Hilo : Hawaii

Hilo, the second largest city in Hawaii, is one of the most interesting retirement communities in the U.S. Located on the southeast coast of Hawaii (the “Big Island”),  and near Mauna Loa, one of the active volcanoes in Hawaii.   Volcanoes National Park, the climate, the scenery, and the lifestyle are superb. The Hilo area offers unparalleled recreational and scenic opportunities for active adults 55+ in an ideal year round climate.

Hilo is an old city formed because of its beautiful harbor on the slopes of Mauna Kea. Early missionaries from Connecticut were instrumental in its creation, and then sugar took over. The downtown is charming with unique architecture dating from the early 1900’s. An enormous park runs along the water’s edge. Interesting shops and restaurants reveal both its colonial and Japanese heritage. As almost everywhere in Hawaii, as soon as one moves away from the waterfront the terrain goes up – to rivers, waterfalls, and stunning tropical forests. Hilo is the rainiest city in the U.S., which tends to come at night. Winding roads follow the coast and reveal beautiful homes and beaches.

A popular tourist destination, Hilo remains an enchanting colonial town with real neighborhoods. It is very different from the rest of Hawaii – some say it is Honolulu before the jets arrived. People come for the beauty of its terrain, quiet lifestyle, and outdoor sports. Many people use it as a retirement community for one season out of the year.

Retirees can live in town or in developments nearby. Most development is near the water on flat land. Hilo real estate can be surprisingly affordable for Hawaii. Zillow.com showed the median sale price to be $216,000 in early 2013, although homes go over $1 million. The farther one gets from the center of town or a beach, the more reasonable the price. We are not aware of any 55+ developments in the area.

Hilo is way off the beaten track and far from the lower 48.  Outside of town towards the National Park there are some areas where drug growers make the area a scary place. Hilo is the rainiest place in the U.S.

The downtown found a new role in the 1980s as the city's cultural center with several galleries and museums being opened; the Palace Theatre was reopened in 1998 as an art house; The University of Hawaii has a campus here; Merrie Monarch Hula Festival is one of the biggest hula competitions anywhere; The East Hawaii Cultural Center focuses on preserving traditional island art; There is also the interesting Tsunami Museum, as where as a very large and active farmers market.