Hilo Boat Tour: The Waterfall Cruise Along the Onomea Sea Cliffs

Hilo gets more than 125 inches of rain a year, and much of it ends up pouring off the sea cliffs north of town. This Hilo boat tour is a relaxed afternoon waterfall cruise along the Onomea cliffs, where streams drop straight into the ocean, with stories of old Hawaiʻi and the sugar era along the way. It is small, unhurried and one of the few ways to see this coast from the water.

This page covers what the cruise sees, what it costs, who should pick the kayak tour instead, and how to avoid the one mistake the crew says guests make most.

Why this made our list

East Hawaiʻi is the wet, green side of the island, and most visitors only see it from the highway and the ʻAkaka Falls trail. From the water it looks completely different. The Onomea and Hāmākua coast is a wall of jungle-covered cliffs cut by streams, and after rain the waterfalls run straight off the edge into the sea. This cruise runs along that coast, into the coves, close enough for good photos.

The second reason is the storytelling. This is a history cruise as much as a scenic one. The guide talks about the ancient Hawaiian villages along this coast, the cultural landmarks, and the sugar plantations that once ran the whole east side, with the ruins of early-1900s mills still visible from the water.

The third is the pace. It is a small, intimate group on a leisurely afternoon trip, not a crowded party boat. Spinner and bottlenose dolphins are often seen, and on a clear day you look back over Hilo to Maunakea and Mauna Loa.

Why this operator

Hilo has far fewer boat tours than Kona, because the windward ocean is rougher. Most Big Island boat tours run on the calm Kona side, and none of them show you this coast. This small local crew runs a cruise built around the Hilo coastline and its history, along with kayak, snorkel and dive trips out of the same shop. For a Hilo-side boat day, this is the one we book. If the ocean worries you, their guided kayak tour on calm Hilo Bay is the gentler option.

What the Hilo boat tour is like

The cruise runs 1.5 to 2 hours. Here is how it goes.

1. Check in at Wailoa Small Boat Harbor. Meet at slip #4, the slip closest to the bridge, 15 minutes before departure. You step aboard from the dock.
2. Out through Hilo Bay. The boat runs out of the bay with views back over the town to Maunakea and Mauna Loa.
3. North along the coast. The shoreline turns to cliffs and jungle. The guide starts the story of old Hawaiʻi and the communities of the Hāmākua Coast.
4. Waterfalls and coves. The boat slows along the Onomea cliffs, where waterfalls pour off the edge into the ocean, and noses toward hidden coves when conditions allow.
5. Sugar-era ruins. The guide points out the remains of early-1900s sugar mills and explains how the plantations shaped Hilo.
6. Dolphins and the ride home. Keep watch for spinner and bottlenose dolphins on the run back, with light refreshments on board.

Prices and what you get

The cruise is from $159 per person plus tax and booking fees. That covers 1.5 to 2 hours on the water, a professional captain and crew, narration on the history and culture of East Hawaiʻi, light refreshments and bottled water. A tip for the crew is appreciated.

The second option on this page is the guided kayak tour of Hilo Bay, from $119. It runs about 2 hours from the shop at 1717 Kamehameha Ave, ages 8 and up, with no more than six guests. You paddle the calm, protected bay past Queen Liliʻuokalani Gardens to Coconut Island (Moku Ola), with kayak, paddle, life jacket, water and snacks included. It is a better pick for anyone worried about open-ocean swell.

Who it’s for (and who should skip it)

Families with kids 8 and older, couples, photographers and anyone who likes history with their scenery. It is a good half-day for visitors staying in Hilo, and a fine way to break up a volcano trip.

Skip it if you get seasick easily and do not want to take medicine; Hilo’s windward coast can get rough, and if you feel ill and the boat heads back early, that is not grounds for a refund. Skip it if you cannot step aboard a boat unassisted. In either case, take the kayak tour on the calm bay, or see waterfalls on land with our Hilo waterfall hike.

Where to check in and how to get there

The boat leaves from Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo, slip #4, the one closest to the bridge. Your confirmation includes a map of the slip and a photo of the boat. Arrive 15 minutes early.

From Kona, Hilo is about 2 hours each way via Saddle Road (the Daniel K. Inouye Highway), so most Kona-side visitors combine the cruise with a night in Hilo or a volcano day. From Volcano it is about 45 minutes. Our Kona vs Hilo guide helps you decide where to stay.

Best time to go

Time of year. The cruise runs year round. The waterfalls are fullest after rain, and Hilo gets rain in every season, with winter usually the wettest.

Conditions. The captain makes the final call each day based on the ocean. A morning of rain followed by a calm afternoon is the ideal setup: full waterfalls and a smoother ride. Pack a rain jacket either way.

Local tips before you book

• Take the motion-sickness pill. The crew says skipping it is the biggest mistake guests make.
• Book after a wet spell if you can. The more rain in the past few days, the bigger the waterfalls.
• Bring binoculars. They help with dolphins and with details on the cliffs.
• Wear non-spray sunscreen. Tinted or lotion, reef-safe, applied before you board.
• Make a Hilo day of it. Visit ʻAkaka Falls in Honomū, about 20 minutes north of Hilo, in the morning and take the cruise in the afternoon.
• Prefer calm water? The Hilo Bay kayak tour sees Coconut Island and Maunakea without the swell.

The verdict

If you are spending a day in Hilo, this is the boat to book. A small, unhurried afternoon cruise along a coast few visitors ever see, with waterfalls dropping into the sea, sugar-era ruins and good stories. Take the motion-sickness pill, bring a rain jacket, and hope for a wet morning and a calm afternoon.