Hilo Wedding

Hilo (pronounced as he-low) is a coastal city in the State of Hawaii, and is the largest community on the island of Hawaii. The population was 40,759 at the 2000 census.

Hilo is the county seat of Hawaii County, Hawaii, and is situated in the South Hilo District. The city overlooks Hilo Bay, and is near two mountains, Mauna Loa, an active volcano, and Mauna Kea, upon which several astronomical observatories are placed.

The city is home to the University of Hawaii at Hilo, as well as the Merrie Monarch Festival, a week-long celebration of ancient and modern hula, which takes place each year in the week following Easter.

Although archaeological evidence is scant, people certainly inhabited the areas along Hilo Bay, Wailuku and Wailoa Rivers before the Western world made contact. Missionaries came to Hilo in the early to middle 1800s, founding several churches, notably Haili Church.

Hilo expanded as sugar plantations in the surrounding area drew in many workers from Asia, and the city became a trading center.