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Tourism is firmly established in Hilo with about 1,300 hotel units. 422
<br />more units are under construction and plans have been announced to add more,
<br />mainly in the Waiakea Pond area.
<br />Commercial endeavors are also being expanded. The largest project is the
<br />recently completed $6 million Kaiko'o Mall Shopping Center, anchored by the
<br />J.C. Penney Company Numerous other office buildings, shops, and services are
<br />being planned and built to serve the growing needs of the community.
<br />Hilo city with its population size, harbor and airport facilities, higher educa-
<br />tion complex, and new investment has good potential for economic growth.
<br />There are, however, some problem areas. Major public facilities, such as the
<br />airport facilities and the university facilities in Hilo, rely heavily on State funds
<br />and this County must compete with other areas of the State. A new shopping
<br />center has intensified the competitive situation between new and older com-
<br />mercial areas. Recent developments have caused land and housing prices to
<br />rise substantially in the last few years. According to a recent postal vacancy
<br />survey, vacancy rates in the city were as low as 0.7%.
<br />Light manufacturing will tend to locate in Hilo due to its population and
<br />transportation facilities. Power rates, however, are one of the highest in the
<br />nation.
<br />Courses Of Action
<br />• The County shall encourage the .State to provide the necessary funds for
<br />the development of the university complex and airport facilities. The
<br />County shall also provide necessary support services and facilities to
<br />aid the development of these complexes.
<br />• The County shall implement a program to revitalize downtown Hilo.
<br />• Manufacturing operations which utilize local raw materials, such as
<br />bagasse, macadamia nut shells, and timber should be encouraged.
<br />• The fishing industry in Hilo should be assisted by the County through a
<br />cooperative effort with State and Federal agencies.
<br />• The County shall continue to assist in the formulation and implementa-
<br />tion of management education and manpower training programs.
<br />NORTH HILO
<br />Profile
<br />Population
<br />1960
<br />1970
<br />% Change
<br />North Hilo
<br />2,493
<br />1,881
<br />-24.5
<br />Laupahoehoe
<br />407
<br />452
<br />11.1
<br />Ookala
<br />562
<br />486
<br />-13.5
<br />Papaaloa
<br />449
<br />319
<br />-28.9
<br />Other
<br />1,075
<br />624
<br />-41.9
<br />Population in North Hilo has declined for more than 50 years. One of the
<br />major factors attributing to this decline has been the decrease in the demand
<br />for workers of the district's major industry, sugar. The major population and
<br />service center for the North Hilo district is Laupahoehoe.
<br />Like Hamakua to the north, the North Hilo district is agriculturally oriented.
<br />On the arable lands of the lower elevations, which stretch from Honohina-
<br />Ninole to Ookala, sugar cane dominates the landscape, with smaller acreages
<br />of diversified crops scattered in between. Lands on the higher slopes are used
<br />almost exclusively for grazing.
<br />The Laupahoehoe Sugar Company represents the single most important
<br />source of income and employment for the residents of this district. During 1968,
<br />this firm employed 425 persons and had an annual payroll of $2.6 million. In
<br />efforts to minimize costs through mechanization the Laupahoehoe Sugar Com-
<br />pany has been reducing its demand for labor.
<br />Manufacturing in this area is limited to the processing of sugar cane. It
<br />is expected to remain stable or to increase slightly as newer and better methods
<br />are utilized and as more lands are cultivated for sugar cane growing. The amount
<br />of land available for growing sugar cane, however, is limited.
<br />At higher elevations are large tracts of grazing lands, native and planted
<br />forests, and the sparsely vegetated slopes of Mauna Kea. Some of the planted
<br />timber stands and certain species of native hardwoods have been logged.
<br />Economic growth under present conditions is limited in the district. The
<br />young have continued to leave the area because of the lack of employment op-
<br />portunities and social life. The mill at Ookala will probably continue to operate
<br />and the demand for labor will continue to lessen. Diversified agriculture shows
<br />the greatest potential for growth.
<br />Courses Of Action
<br />• The County shall, in cooperation with other agencies, assist the -further
<br />development of diversified agriculture in North Hilo. A program to ex-
<br />pand diversified agriculture should be developed and implemented.
<br />• The County shall work with community groups to search for alternative
<br />forms of employment.
<br />HAMAKUA
<br />Profile
<br />Population
<br />1960
<br />1970
<br />% Change
<br />Hamakua district
<br />5,221
<br />4,648
<br />-11.0
<br />Honokaa
<br />1,247
<br />1,555
<br />24.7
<br />Kukuihaele
<br />424
<br />310
<br />-26.9
<br />Paauilo
<br />1,059
<br />710
<br />-33.0
<br />Other
<br />2,491
<br />2,073
<br />-16.8
<br />Hamakua's population has declined over the past ten years. This has been
<br />largely due to mechanization programs of the sugar plantations. There has
<br />been some internal movement in this district into the town of Honokaa, which
<br />represents the commercial and residential center of the district. There are
<br />several smaller communities strung out along the Belt Highway which serve
<br />primarily as residential settlements related to the sugar plantations. At the
<br />higher elevations there are scattered homesteads and ranches. The towns of
<br />Honokaa and Paauilo act as the main trading areas for this district.
<br />The economic mainstays of this area are sugar, cattle, macadamia nuts,
<br />and diversified crops. Within the district are three sugar plantations and pro-
<br />cessing mills. These are the greatest sources of income and employment for
<br />Hamakua. In 1968, these three firms employed a total of 762 persons and had
<br />an annual payroll of $4.9 million. There are numerous cattle ranches and several
<br />different varieties of diversified crops at the higher elevations. Of these, maca-
<br />damia nuts are expected to play an important role in the future of agricultural
<br />development. Other crops grown in this area are taro, watermelons, tomatoes,
<br />and other vegetables.
<br />Manufacturing is limited to the processing of sugar, macadamia nuts, be
<br />and other food products.
<br />At the present time tourism plays no significant role in Hamakua. There
<br />a total of twenty hotel rooms which are primarily utilized by local travelers al
<br />construction workers.
<br />, The Hamakua area also serves as a residential community for people wl
<br />work in South Kohala.
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