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John A. Wagner and CharieA --tboshi t,pplieation for Change of Zane 'J seniors. There are 16,302 households with 2.8 people per household. Forty-four percent of the populace is married. 24. Economic Resources of the Area' The oldest city in the Hawaiian archipelago, Hilo's economy was historically based on the sugar plantations of its surrounding areas, prior to their closure in the 1990s. Today, Hilo has a diversified economy that includes agriculture, tourism, aquaculture, livestock, trade, education, astronomy and government. The tremendous rainfall(approximately 134 inches annually) has led to arguably the world's largest tropical flower industry, exporting fresh cut flowers, sprays, and potted plants from various farmer cooperatives and flower farms. About 1 million acres of the island's total 1.8 million acres are devoted to agriculture, a $500 million per-year industry. Livestock is an economic mainstay, with sales totaling more than $25 million annually. Nearly 115,000 cattle are raised on the Big Island. with most shipped to the mainland and Canada for processing. The Big Island is Hawaii's largest producer of honey, more than 1 million pounds annually. Aquaculture, another important industry on the island, has been a mainstay of economic life since the first Polynesian settlers. Several types of microalgae are also being cultivated for pharmaceutical and nutritional products. Aquafarms on the Big Island,totaling more than 170 acres, produce 11 million pounds of aqua products annually. The Big Island also produces more than four-fifths of the state's fruit and other nursery products for domestic and foreign markets. Hilo has a fairly significant tourism sector. Visitors come to see Hilo's charming historic character and also major events such as the annual week-long Merrie Monarch Festival,the world's preeminent hula competition and festival, and the annual Hilo Orchid Show, the largest and most comprehensive orchid show in the state, both of which draw visitors and entrants worldwide. The many cultural centers listed above are big draws, as are the Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo, the many shopping centers, cafes and other eateries, movie theaters,hotels, restaurants, and a developed downtown area with a thriving Farmers Market. Cruise ships account for much of the visitor numbers. According to Hawaii Business Magazine, "In 2003, the town received 219,262 cruise ship passengers from 116 foreign ship calls", which number was expected to rise dramatically in the years following. Hilo's Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) is situated adjacent to Hilo Harbor and the Hilo International Airport, less than a mile from downtown Hilo. This 31-acre site is the first such zone designated by the State of Hawaii to attract manufacturers to Hawaii. The FTZ allows companies to import parts for assembly and export the finished product without paying import duties. Television, film and commercial production also contribute to Hilo's economy. The County of Hawaii hosted 129 film productions from ten countries in 2003-2004, an increase from the prior year. Hawaii's Small Business Development Center Network is a partnership of the University of Hawaii at Hilo and the U.S. Small Business Administration. With the aim of helping small business become established or expand,the Network offers one-on-one counseling, seminars,workshops and conferences. Many other business incentives exist at the state level, including direct financial