transportation alternatives in Hilo

[HawaiiboundNelli]

I am definitely going to have to check out the yard sales when we get there because we are pretty much leaving everything behind. I found a totally furnished, all utilities included rental though, so it wont be too bad. Plus we are mailing a few "comfort" items ahead of us, like my daughters favorite stuffed animals and some books and pictures. Thank you hotzcatz for the info about bike travel..sounds like the way I want to go, at least at first! Aloha and mahalo!

[hotzcatz]

Most yard sales happen on Saturday morning and the signs are posted at corners or on boxes set by the side of the road. Not too many advertised in the newspapers since Hawaii doesn't have that many roads with one well placed sign, you can get most of the traffic in one area.

There is a used book store on Leilani street over near the airport. It is one block towards Volcano from the Airport road and the book store is on the same side of the highway as the airport. Come out of the airport, go left to the next stop light turn left again. Halfway down the block on the left. There are some thrift shops in Hilo but the best place to get "stuff" is yard sales since the prices are lower.

To get spices, there is a health food store on Hilo Bayfront just around the corner from the Mamo Street Farmer's Market. It is called "Abundant Life". They have bulk spices which are really inexpensive and you get however much you want by using the small plastic bags. For plants and things, Garden Exchange one street up from there is a nice store. Less expensive than Wally's world and a more comfortable store to be in.

There is a bread thrift store on Manono Street. If you are on a bicycle, you can start at the statue of King Kamehameha in the park at Hilo bayfront. Go over threes and twos (those are the foot bridges, you can push your bicycle over them and you will see exactly why they are called "threes" and "twos") and then ride out the parking lot at the other side of the park. This will be going towards the airport. Two blocks from the parking lot is Manono street. Turn right and the bread thrift store will be right there. That is also next to Freddy's Manono Mart which has a nice little restaurant area on the left of the counter service ordering area. Air conditioned, sit down, inexpensive lunch spot. You will probably also find Cafe 100 at the other side of Wailoa Park. That is even more inexpensive although you order at the window and carry the food to the table yourself. They make a good loco moco and the goody goods are tasty, too.

Oh, yeah, there's also Hilo Candy Company over on Hinano street which is about three blocks towards the airport from Manono street. They have free samples! Yay! Chocolate!

[HawaiiboundNelli]

Oh wow hotzcatz! Thank you so much for all the GREAT info!!! I can see it now..first week, and I'll be riding around town, following your "map" and finding all the great places! I better mind the time while I"m out exploring, or my daughter will come home from school to an empty house and be awfully mad at me for going exploring without her..hehe! It's like you're reading my mind with all these great spots that I know we will absolutely love! Thanks for the garage sale info too...never did like having to spend money on advertising in the paper for those haha!

[hotzcatz]

Hilo isn't that big so you will find all sorts of interesting things. It is kinda hard to find the good spots right away when you first move, though. It can take several months to find the most economical places to get stuff as well as find out what stuff is available and what isn't.

Last Sunday we were driving home after visiting friends on the other side of Hilo and my DH wanted a coffee and manapua (steamed meat roll). In our corner of the island the best places to get a coffee and manapua are the gas stations. In Hilo the gas stations don't have them, it is the 7-11's which have the coffee and manapua. I was thinking then about how one generally shops by seeing what is available and then buying from the selection instead of trying to buy a pre-determined specific item. We stopped at two gas stations and then went to 7-11 to get what my DH wanted. Had he just wanted a snack, we could have gotten a soda and chips from the first gas station but that is typical of shopping on Moku Nui.