Is hilo located on the big island of hawaii? The most notable location on the East side of the Big Island of Hawai'i is undoubtedly Hilo town. Hilo is the island's largest city (second largest in the state - population wise) and also takes the title for the wettest city in the United States (70+ inches yearly).How far is hilo from kailua? Distance from Hilo to Kailua. Distance between Hilo and Kailua is 333 kilometers (207 miles).What to see in hilo hawaii? Activities and Attractions in Hilo There are plenty of activities to be found in and around Hilo. For example, you can visit the ‘Imiloa astronomy center or get a taste of Hawaiian history in the Lyman museum and mission house. There is also a tropical zoo and a fantastic local farmers market.Are hilo and honolulu on the same island? Hilo is a lot more rural than Honolulu. The entire island of Hawaii (aka "the Big Island") is rural, there are no cities on the island, just towns. Hilo is getting a lot more university student presence to it, so there are more things for the younger folks but essentially Hilo is a rural town and not cosmopolitan at all.