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About Hilo
Hilo is a coastal city located in the Hawaii County, Hawaii. With a population over 40700, Hilo is the second largest establishment in the state. The city is located in the Hilo Bay near two shield volcanoes Mauna Loa (the largest volcano on earth considered active) and Mauna Kea.
Hilo's history dates back from the 1800s, when Missionaries came to the city and established several churches, like Haili Church. Although it is the county seat of Hawaii County, Hilo still preserves the atmosphere of an old-fashioned small town.
Downtown of Hilo are located the Lyman Mission House Museum and Pacific Tsunami Museum. The Lyman Museum, founded in 1931 has many displays on Hawaiian culture and is famous for its collection of shells and minerals, including a specimen of orlymanite.
Pana`ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens is the only natural tropical rainforest zoo in the United States. This zoo located in Hilo is home for more than 60 species of animals. The main point of interest here is a rare male white Bengal Tiger named Namaste'.
Tourists can take an authentic Hawaiian Voyage through Time & Space at The 'Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii. Situated on a nine-acre campus above the University of Hawaii-Hilo, this site hosts the world's largest and most important collection of telescopes, a planetarium and many exhibits concerning Hawaiian culture, history and astronomy.
Southeast of downtown Hilo is Liliuokalani Park and Gardens of about 30 acres of land, famous for the Edo-style Japanese gardens, pagodas, statues, torii, and a Japanese teahouse. Banyan Drive known also as "Hilo Walk of Fame" is very famous for the giant Banyan trees that line the street, planted years ago by visiting celebrities such as Amelia Earhart, Babe Ruth, Louis Armstrong and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Each tree is marked with a plaque with each star's name. Hilo is famous about its only mean of transportation, the sampan bus and for its friendly residents.
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