Puainako Center is located in a residential area of Hilo, Hawaii, the seat of government for the County of Hawaii. The Center is highly visible from its position along Kanoelehua Avenue, a major thoroughfare in Hilo and the main road leading to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The Park alone draws over 2.5 million visitors annually.

Puainako Center has a gross leasable area of 80,000 square feet. It is situated on approximately 8 acres of land, a short distance from Hilo's downtown area, the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and the Hilo International Airport.

Puainako Center is a neighborhood shopping complex which focuses on the needs of the residents. The anchor of the Center is Sack N Save Super Market (25,755 square feet). The Center also contains several national businesses, including McDonalds, Taco Bell, Checker Auto Parts and Subway. Other representative businesses include restaurants, a chiropractor, a bank, a hair salon and a pharmacy.

An adjacent parcel of approximately 43,000 square feet was recently acquired by the Center and will be used for additional parking.