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Foreword <br /> NEARIY 60 YEARS AGO, in April 1 946, o massive tsunami originating across the Pacific swept <br /> into Hilo Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii, devastating the town of Hilo and causing the loss of <br /> many lives. li was a horrible day in the history of a place better known as being a kind of paradise <br /> on earth. <br /> True to their nature, the people of Hilo rallied in the aftermath of this disaster- rebuilding their <br /> downtown and reclaiming their community. In time, Downtown Hila was thriving again and more <br /> beautiful than ever. Since then, tsunamis and lava flows have reminded residents of the importance <br /> of always being prepared -and planning for a less than-predictable future <br /> As we begin the 21 st century, a host of new challenges -population growth, economic <br /> globalization, depletion of natural ~esaurces, em~ironmental degradafion, a growing gap between <br /> rich and poor- face local communities everywhere. Collectively, these "tsunamis of change" pose <br /> a {ar greater threat than do the forces of water or fire. No community is immune to change -and <br /> every community would do well to think more strategically about its future. <br /> This is exactly what Hilo has been doing. Since early 2004, the Frig-ends of Downtown Hilo <br /> Steering Committee have engaged the people of Hilo in envisioning a preferred future for their <br /> community and developing a plan to make it happen- Through the Envision Downtown Hilo 2025 <br /> project, hundreds of community members from all walks of life have come together to "talk story" <br /> and to share their visions for a vibrant, indusve, more sustainable Downtown Hilo. <br /> As an advisor to Envision Downtown Hilo 2025, it has been my privilege to help guide Hilo's <br /> visioning process More than any community I have worked with, Hilo's process has been <br /> orgdnic" -sprouting from the community's rich cultural, spiritual, ethnic and social environment. In <br /> Hilo, it's not just about having a vision for the future, it's about building the relationships and skills to <br /> make that future happen -what we planners like to call "community capacity." <br /> In the pages to follow, ~,~ou will learn about the visions that these people have for their community, a <br /> "living" action plan designed to make these visions a reality, and a strategy to implement this plan <br /> over time. With These resources in hand -and the power of nature always there to remind us to be <br /> one step ahead - I know that the people of Hilo will achieve their vision for the future. <br /> Steven Ames <br /> Steven Ames Planning <br /> Portland, Oregon <br /> <br /> August, 2005 <br /> <br />