EDH 2025 Plan_Original_Dec 05 Final

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• - • • - • - - Students from Hawaii Community College •• •- •• ' began the workshop with an opening ,nu/e, and Billy Kenoi, of the Mayor's Office presented an energetic, local-style welcome to the community and to Steven Ames. Fred Koehnen and Bill Moore provided perspective in their "Voices of Hilo" presentations, with :. Fred bringing tears to the eyes of many when he talked -- 3 about how important Downtown Hilo has been to him. A very brave 9-year-old Cameron McDaniel added i - another perspective by reporting what his classmates at 1 Connections Public Charter School liked and didn't like about Downtown Hilo and what they would like to see a • in 2025. Steven explained his Oregon Model of Community Visioning to the audience and asked them to write down what they valued most about Downtown Hilo. Then the breakout groups convened to start working. The groups were divided according to six identified focus areas: Creating Economic Vitality; Preserving the Environment; Strengthening and Sustaining our Community; Expanding Education, Culture, and the Arts; Promoting Health and Safety; and Managing Growth. Trained facilitators led their groups in profiling the community, analyzing trends, and in developing vision ideas. The groups brainstormed together and also quietly on forms that were provided for private comments. Finally the groups polled their ideas to come up with their top three answers to each driving question. Toward the end of the workshop each group facilitator presented their group's work to the entire audience. The audience quickly picked up on an interesting trend with each report. The results were astounding—it made for a true "Aha!" Mini-Lesson Learned: Not everyone moment. Somehow, each group, from focus areas as disparate feels comfortable speaking up in as the economy, the arts, health and safety, community, and public. Give workshop participants growth management, came up with startlingly similar results. It the opportunity to express their thoughts privately was important to all to preserve and respect the Hawaiian culture. The bay was important to all groups, so were the historic buildings. Folks loved the Farmers Market and wanted to see it improved. The cosmopolitan nature of Hilo added to its charm and cultural wealth. Everyone loved the small-town friendliness found there. The stunning natural views were very important, and the different groups had different reasons for listing that. Adequate parking, dilapidated buildings, and unkempt vacant lots were toward the top of everyone's lists. In an effort to have objective, agenda-free discussion groups and a balanced number of participants, the audience had been randomly assigned to specific focus areas. It could be reasoned that no matter where they were assigned, participants came with their own agendas and 18