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Foreword NEARBY 60 YEARS AGO, in April 1946, a massive tsunami originating across the Pacific swept into Hilo Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii, devastating the town of Hilo and causing the loss of many lives. It was a horrible day in the history of a place better known as being a kind of paradise on earth. True to their nature, the people of Hilo rallied in the aftermath of this disaster -rebuilding their downtown and reclaiming their community. In time, Downtown Nllo was thriving again and more beautiful than ever. Since then, tsunamis and lava flows have reminded residents of the importance of always being prepared -and planning for aless-than-predictable future. As we begin the 21st century, a host of new challenges -population growth, economic globaliza- tion, depletion of natural resources, environmental degradation, a growing gap between rich and poor -face local communities everywhere. Collectively, these "tsunamis of change" pose a far greater threat than do the forces of water or fire. No community is immune io change -and every community would do well to think more strategically about its future. This is exactly what Hilo has been doing. Since early 2004, the Friends of Downtown Hilo Steer- ing Committee have engaged the people of Hilo in envisioning a preferred future for their commu- nity and developing a plan to make it happen. Through the Envision Downtown Hilo 2025 pro- ject, hundreds of community members from all walks of life have come together to "talk story" and to share their visions for a vibrant, inclusive, more sustainable Downtown Hilo. As an advisor to Envision Downtown Hilo 2025, it has been my privilege to help guide Hilo's vi- sioning process. More than any community I have worked with, Hilo's process has been "organic" -sprouting from the community's rich cultural, spiritual, ethnic and social environment. In Hilo, it's not just about having a vision for the future, it's about building the relationships and skills to make that future happen -what we planners like to call "community capacity." In the pages to follow, you will learn about the visions that these people have for their community, a "living" action plan designed to make these visions a reality, and a strategy to implement this plan over time. With these resources in hand -and the power of nature always there to remind us to be one step ahead - I know that the people of Hilo will achieve their vision for the future. Steven Ames Steven Ames Planning Portland, Oregon August, 2005 w.