DPW Downtown Hilo Parking Analysis Dec 2009

Home

I. INTRODUCTION 1.1 DOWNTOWN HILO Downtown Hilo, rich with history and small -town values, could be considered a gem for those in search of a place that for years has remained virtually unaffected by the ever - changing world around it. It is a place that people go to when craving a combination of the simple life and a way to quench their shopping, dining, and entertainment needs. Of the featured attractions in Downtown Hilo, the Hilo Farmers Market is probably the favorite among the locals and visitors alike. It is an open market that sells locally grown produce and flowers and locally made arts and crafts. Adjacent to the Farmers Market is five blocks of little shops and special interest stores. The area is perfect for looking for gifts not normally found at the shopping malls. Cafe Pesto, Cronies Bar and Grill, and Pescatore are a few of the trendy dining spots in Downtown Hilo. One of the intriguing entertainment venues in town is historic Palace Theatre. Used in the past primarily for showing movies, the theatre is now a place not only for cinema, but for events such as plays and small concerts as well. Kress Cinemas is another establishment located in one of Hilo's many historic downtown buildings. Mooheau Park rounds out the list of some of the popular entertainment spots in Downtown Hilo. With scenic Hilo Bay as a backdrop, the park is an excellent place for picnics, fundraisers, concerts and local sporting events. Although the Downtown Hilo attractions are plentiful, the competition has grown. Prince Kuhio Plaza, a shopping mall that opened in 1985 and nearby Wal-Mart have become the hub for Hilo shoppers. If Downtown Hilo, otherwise known as the Downtown Hilo Sub -Area is a reflection of the past, "one- stop /all -in -one" stores have become the trend of the present, and possibly the future. 1.2 DOWNTOWN HILO SUB -AREA For planning the growth and redevelopment of Downtown Hilo, the Hawaii Redevelopment Agency (HRA) in 1980 formally defined Downtown Hilo as the Downtown Hilo Sub -area. It is bound by the Wailuku River to the North, Hilo Bay to the East, Ponahawai Street to the South, and Kapiolani Street to the West. For more information on the Downtown Hilo Sub -Area, see page D 1. 1.3 THE DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION In 1962, a group within the Downtown Hilo Sub -Area called the Downtown Improvement Association (DIA) was formed. The DIA, whose membership consists primarily of downtown merchants, actively addresses issues that it feels, if resolved, would sustain and /or improve the business and livelihood of Downtown Hilo. The stated goal of the DIA is to restore Downtown Hilo back to being the social, cultural and commercial center of East Hawaii. •1•