Loading city guide...
Your comprehensive, actionable guide to navigating emergencies in Hilo.
This guide uses AI-researched data and is being verified by our team. Routes and locations should be confirmed before use in an emergency.
Hilo faces a unique combination of volcanic and tsunami threats. For tsunami: move uphill immediately - Hilo Bay amplifies wave energy and the city has been devastated twice in the 20th century. For volcanic eruption: monitor lava flow direction and evacuate perpendicular to the flow path.
The Big Island has only two main highways connecting east and west: HI-19 (north via Hamakua) and HI-11 (south via Volcano). Saddle Road (HI-200) crosses the island's interior. If one route is blocked by lava, the other routes are CRITICAL. There is no inter-island bridge - air and sea are the only ways off the island.
Communication: Primary: cell/text. Secondary: out-of-state mainland contact. Big Island cell coverage is spotty in rural areas. Have NOAA weather radio tuned to local frequency. Know the tsunami siren system: steady 3-minute tone means seek information immediately.
Meeting Points: Primary: UH Hilo campus (elevated, facilities). Secondary: Rainbow Falls parking area (high ground). Out-of-area: mainland family contact for coordination.
Roles: Person A: grab go-bags, N95 masks, important documents. Person B: children, pets, medications. Person C: check eruption/tsunami status, choose correct evacuation route, drive.
Use this guide as a base for your personalized strategy.