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Downtown Hilo Defined <br /> There is almost nothing better to do on a sunny day in Hilo than to enjoy a leisurely picnic <br /> lunch in Lili'uokalani Park. Spread a blanket in the shade, feel the gentle breeze blowing in from the <br /> bay, and gaze at the panorama of Downtown Hilo across the water. A ribbon of palm trees follows <br /> the crescent-shaped black-sand shoreline leading down the highway past canoe hole and into the <br /> heart of town. It is comforting to be able to identify the familiar old buildings and church steeples <br /> that climb up the lower slopes of Mauna Kea. And it is truly awe-inspiring to feel, hear and smell the <br /> ocean currents while taking in the majestic beauty of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and the colors in the <br /> sky around them. Breathe in the soft fresh air and let the peaceful feeling of timelessness take over. <br /> The view of downtown is a quaint reminder of our unhurried past; its spectacular natural surroundings <br /> embrace and dwarf everything human made. This all-encompassing perspective is humbling; it is <br /> also a vitally important facet of this vision and living action plan. <br /> Project Area <br /> Mini-Lesson Learned: <br /> In Hawai'i, any ten people will have ten different descriptions of Vision ideas often go <br /> Downtown Hilo's boundaries. From the beginning it was decided to keep beyond geographic <br /> this plan to a manageable scope by defining the project area within boundaries; when <br /> downtown's official boundaries. This area is zoned and designated as the visioning, however, it is <br /> important to define <br /> Downtown Hilo Commercial District (CDH). The CDH District is a small project boundaries. <br /> area of the City of Hilo which covers a vast area of the South Hilo District Exploring the boundaries <br /> of the County of Hawai'i. The plan area is bound by Hilo Bayfront, can be an action the <br /> Ponahawai Street, Kapiolani Street and the Wailuku River. There are two community decides to <br /> take on, and not the <br /> sub-areas adjacent to the CDH District called the Pu'ueo sub-area and the vision steering committee. <br /> Kukuau sub-area. These neighborhoods are considered transitional areas <br /> into Downtown Hilo, and each area directly impacts the other. There is no question that the effects <br /> of the plan will influence surrounding areas and vice versa. The organic nature of EnVision <br /> Downtown Hilo 2025 began with this fact and will become more evident as implementation nears. <br /> Organizers recognized that a holistic approach to planning was necessary for consensus. <br /> Visioning adds a new dimension to a planning project—connectivity. For example, the <br /> community may want bicycle paths in its neighborhood. The bicycle paths will necessarily lead <br /> beyond the boundaries of that neighborhood. Since the process of visioning also includes action <br /> planning and implementation, issues outside the community's boundaries must be considered. Not <br /> thinking or caring about stakeholders outside a project area is counterproductive; lack of foresight <br /> will inevitably stall implementation. This critical factor is what makes visioning both very difficult and <br /> very exciting. This link to areas outside one's boundaries is what turns a simple map into a lovely <br /> tapestry. One thread runs through the entire piece; if the thread frays in an area, the rest of the <br /> tapestry suffers. The people of Hawai'i are peculiarly suited to visioning. A population that is <br /> 5 <br />