Hilo is the country capital and commercial center of the Big Island. It’s on a large crescent-shaped bay and ahs Hawaii’s second largest port. Hilo is ethnically diverse, with a lot of people of Japanese and Filipino descent. There’s also an alternative community that’s been filtering in since the ‘70s, attracted by Hilo’s affordability and the windward coast’s scenic appeal.

Twice the size of all the other major Hawaiian Islands combined, the Big Island is also the youngest. It is believed to have emerged from the sea about 800,000 years ago and as evidenced by the activity in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, it continues to grow. Kilauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes and the islands sit atop the Pacific Plate, which is moving northward at the annual rate of 4 inches. The eastern edge of this plate is California's San Andreas Fault.

Hilo has been the victim of several major disasters. It was rebuilt twice after devastating tidal waves. The first tsunami struck in 1946 and what was not destroyed then was taken in 1960 when a second major wave hit the city.