Master Plan of the City of Hilo - Laserfiche WebLink

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HISTORIC BACKGROUND, —As an important seat of affairs on the Island of Hawaii, Hilo City has a history which dates back to the eighteenth century. After a period of wars, in August 1796, Kamehameha I subdued Chief Namakeha in the district of Hilo and became sole ruler of Hawaii Island. He lived here until 1803, after which he ruled his kingdom from Honolulu. Captain George Vancouver visited Hilo on his second visit to the islands on January 9, 1793, introducing more livestock and also built the "Brittania," the first ship built in the Islands. In 1837, Hilo Boarding School was established. It was in the year 187475 that Hilo succeeded Lahaina, Maui, as the second town in the Hawaiian Kingdom, according to W. D. Alexander's Hawaiian History. Passing through an era of moderate activity during the nineteenth century except for trade . with the whaling fleet during the latter years, the tidal crave. in 1877 and the lava flow of 1881 when lava came: as close as Kaumana, Hilo developed rapidly since the nineties. into a. progres- sive city. The first electric lights were. installed in 1890. Resi- dential subdivisions.. were opened up in 1897. Coffee growing was started in the Olaa section about 1897, but by 1899 this pursuit was absorbed. by the Olaa Sugar Plantation.. The present.. county .government. dates back to the year 1905. In 1909, the first paved stretch in Hilo proper was Built on Waianuenue Street. This was followed by;a gradual improvement of otherstreets. 9 The Twentieth century marked the development of Hilo harbor, and the city with, its growing industries, utilities and other facilities has become a business center for a vast hinterland which.extends from Puna to Kohala. PHiYSHOGRAPHIC BACKGROUND. —Hilo faces on the beautiful crescent- shaped Hilo Harbor and owes its de- velopment to the fact that this harbor is the best and most strategically located port on the ,Island of Hawaii. The City of Hilo has a fairly compact down -town sec- tion with residential sections radiating out along the prl- cipal original thoroughfares of two major axes. This natural geographic lay -out, resulted in the establishment of the present city limits by the Legislature in 1911, with an area of about nine square miles. Towards the east Hilo has developed along the sea shore on Kalanianaole Street to a distance of about 5.5 miles from the Civic Center, or about three miles beyond the city limits. Ki- lauea Avenue, to the south, has been developed to a dis- tance of almost four miles from the Civic Center, or about two miles beyond the city limits. The developed part of Kaumana Road extends southwestward almost five miles from the Civic Center, or about 2.5 miles beyond the city limits. Piihonua Road has been built up to just outside of the city limits, or about 2.7 miles from the Civic Center. Northward the residential on the north side of Wailuku. River extends to only about a half mile from the Civic Center. Outside of the central part of the city there has been little urban development in the sectors between the principal streets. The City of Hilo has been built on comparatively re- cent lava flows. Consequently in much of the area soil is thin or entirely lacking. The most recent lava flow, that of. 1881, came to a stop within three - fourths of a mile of the Civic Center. Most of the urban area is below an altitude of 100 feet above sea level. However, the land rises in a westerly direction so that the highest part of the city, along Kaumana Road is at an altitude of about 1,200 feet. The largest stream in the Territory, the scenic Wailuku River, passes through the northerly part of the City near the Civic Center and enters Hilo Bay. This River is the source of the municipal water supply and part of the City's electric power. Approximately at the middle of the City is Wailoa River which also enters Hilo Bay. This River is spring -fed and has its sources within the urban area. Hilo is on the windward side of the Island and is ex- posed to the prevailing trade - winds. As a result of the high mountain mass rising to nearly 14,000 feet behind it the rainfall is heavy, the annual average exceeding 137 inches. Consequently, the underlying lava rock being highly porous, there are numerous springs eastward along the shoreline from Wailoa River to beyond the urban area. The abundant rainfall causes vegetation to grow luxuriantly.. Even the lava flow of 1881 bears consider- - able so that. Hilo: is distinguished as a City with a beauti- ful geographic background, Hilo Harbor' has..been improved so that it can accom- modate all except the Iargest of ocean liners. It has a breakwater over 10,000 feet in Iength. The inner harbor, called Kuhio Bay has been improved by dredging so that it has a minimum width. of 1,400 feet, length of 3,800 feet and depth of 35 feet.a POPULATION. —Prior to 1910, the exact population figures of Hilo City proper are not Known. About 1850, there were estimated to be about 1,500 people living be- tween Puueo and Waiakea, the area which is now Hilo City. Until about 1880, this population remained prac- tically unchanged. Since 1880, Hilo City has grown healthfully until today its population is 23,351 (U. S. 1940 Census). Census Year Population Increase over preceding census Number Poreent 1910 ......... 6,745 .... .... 1920......... 10,431 3,686 54.6 1930 ......... 19,46,8 9,037 8616 1940......... 23,351. 3,883 20.0 The 1940 population of 23,351 as divided by U. S. cen- sus tracts is as follows: Census Popula- Area Density follows- Location tract tion (acres) People /acre Density /acre Keaukaha, Waiakea -kai H -3 2,964 1,300 2.28 Villa franca, Piopio, Waiakea Homesteads (port), Waiakea House lots H -4 9,886 1,550 6.38 Fume, downtown Hilo, Piihonua, Kaumana H -5 6,401 3,450 1.86 Wainaku, waiakea Homesteads and out- lying saebions H -6A 4,100 21,050 .19 Total 23,351 27,350 .86 The foregoing tabulation indicates the observation that there are areas that are densely urban along the coast, as well as very sparsely settled agricultural and unde veloped areas in the outlying sections within the city. limits. LAND. — Within the total area delimited by the U. S. Bureau of the Census as the City of Hilo for purposes of the 1940 census, we find the following classification of lands: ' "The Ports of the Territory of Hawaii," Corps of En&eera, U. S. Army, Revised 1935.