1971 GENERAL PLAN -Original - ORD 1971-439

Home

The following table depicts the shifting of employment between the major sectors of the County's economy from an agricultural orientation to a more service-oriented makeup. Extending present trends, the employment mix could conceivably come to a point where at least 40% of the labor force would be working in the visitor industry. Much of the increase in employment, especially in hotels and retail trade, has been absorbed by the women in our population. The current ratio between Hawaii County's total employment and population is the highest in the State. The participation rate indicates that the County's labor supply has been largely utilized. This situation indicates that new labor demands may have to be met largely by in -migration. Rising wage levels and more secondary workers caused per capita personal income to rise from $1,678 in 1960 to $3,174 in 1968. Median family income in the 1960 census was $4,866. A Federal Housing Administration report for the Big Island estimates that the median family income rose to $7,125 in 1969 after the deduction of federal income tax. The island's youth has continued to pursue higher education. In a 1969 survey of high sch000l seniors, 47% indicated that they planned to attend col- lege. About one-fourth planned to attend business or technical schools, and only 12% were seeking immediate employment assistance. Despite increases in recent times, there is still an apparent scarcity of employment opportunities for the college-educated who desire to return to the island. The age -sex data obtained through the 1970 census depict virtually the same distribution as found in 1960. When compared to a normal distribution, the 1960 and 1970 age -sex pyramids show a disproportionately small number of males and females within the 20 to 34 year old age grouping. There has been but a slight increase in this age category over the past decade. Population The population of Hawaii County in the 1970 census was 63,468, a total of 2,136 more than the previous census. This was the first time since 1930 that the County experienced an increase in the number of residents. District counts for 1970 show little change in the distribution of popula- tion. The South Hilo district, which includes Hilo city, still contains over half of the island's population. The remainder of the nine judicial districts have resident counts ranging from 1,881 in North Hilo to 5,154 in Puna. The growth of district population in the last ten years seems closely as- sociated with the existence of visitor industry facilities in an area. South Kohala, South Hilo and North Kona experienced the largest increases. On the other hand, sugar -based districts such as North Hilo and Hamakua saw the largest decline. The following goals, policies, and standards have been set forth for this element after examining and analyzing past and present situations. GOALS 0 The economic system of the County should provide its residents with opportunities to improve their quality of life. • Economic development and improvement should be accomplished in an orderly manner which is in balance with the physical and social environments of the island of Hawaii. • The County of Hawaii should strive for stability in its economic system. POLICIES • It shall be the policy of the County of Hawaii to assist the expansion of the agricultural industry, especially diversified agriculture, through the protection of prime agricultural lands, capital improvements and other programs, and continued cooperation with appropriate State and Federal agencies. • The County of Hawaii shall strive for an economic climate which pro- vides its residents an opportunity for choice of occupation. • The County of Hawaii shall encourage the expansion of the research and development industry by working with and supporting the univer- sity and other agencies' programs developed to aid the County of Hawaii. • The County of Hawaii shall encourage the development of a visitor in- dustry which is consistent with the social, physical, and economic goals of the residents of the County. • The County shall require a study of the total social and physical impact of large developments prior to approval. • The County of Hawaii shall strive for diversification of its economy by strengthening existing industries and attracting new endeavors. • The County shall encourage the expansion of the fishing industry, various forms of aquaculture, and other ocean -based activities. • The expansion of higher and continuing educational services and institu- tions shall be supported by the County. • The County of Hawaii shall study the feasibility of establishing a busi- ness development loan program. • The County's capital improvements program should improve the quality of existing commercial and industrial areas. • The County of Hawaii's land, water, air, sea, and people shall be con- sidered as essential economic resources for present and future genera- tions and should be protected and enhanced through the use of econom- ic incentives. • It shall be the County's policy to strive for full employment. • The County shall conduct a re-evaluation of all economic goals and policies, particularly in the area of tourism, coincident with any County - initiated overall land use acreage allocation and General Plan review. STANDARDS • The island of Hawaii should be developed into a unique scientific and cultural model. The island should become a model of living where economic gains are in balance with social and physical amenities. Development should be reviewed on the basis of total impact on the residents of the County, not only in terms of immediate short run economic benefits. • New industries which provide favorable benefit -cost relationships to the people of the County should be encouraged. Benefit -cost relationships as used here include more than fiscal considerations. 1960 1970 Percent Employed in Hotels 2.2% 7.5% Percent Employed in Other Services 5.4 6.4 Total Service Employment 7.6% 13.9% Percent Employed in Agriculture 27.0% 20.3% Extending present trends, the employment mix could conceivably come to a point where at least 40% of the labor force would be working in the visitor industry. Much of the increase in employment, especially in hotels and retail trade, has been absorbed by the women in our population. The current ratio between Hawaii County's total employment and population is the highest in the State. The participation rate indicates that the County's labor supply has been largely utilized. This situation indicates that new labor demands may have to be met largely by in -migration. Rising wage levels and more secondary workers caused per capita personal income to rise from $1,678 in 1960 to $3,174 in 1968. Median family income in the 1960 census was $4,866. A Federal Housing Administration report for the Big Island estimates that the median family income rose to $7,125 in 1969 after the deduction of federal income tax. The island's youth has continued to pursue higher education. In a 1969 survey of high sch000l seniors, 47% indicated that they planned to attend col- lege. About one-fourth planned to attend business or technical schools, and only 12% were seeking immediate employment assistance. Despite increases in recent times, there is still an apparent scarcity of employment opportunities for the college-educated who desire to return to the island. The age -sex data obtained through the 1970 census depict virtually the same distribution as found in 1960. When compared to a normal distribution, the 1960 and 1970 age -sex pyramids show a disproportionately small number of males and females within the 20 to 34 year old age grouping. There has been but a slight increase in this age category over the past decade. Population The population of Hawaii County in the 1970 census was 63,468, a total of 2,136 more than the previous census. This was the first time since 1930 that the County experienced an increase in the number of residents. District counts for 1970 show little change in the distribution of popula- tion. The South Hilo district, which includes Hilo city, still contains over half of the island's population. The remainder of the nine judicial districts have resident counts ranging from 1,881 in North Hilo to 5,154 in Puna. The growth of district population in the last ten years seems closely as- sociated with the existence of visitor industry facilities in an area. South Kohala, South Hilo and North Kona experienced the largest increases. On the other hand, sugar -based districts such as North Hilo and Hamakua saw the largest decline. The following goals, policies, and standards have been set forth for this element after examining and analyzing past and present situations. GOALS 0 The economic system of the County should provide its residents with opportunities to improve their quality of life. • Economic development and improvement should be accomplished in an orderly manner which is in balance with the physical and social environments of the island of Hawaii. • The County of Hawaii should strive for stability in its economic system. POLICIES • It shall be the policy of the County of Hawaii to assist the expansion of the agricultural industry, especially diversified agriculture, through the protection of prime agricultural lands, capital improvements and other programs, and continued cooperation with appropriate State and Federal agencies. • The County of Hawaii shall strive for an economic climate which pro- vides its residents an opportunity for choice of occupation. • The County of Hawaii shall encourage the expansion of the research and development industry by working with and supporting the univer- sity and other agencies' programs developed to aid the County of Hawaii. • The County of Hawaii shall encourage the development of a visitor in- dustry which is consistent with the social, physical, and economic goals of the residents of the County. • The County shall require a study of the total social and physical impact of large developments prior to approval. • The County of Hawaii shall strive for diversification of its economy by strengthening existing industries and attracting new endeavors. • The County shall encourage the expansion of the fishing industry, various forms of aquaculture, and other ocean -based activities. • The expansion of higher and continuing educational services and institu- tions shall be supported by the County. • The County of Hawaii shall study the feasibility of establishing a busi- ness development loan program. • The County's capital improvements program should improve the quality of existing commercial and industrial areas. • The County of Hawaii's land, water, air, sea, and people shall be con- sidered as essential economic resources for present and future genera- tions and should be protected and enhanced through the use of econom- ic incentives. • It shall be the County's policy to strive for full employment. • The County shall conduct a re-evaluation of all economic goals and policies, particularly in the area of tourism, coincident with any County - initiated overall land use acreage allocation and General Plan review. STANDARDS • The island of Hawaii should be developed into a unique scientific and cultural model. The island should become a model of living where economic gains are in balance with social and physical amenities. Development should be reviewed on the basis of total impact on the residents of the County, not only in terms of immediate short run economic benefits. • New industries which provide favorable benefit -cost relationships to the people of the County should be encouraged. Benefit -cost relationships as used here include more than fiscal considerations.