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mainland economic recession of the early 1990's and the Asian economic crisis in 1997
<br />significantly impacted Hawaii's visitor industry. These events emphasized the dependency of the
<br />local economy upon the visitor industry and its vulnerability to external influences. While the
<br />tourist industry is expected to continue growing, it has matured to a point where healthy growth
<br />will demand a reinvestment in the infrastructure supporting the visitor industry. The County must
<br />continue to preserve, protect and enhance the unique qualities of the Big Island and promote the
<br />island as a vacation and business destination to respond to growing competition from tourist
<br />destinations around the world.
<br />In 1970, just prior to the initial adoption of the General Plan, the population in the County
<br />of Hawaii numbered 63,468. The 1970 census count was the first to show an increase, albeit
<br />small, since 1930 when the population peaked at 73,325, largely as a result of the importation of
<br />labor for the sugar industry. The population decline between 1930 and the 1960s was primarily
<br />due to the increasing mechanization of the sugar plantation, limited job opportunities in other
<br />economic sectors, and the out -migration of residents. This decline was reversed during the 1960s
<br />with a modest growth of 2,140 residents between the 1960 and 1970 census.
<br />Since 1970, the County's population has continued to grow. The 1980 census registered an
<br />island -wide resident population of 92,053 people representing a growth of 28,585 residents or a 45
<br />per cent increase over the 1970 census. The 1990 census revealed a resident population of
<br />120,317 residents, or an increase of 31 per cent over the 1980 resident population. The census
<br />registered 148,677 residents in 2000, a 24 per cent increase over the 1990 resident population.
<br />The County anticipates that its resident population will grow at an annual rate of 1.95 per cent to
<br />2005, 2.04 per cent between 2005 to 2010, and 2.1 per cent between 2010 and 2020. Projected
<br />estimates for 2020 indicate an island resident population of 217,718, or an increase of 46 per cent
<br />over the estimated 2000 population of 148,677.
<br />Table 2 summarizes the growth in Hawaii County's job count, by industry, from 1970 to
<br />1997. Since 1980, employment trends within the County have appeared to shift from the non -
<br />service industry to the service industry in jobs such as wholesale and retail trade, finance, hotels,
<br />etc. In 1980, the service industries accounted for approximately 61 per cent of the private industry
<br />workforce and 49 per cent of the total wages earned. By 1997, the service industries have
<br />dominated the private industry, accounting for 79 per cent of the workforce and 74 per cent of the
<br />total wages earned. This growth in the service industry is mainly attributable to the growth in the
<br />County's tourism sector.
<br />Employment within the County in 1980 totaled 40,850 on a population base of 92,053
<br />residents. In 1990, employment increased to 55,200 on a population base of 120,317, representing
<br />a 3.05 per cent and 2.71 per cent annual compounded increase, respectively. The 2000 census
<br />showed a population of 148,677 and an employment base of 69,937. For the year 2020, the
<br />Planning Department anticipates a population of 217,718 with an employment base of 106,492.
<br />Average annual employment growth rates are anticipated at 2.05 per cent between 1999 and 2005,
<br />2.11 per cent between 2005 and 2010, and 2.16 per cent between 2010 and 2020. These
<br />employment projections are below the robust 3.05 per cent average annual employment growth
<br />rates during the 1980s, but above the 1.61 per cent average annual growth rate during the 1990s.
<br />E
<br />Introduction
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