Is Hilo Safe? (crime, live, stores)

[kayy911]

Hey,

I was wondering 3 things about Hilo,

1) Is Hilo safe, would someone ever feel unsafe walking the streets at any hour?

2) Is Safeway walk able from UHH?

3) Is there any animosity towards white mainlanders?

[hotzcatz]

1. There is more crime at night in Hilo these days. Someone got hit on the head over by the bandstand at 8:00 pm the other week and had to go to the emergency room. It was a robbery as to why he was accosted. There have been purse snatchings lately. Those didn't used to happen at all. So crime is going up, however, overall it's a pretty safe town. In some areas at some hours you wouldn't feel safe, but you'd have to be pretty dim to not be able to figure out which streets and what hours.

2. You could walk there, but it would be a long walk. A bicycle would be better although it does rain in Hilo so expect dampness. There are other grocery stores closer to UHH than Safeway.

3. There is some animosity towards haoles and there is some animosity towards mainlanders. Most of it has to do with the haole or mainlander acting like an idiot, but not all of it.

[KonaBlake]

I only lived in Hilo for 7 months before deciding that Kona was a better fit but it had nothing to do with our personal safety. Hilo is a wonderful small town and I think very safe. I never felt threatened in any way. There are also perfectly good grocery stores (better than Safeway) closer to UHH. I also did not feel any animosity towards mainlanders haoles. Just be cool and open and you will find people there are warm and receptive.

[isabella20]

I lived in Hilo for six years and felt very safe. KTA is a little closer than Safeway to UH, but I'd say both are in walking distance. Most people are nice as long as you are nice. Sometimes you can get the cold shoulder, but that's usually the worst of it. In rare cases, there is unprovoked violence against a haole.