 2012|website=bizjournals.com|access-date=2018-04-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531181009/https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2014/12/23/hawaiis-astronomy-sector-brought-an-economic.html|archive-date=2019-05-31|url-status=live}}</ref> Astronomy on Mauna Kea was developed at the invitation of the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce following the collapse of the sugar cane industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malamamaunakea.org/library/reference/index/refid/193-origins-of-astronomy-in-hawaii|title=Origins of astronomy in Hawaii » Malama Mauna Kea Library Catalog|website=malamamaunakea.org|language=en|access-date=2018-04-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416200400/http://www.malamamaunakea.org/library/reference/index/refid/193-origins-of-astronomy-in-hawaii|archive-date=2018-04-16|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Culture==
* [[East Hawaii Cultural Center|East Hawai{{Okina}}i Cultural Center]]
* [[Lyman House Memorial Museum]]
* [[Merrie Monarch Festival]]
* [[Pacific Tsunami Museum]]

==Notable residents==
{{Main category|People from Hilo, Hawaii}}{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
<!-- The following list is only for notable (see [[WP:N]]) people; to ensure that only notable people are listed here, do not list anyone without an article.  Persistent placement of the same people will result in a warning or blocking. -->
* [[Yokozuna (wrestler)|Rodney Anoa{{Okina}}i]]
* [[Matt Blair]]
* [[Keiko Bonk]]
* [[Ed Case]]
* [[Titus Coan]]
* [[Keenan Cornelius]]
* [[Glenn Cornick]]
* [[Kai Correa]]
* [[Wesley Correira]]
* [[Jennifer Doudna]]
* [[David McHattie Forbes]]
* [[Ryan Higa]]
* [[Michael Rikio Ming Hee Ho]]
* [[Kapi{{Okina}}olani (chiefess)|High Chiefess Kapi{{Okina}}olani]]
* [[Keōua Kū{{Okina}}ahu{{Okina}}ula]]
* [[Harry Kim (politician)|Harry Kim]]
* [[Kimberly Kim]]
* [[Darren Kimura]]
* [[Kinooleoliliha|Kino{{Okina}}oleoliliha]]
* [[Robert Kiyosaki]]
* [[George Lycurgus]]
* [[Troy Mandaloniz]]
* [[George Na{{Okina}}ope]]
* [[Gerald Okamura]]
* [[B.J. Penn]]
* [[Benjamin Pitman (Hawaii judge)|Benjamin Pitman]]
* [[Bob Shane]]
* [[William Herbert Shipman]]
* [[Lani Stemmermann]]
* [[Kolten Wong]]
* [[Henry Bianchini]]{{div col end}}

==Points of interest==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Banyan Drive]]
* [[Coconut Island (Hawaii Island)|Coconut Island]]
* [[East Hawaii Cultural Center]]
* [[Haili Church]]
* [[Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden]]
* [[Hilo Tropical Gardens]]
* [[Hoʻolulu Park]]
* [[ʻImiloa Astronomy Center]]
* [[James Kealoha Beach]] Park
* [[Kalakaua Park]]
* [[Liliuokalani Park and Gardens|Lili{{Okina}}uokalani Park and Gardens]]
* [[Lower Waiakea Mountain Bicycle Park]]
* [[Lyman Museum]]
* [[Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation]]
* [[Mokupāpapa Discovery Center]] for Northwestern Hawaii's remote coral reefs<ref>{{cite web |url=http://papahanaumokuakea.gov/education/center.html |title=Education – Discovery Center |publisher=[[NOAA]] |work=[[Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument]] web site |access-date=2009-08-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091018080724/http://papahanaumokuakea.gov/education/center.html |archive-date=2009-10-18 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Nani Mau Gardens]]
* Naha Stone (associated with [[Kamehameha I]]) in front of the Hilo Public Library
* [[Pacific Tsunami Museum]]
* [[Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo]]
* [[Prince Kuhio Plaza]]
* [[Rainbow Falls (Hawaii)|Rainbow Falls]] (Waianuenue) & Boiling Pots on the [[Wailuku River]]
* [[University of Hawaii at Hilo Botanical Gardens|University of Hawai{{Okina}}i at Hilo Botanical Gardens]]
* [[Wailoa River State Recreation Area]] with King [[Kamehameha Statue]]
{{div col end}}

==Media==
Hilo is served by KWXX (94.7FM Hilo/101.5FM Kona), B93/B97 (93.1FM Kona/97.1FM Hilo), The Wave (KHBC 92.7FM Hilo), and KPUA (970AM Hilo) radio stations.

Public Access television is provided through [http://naleo.tv Nā Leo TV].

The ''[[Hawaii Tribune-Herald]]'', of Oahu Publications Inc., a subsidiary of [[Black Press]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/ |title=Hawaii Tribune-Herald |publisher=[[Black Press]] |work=official web site |access-date=2009-08-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906063327/http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/ |archive-date=2009-09-06 |url-status=live }}</ref> is Hilo's primary newspaper distribution company along with other newspapers like the ''[[Honolulu Star-Advertiser]]''.

==Sister cities==
* {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Tauranga]], New Zealand
* {{flagicon|CHL}} [[La Serena, Chile|La Serena]], Chile

==Legacy==
[[Asteroid]] (342431) Hilo is named after Hilo.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/?horizons|title=HORIZONS System|website=ssd.jpl.nasa.gov|access-date=2019-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624214131/https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/?horizons|archive-date=2019-06-24|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Hilo District==
[[File:HawaiiIslandDistricts-numbered.svg|thumb|right|250px|(3) North Hilo and (2) South Hilo Districts are located in the east coast of [[Hawaii County]] ([[Hawaii (island)|the Big Island]]). They are bordered by [[Hamakua|Hamakua District]] (4) in the north, and by [[Kau, Hawaii|Kau District]] (9) in the south and [[Puna, Hawaii|Puna District]] (1) in the southeast. The far inland areas are largely unpopulated, being [[forest reserve]]s on the slopes of [[Mauna Kea]] and [[Mauna Loa]].]]

Hilo also referred to the [[Hawaii County#Government and infrastructure|District of Hilo]] when the Big Island was divided into six districts by the traditional ''[[Ahupuaa#History|moku]]'' land division. Hilo is now divided in two: North and South Hilo Districts.<ref>James A. Bier, Cartographer, ''Map of Hawai'i, the Big Island'', Eighth Edition (University of Hawai'i Press)</ref>

===North Hilo District===
The District of North Hilo, along [[Hawaii State Highway 19]] from north to south, encompasses the following unincorporated towns and localities:
* [[:en:ʻŌʻōkala, Hawaii|ʻŌʻōkala]]
* [[:en:Laupāhoehoe, Hawaii|Laupāhoehoe]] and the Train Museum <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetrainmuseum.com/|title=Laupahoehoe Train Museum - Take a Trip Back in Time|website=www.thetrainmuseum.com|access-date=2017-12-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216225753/http://thetrainmuseum.com/|archive-date=2017-12-16|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[:en:Nīnole, Hawaii|Ninole]]
There are locations inland along [[hawaii State Highway 200|State Highway 200]] including [[Mauna Kea]] mountain road, [[Pu'u Huluhulu (Hawaii Route 200)|Puu Huluhulu]], and others.

===South Hilo District===
In the District of South Hilo, along State Highway 19, are the following unincorporated towns and localities:
* [[:en:Honalo, Hawaii|Honalo]] and the [[Akaka Falls State Park|Akaka Falls]]
* [[:en:Pepeekeo, Hawaii|Pepeekeo]]
* [[:en:Wainaku, Hawaii|Wainaku]]
* [[Hilo Bay]], the [[:en:Wailuku River|Wailuku River]] and the [[Rainbow Falls (Hawaii)|Rainbow Falls]]
* Hilo downtown: [[Pacific Tsunami Museum]], etc.
Along [[Hawaii State Highway 11|State Highway 11]] are:
* [[Hilo International Airport]]
* [[Prince Kuhio Plaza]] Shopping Center <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.princekuhioplaza.com/en.html|title=Shopping Mall in Hilo, HI &#124; Prince Kuhio Plaza|website=www.princekuhioplaza.com|access-date=2019-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624204358/https://www.princekuhioplaza.com/en.html|archive-date=2019-06-24|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo]]
There are other locations. Along State Highway 200 and its extension are:
* Kaumana
* [[University of Hawaii at Hilo]]
* Puainako Shopping Center <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puainakocenter.com/|title=Home &#124; Puainako Center - Hilo, Hawaii Shopping Center|website=www.puainakocenter.com|access-date=2017-12-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214015735/http://www.puainakocenter.com/|archive-date=2017-12-14|url-status=live}}</ref>
There are other locations.

==In popular culture==
Jasmin Iolani Hakes' 2023 book ''Hula: A Novel'', which won  ''[[Honolulu (magazine)|Honolulu]]'' magazine's award for Book of the Year About Hawaii, is set in Hilo.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wallace |first1=Don |title=''Honolulu'' Book Awards |url=https://www.honolulumagazine.com/honolulu-book-awards/ |website=[[Honolulu (magazine)|Honolulu magazine]] |access-date=August 13, 2024 |date=2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Cruz |first1=Catherine |title=Honolulu Magazine celebrates Hawaiʻi authors rising on national stage |url=https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/the-conversation/2024-06-04/honolulu-magazine-celebrates-hawaii-authors |website=[[Hawaii Public Radio]] |access-date=August 13, 2024 |date=June 4, 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |title=Tsunami! |author=Walter C. Dudley |publisher= Latitude 20 |year=2016 |isbn=978-0824859169}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Hilo, Hawaii}}
{{wikivoyage|Hilo}}
* [http://tsunami.org/ Pacific Tsunami Museum]

{{Hilo, Hawaii}}
{{Hawaii County, Hawaii}}
{{Hawaii county seat}}
{{Hawaii}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hilo, Hawaii| ]]
[[Category:County seats in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Hawaii County, Hawaii]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Hawaii]]