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Preface <br /> The document that follows serves several purposes. It is a plan wntten for Downtowrn Hilo 6y <br /> the commun~ry. It Is a story about an organic, spontaneous community visioning process- It is a <br /> model for other communities to follow when conducting their own visioninq process. And it Is the <br /> platfarn from whid~ implementation of the Living Action Plan will begin. <br /> Part One contain; the story phis Is the step-by-step, nuts-and bolts of workshop development, <br /> committee meetings, and planning activities, all the way to development of an implementation <br /> committee. Part One ends with the lessons learned during this 15-month process and some final <br /> words by Steering Committee Leadership. <br /> Part Two contains the Community-Based Vision and Living Action Plan. All of the ideas in Ihis <br /> section belong to fhe Community. <br /> The story, the process of EnVislon Downtown Hilo 2025, is just as important as the Plan itself. <br /> The process was orgaric, fluid, and able to adapt to changes in circumstances. This characteristic is <br /> what makes the plan a Living Plan. This plan pays homage to all the hard v~~ork of previous <br /> community leaders and brings their work back info relevance. This plan recognizes the community's <br /> collective obllgafon to be a steward not only of its own neighborhood, but o{ nearby neighbors <br /> Including the natural resources on whkh everyone depends. <br /> Writing a vlsior for a land of superlatives is nearly impossible There is an ineffable quality <br /> to Hilo that can be conveyed only through expenence. On the neighbor islands when people meet <br /> someone from Hilo, they immediately smile and pause. Their countenarce becomes contemplative, <br /> peaceful; they may sigh. A common verbal response is "I /oue Hilo. My grandmother lives there, <br /> and I always enjoyed visiting as a kid." Of course, they may be describing Pepeekeo or Kaumana <br /> or Keaukaha, but when they think "Hilo" the image of Hilo Town-Downtown Hilois what they <br /> see. Downtown Hilo is the very hears o4 Hdo; and al{ the diizens of the Big Island wont to see the <br /> very best for their beloved icon of Hawaii-theway-it-used-to-be. It is Hawaii the way it should be. <br /> Ever practical, the citizens or Hilo and Downtown Hilo have spoken and Braked a very <br /> straightforward vision and pragmatic action plan Folks here have a hard time asking for anything, <br /> and they are certainly not greedy. Just please keep their water, land, and air clean. Keep their <br /> streets safe and attractive. Keep their history and traditions alive-and maintain those traditions as <br /> the foundation of `he community. Let them be free to make a living and worship as they will. Keep <br /> their children safe, teach them, and cherish them. Honor their senior citizens and respect their <br /> wisdom. And please li=ten to them- Respect a what this vision is all about. And it is respectfully <br /> <br /> submitted by the people of Hilo. <br /> <br />