About this Location

Facility Overview

Prince Kuhio Plaza - P-4 is a designated surface parking sector situated within the expansive grounds of Prince Kūhiō Plaza, the premier enclosed shopping mall on the Big Island of Hawaii. Located at 111 East Puainako Street in south Hilo, this open-air asphalt parking lot serves mall patrons, cinema attendees, and local shoppers. The lot layout features wide circulation aisles and standard stall dimensions that readily accommodate compact vehicles, full-size sedans, passenger SUVs, and the lifted pickup trucks commonly driven across Hawaii County. Because it is completely open-air without overhead garage decks or structural height barriers, there are no vertical clearance limits, making it fully accessible for high-roof commercial vans, camper vans, and utility trucks with roof racks.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Positioned along the bustling junction of Kanoelehua Avenue (Hawaii Route 11) and East Puainako Street (Route 2000), parking at Prince Kuhio Plaza places visitors in Hilo\'s dominant commercial core. Key nearby destinations include:

Prince Kūhiō Plaza Retail & Dining: Direct immediate access to major anchor stores including Macy\'s, T.J. Maxx, Old Navy, Petco, and a wide array of local Hawaiian specialty boutiques and food court favorites.
Regal Prince Kuhio: Located right on-site, providing premier multi-screen movie viewing within a 1 to 2-minute walk from the P-4 parking area.
Puainako Center: A short 5-minute walk across Kanoelehua Avenue, hosting grocery supermarkets, pharmacies, and casual local eateries.
University of Hawaii at Hilo: Located roughly 2 miles northwest (a 5-to-7-minute drive), making this an easy stop for college students and faculty running errands.
Hilo International Airport (ITO): Situated approximately 3 miles north, reachable in under 10 minutes by car.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Accessing Lot P-4 is straightforward via multiple entrances along East Puainako Street and Kanoelehua Avenue (Highway 11). Signalized intersections at major mall entrances facilitate safe left- and right-turn navigation even during peak afternoon traffic hours. Internal ring roads guide drivers effortlessly around the perimeter of the mall concourses. For island commuters and transit riders, the County of Hawaii Hele-On Bus maintains regular service stops directly at Prince Kūhiō Plaza, connecting shoppers to Downtown Hilo, Pāhoa, Volcano, and the Kona side of the island.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Complimentary Parking: Free open parking for mall customers, retail patrons, and theater guests.
Unrestricted Headroom: Open-sky surface parking with zero vertical clearance restrictions, ideal for oversized vehicles and trucks.
Accessible Stalls: Clearly designated ADA-compliant accessible parking spaces situated close to mall main entrance corridors.
Night Illumination: High-mast outdoor lighting throughout the parking fields for visibility and safety during evening cinema hours.
Pedestrian Walkways: Striped crosswalks and paved walkways connecting the parking stalls seamlessly into the air-conditioned mall interior.

Ideal For

Retail Shoppers & Families: Anyone planning a day of shopping, dining, or errand running across Hilo’s largest enclosed mall.
Moviegoers: Visitors catching the latest blockbuster releases at Regal Prince Kuhio without worrying about garage clearance or parking meters.
Pickup & SUV Drivers: Owners of oversized 4x4 trucks, utility vehicles, or roof-mounted gear that cannot fit into standard covered garages.
Inter-District Commuters: Drivers connecting between East Hawaii transit routes and regional commercial amenities.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Parking in Prince Kuhio Plaza - P-4 is generally plentiful, but prime spaces closest to main entrances fill quickly during weekend afternoons, holiday shopping periods, and rainy Hilo days when indoor shopping is at its peak. While parking is free, it is intended strictly for customers and active visitors; overnight parking and unauthorized camping are prohibited by mall management. If visiting during Hilo’s frequent tropical showers, remember to pack an umbrella, as the walk from outer bays to the mall entrance is fully exposed to the elements.