4 New Places in Hilo You Should Check Out
These new businesses are breathing vibrant energy into the laid-back town on Hawaiʻi Island.
Tucked on the northeastern side of Hawaiʻi Island, Hilo is a charming town well known as the home of the iconic Merrie Monarch Festival in the spring. It’s also just a 45-minute drive from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and for months, visitors have been flocking to Hilo, hoping to witness Kīlauea’s epic but sporadic eruption within the park.
The town itself is often considered quiet and sleepy, but you don’t have to be visiting the Hilo just for the Merrie Monarch Festival or the eruption to have an exciting time. Hilo’s streets are lined with iconic mom and pop shops and quirky establishments. Plus, there’s a new crop of businesses reinvigorating the town. Some of these local stores have been around for some time but have found a new home in Hilo.
Here’s 5 new spots in Hilo worth noting.
READ MORE: Why Hilo Should Be on Your Hawaiʻi Travel Bucket List
1. Seaweed Snack Shop
This artsy store in Hilo is filled with a curated collection of colorful goods.
Photo: Grace Maeda
One of the newest additions to Hilo is the Seaweed Snack Shop, which opened in February 2025. The artsy store is filled with a curated collection of artisan snacks, chic jewelry, vibrant artwork, vintage apparel, fun souvenirs and more.
263 Keawe St., Hilo, seaweedsnackshop.com.
2. Nālani Farm Store
Nālani Farm Store spotlights goods from businesses across Hawaiʻi.
Photo: Grace Maeda
Nālani Farm Store moved to a new spot in Downtown Hilo a year ago in July 2024. The local gift shop spotlights goods from businesses across Hawaiʻi. From natural skincare to locally harvested honey, you’re bound to leave with gifts for your loved ones—or yourself!
17 Furneaux Lane, Hilo, nalanifarmstore.com.
READ MORE: 5 Tips for Your First Trip to Hilo
3. So Juicy Hawaiʻi
So Juicy serves fresh-pressed juices and healthy meals, too.
Photo: Grace Maeda
Although this Hawaiʻi Island business isn’t new, it opened a fresh storefront in Hilo in October 2024. So Juicy is dedicated to providing healthy juices and meals to the community. The cold-pressed juices are packed with nutrient-dense fruits and veggies, and hearty bowls are filled with local ingredients and flavors, too. The Kamehameha Bowl is a standout filled with hōʻiʻo ferns, poi, furikake-crusted tofu, ʻuala mash (sweet potato) and comes with kūlolo (a dessert made from taro). You can also order refreshing açaí bowls, too.
239 Keawe St., Hilo, sojuicyhawaii.com.
4. Hidden Nēnē
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The Hidden Nēnē is Hilo’s uber-cool speakeasy that opened back in 2023. The elegant setting is still warm and intimate, making it an ideal place to sip craft cocktails. And the exciting beverages are the star of the experience, with options ranging from effervescent and tropical to bold and adventurous. The light and herbal Advice cocktail is made with Empress 1908 Gin, sage and blueberry lemon, while the daring Shoyu Good Time is crafted with Tenjaku garnished with pickled ginger, wasabi oil and a skewer of raw ʻahi.
58 Furneaux Lane, Hilo, thehiddennene.com.
Grace Maeda is the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.
