EDH 2025 Plan_Original_Dec 05 Final

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Executive Summary EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025, 'Ike is Hi/o, is a Community-Based Vision and Living Action Plan for Downtown Hilo. It incorporates six vision focus areas: Creating Economic Vitality; Preserv- ing Our Environment; Strengthening & Sustaining Our Community; Enhancing Education, Culture and the Arts; Promoting Health and Safety; and Managing Growth. EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025 (EDH 2025) began as a grassroots effort by interested citi- zens, the Hilo Downtown Improvement Association (DIA) and a staff member from the County of Ha- waii Planning Department. The group evolved into the Friends of Downtown Hilo steering Commit- tee which guided EDH 2025 from March 2004 through the development of this document. The "living plan" incorporates continued community participation and the resulting sense of community ownership. The creation of a shared unified vision achieved through collaboration and community in- volvement throughout the process sets this plan apart from previous traditional planning documents. EDH 2025 will be revisited and revised as it progresses. During the implementation phase of EDH 2025, a new organized group will monitor and evaluate the Living Action Plan and its progress. Their role will be to continue to partner with public and private entities as the Living Action Plan be- comes a reality. This document tells the story of how people came together to provide authentic input and develop a 20-year community-based vision and a 5-year living action plan for Downtown Hilo. It describes the process as it unfolded, community involvement along the way and the lessons learned. Collaboration, cooperation, compromise and consensus are reflected in the process. EnVision Downtown Hilo 2025 highlights the value of community-based visioning. It can serve as a model for other communities as they begin to collaboratively chart their future and it can provide direction for government as they form new partnerships with the community. Although impos- sible to capture all the exciting challenges and outcomes in a few pages, it is hoped that this docu- ment communicates the positive energy and excitement that was harnessed through this community effort.