This file contains the slide show presented at the second Public Meeting for the Sustainable Design Assessment Team Program for Downtown Hilo, which was held on May 7, 2009.

1. Hilo, Hawai‘i - SDAT Team
Presentation and Recommendations
May 5 – 7, 2009

2. What is an SDAT?
The Sustainable Design Assessment Team
program provides broad assessments to help
frame future policies and sustainability solutions.

3. SDAT principals:
•Multi-Disciplinary Team
•Objective Outsiders
•Community Participation

4. Three Elements of Sustainability
• Environmental
Stewardship
• Social Equity Environment
• Economic
Physical Basis Sense of
Development/Growth for Prosperity Place
COMMUNITY
SUSTAINABILITY
All planning decisions must be
assessed based on all three Economics Demand for Equity
Products and
elements- advances in only Services
one, to the detriment of the
others, is not sustainable.

5. Checklist of Issues
Environmental: Social: Economic:
Air Quality Housing / Affordability Revitalization
Water Quality / Quantity Public Spaces Diversity
Open Spaces Ethnic / Racial Issues Jobs
Wildlife Habitat / Demographic Public Services
Wetlands Income Shifts Public Policy / Planning
Rivers / Streams / Bay Education Agricultural Preservation
Flooding and Drought Sense of Community / Place Traffic Congestion
Natural Disaster Pedestrian / Bicycle Options Transportation
Transit and Land Use Access to Jobs / Housing
Energy Efficiency Managing Growth

6. The Heart of Hilo

7. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE
MOUNTAINS OF HILO WERE
BANNED FROM REACHING
HILO’S SEAS

8. THE STREAMS THAT ONCE
NOURISHED HILO’S HEART
HAD NOWHERE TO GO AND
AFTER MANY YEARS – THEY
DRIED UP

9. THE FISH WERE NOT ABLE TO
REACH THE SEAS
SO THE SEA BIRDS LEFT HILO
FOR THE OTHER ISLANDS IN
SEARCH OF FOOD

10. OVER THE YEARS HILO’S
HEART - PIKO HARDENED…
WHERE THERE WAS ONCE
ALOHA, THERE WAS FIRE -
AHI AND SMOKE -UAHI

11. …ONE DAY, THEN THE
MAKANI AHE AHE WINDS
BLEW INTO HILO

12. THE MAKANI BROUGHT
ALONG WITH IT THE
FLOWERS OF THE ‘ŌHI‘A-
LEHUA TREE THAT HELD THE
‘ANO‘ANO (SEEDS) OF
CHANGE

13. THESE SEEDS FILLED THE
CRACKS THAT COVERED
HILO’S HEART

14. …THE MAKANI ALSO BLEW IN
THE AO PANOPANO RAIN
CLOUDS…
…AND IT RAINED FOR MANY
MANY DAYS….

15. …IT RAINED SO MUCH THAT THE
SEEDS GREW INTO BEAUTIFUL
TREES….THE RIVERS KAHAWAI
OVERFLOWED AND TORE UP
HILO’S HARD COVER…THE HARD
COVER FLOWED TOWARDS THE
OCEAN AND BREACHED THE
BARRIERS …

16. …AS THE MOUNTAINS
REACHED TOWARDS THE
SEAS…FISH PONDS DOTTED
THE ISLAND ONCE
AGAIN…THE SEABIRDS
RETURNED…AND FLOCKED
THE MANY TREES THAT NOW
ADORNED HILO’S HEART

17. …AND ONCE AGAIN HILO’S
HEART WAS FILLED WITH
ALOHA AND GRATITUDE….

18. Defining Sustainability
Hawaiian Tradition of Subsistence
Kua‘aina: Respect the
resources and the
spirits of the land, forest
and ocean.
Take only what is
needed from the land,
ocean and nature.

19. Defining Sustainability
Hawaiian Tradition of Subsistence
Hō‘ailona: Observe the
natural signs important
for a sense of direction
and well being.
Respect and protect
knowledge and skill that
has been passed down
inter-generationally.

20. Defining Sustainability
Hawaiian Tradition of Subsistence
Cultural Kīpuka: Sharing +
redistribution of resources
creates a social environment
that cultivates community
kinship ties, and support, as
well as care for the elderly
and prescribed roles for
youth.

21. Defining Sustainability
Hawaiian Tradition of Subsistence
Lōkahi: Unity, harmony,
balance.
Time spent in the natural
environment develops a
strong sense of
environmental kinship that is
the foundation of Hawaiian
spirituality.

22. Defining Sustainability
Hawaiian Tradition of Subsistence
Wahi pana: Develop
stewardship and
reinforce knowledge
about the landscape,
place-names,
meanings and ancient
sites.

23. Historic Preservation & Sustainability
• Historic Buildings tell a
story of a time in Hilo
when we used less
energy and resources
• Ultimate in recycling
• Saves embodied energy
• Reduces waste stream
to landfill

24. Building Elements
• Tall first floors provide natural light deeper into
the building
• Ventilation in upper walls provide natural
ventilation

25. Building Elements
• Canopies protect from rain and sun
• All elements create a distinctive Hilo streetscape
& promote pedestrian activity

26. Building Elements
• Mixed uses promote economic activity
• Emotional attachments

27. Codes vs Revitalization
• Existing codes (zoning, building,
urban design guidelines, storm
management) make it difficult to
restore old buildings
• Create new code(s) for downtown
– Form based code(s) for new
buildings
– Designate downtown an historic
landmark district
– Specify alternate methods, existing
Building Code
• Education

28. Tsunamis
• Tsunamis have changed the shape of
Hilo and may do so again.
• Hilo has done a good job to make
people safe.

29. Resiliency
“Resiliency means
accepting that this is
going to happen at
some point in the
future, and planning
for it today”

30. Everyone wants to keep Hilo, Hilo

31. But, what does this mean?

32. But, what does this mean?
•“Old Hawai‘i”
•For residents—not tourists
•A living place—for many people &
activities
•Not about the chain store, but the local
merchant

33. Many of you do not want Change.

34. Others of you want lots of it.

35. Truth is, you either get the Change
you plan for, or the Change that
just comes.

36. The EDH 2025 Plan calls for a
number of initiatives for Renewal &
Growth

37. A few guiding suggestions.

38. The Place as a Brand.

39. Is this shoe more desirable?

40. Or, maybe this one?

41. A brand is an assortment of expectations
established by the seller that, once fulfilled,
forms a covenant with its buyers. A brand
covenant is an implicit guarantee that what
consumers see is what they get.

42. What is the brand for Downtown Hilo?
scale…material….height…views…a family of
styles…..culture & attitude.

43. First principle: That which
you do not legally protect you
will likely lose.
and
Second principle: That which
you do not define as future
development you will likely not
get.

44. Third principle: Strong retail
is inherently more sustainable

45. Fourth principle: Strong
LOCAL brands can be sold to
the world.

46. Fourth principle:strong
LOCAL brands can be sold to
the world.

47. Fourth principle: Strong
LOCAL brands can be sold to
the world.

48. The Goals:
• Become known globally as
the "True Hawai‘i", the place
where Paradise is lived
everyday.
• Develop portals for
delivering "True Hawai‘i" to
shoppers of the world.

49. Protecting & Projecting Downtown
Hilo Through Codes

50. Recommendation 1: Protect history
and guide development with a
form-based code
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

51. Recommendation 1: Protect history
and guide development with a
form-based code

52. Recommendation 1: Protect history
and guide development with a
form-based code

53. Recommendation 1: Protect history
and guide development with a
form-based code

57. View Downtown Hilo as a series of Districts
Art + Culture
Heart of Hilo
Entertainment
District
Market
District

58. Hilo Youth
Teens | College Students | Young Adults

59. What we heard
Center for Youth
Community
Sense of Safety and
Welcome
Hangouts for Teens after
school
Offerings for University
Students

60. Connecting Youth with Downtown Hilo
Connections
Park
Elem.
School
High School
Private
Schools
Middle
School
Private
Boys+Girls Schools
Club

61. Housing and Economic
Development

62. Urban Space for Youth
• Make downtown family/youth friendly
• Restrooms
• Youth zone
• Sports, arts, activities
• Hang outs
• Safety, eyes of community
• Lighting

63. Housing Accessibility
• Housing and economic development
• What kind
• Where
• How
• Infill and live /work units
• Downtown residents will enhance Hilo.
– People can live where there are few stores, but stores cannot
exist where there are few people.

64. Mixed Use
• Mixed-use residential/other housing
• Live work units and co-housing
• Single small units
• Mixed unit sizes
• Courtyard community

65. Housing Options
• Communal arrangements
• symbiotic

66. Social Equity
• Homelessness
• Type of homeless
• Detox center
• What do they need
• Screening (for drugs, illness, or even
vision)

67. Universal Design
• Access for disabled
– Progress has been made
– Some rough areas
• Change Sidewalks to volcanic surface
– Chance to unify image while reducing slick
surfaces

68. Universal Design
• Pedestrian friendly sidewalk design
• Volcanic surfacing
• Re-do rough spots
• Ties in to lighting and image
• Move Bayfront highway

71. Economic Incentives
• Financing and incentives
• Free short term parking
• Tax abatements for added value
• Tax abatements for housing

72. Sustainable connections

73. FOUR PRINCIPLES
• Downtown is a Destination
• The Street Network Must Connect, not
Divide
• Streets are for Everybody
• Distinct Parking Strategies for each User

74. 1. Hilo’s Downtown is a Destination
• It is not a place to Go To not
Pass Through
• It is a place to experience
• A place that revives all our
senses
• A place where “Life Slows and
Community Grows”
• That is Downtown Hilo

75. • Therefore connections to the Downtown
must flow into the area not rush by
• Slow traffic is safe, good for business, and
uses less energy
• Slow traffic also allows for many modes of
travel – on foot, in strollers, wheelchairs,
bicycles

76. REGIONAL
GATEWAY
HOTELS
POTENTIAL TO
NEW FISH
POND HARBOR
DOWNTOWN
REGIONAL
SCHOOLS POTENTIAL REGIONAL
NEW FISH GATEWAY
TRANSIT
POND LOOP
TRANSIT
REGIONAL
CENTER
BIKE PATH
EXISTING
CIVIC FISH
AIRPORT
POTENTIAL CENTER POND
NEW FISH
POND
TO
UNIVERSITY

77. 2. The Street Network Must
Connect - Not Divide
• Create new connections into Downtown
• Embrace the waterfront where it does not
• Make connections where they do not exist
• Strengthen pedestrian connections where
they are weak

78. 3. Streets for Everybody
UNIVERSAL DESIGN
• Kūpuna
• Children
• Bicyclists
• Strollers
• Sampans
• Transit

79. 4. Distinct Parking Strategies
• PAID VERSUS FREE
• 30 MIN VERSUS ALL-
DAY
• PARKING TARGETS
– Residents
– Visitors / Tourists
– Employees

80. Sewer
and
Energy
Parking
District
Long Term
Parking
Transit
Center

81. Vision Plan for Downtown Hilo
KE
AW
E
I
AI
AW
N OH
PO

82. Actions to Consider
• Simplify and consolidate waterfront roads
• Develop a plan for parking that allows for shared parking lots,
paid parking, timed parking
• Establish a close-in shuttle system (sampans?) that connects
commuter parking, and park and ride lots to downtown
businesses
• Establish a larger shuttle system that connects to remote
activities such as the harbor, airport, and university to
Downtown
• Create a wide, safe, and well-designed bike route to
Downtown
• Consider pedestrian friendly road designs such as woonerfs
or ‘shared space’ roadways
• Consider returning Keawe and Kino‘ole back to a two-way
system
• Relocate the Transit Center to a nearby upland location

83. What happens next with the
SDAT?
• 2-3 Months: SDAT Report delivered to the
community
• Up to 12 Months: Conference Calls
• 12 Months: Visit & Assessment

84. AIA Center for Communities by
Design: Contact Information
www.aia.org/liv_sdat
SDAT@aia.org
AIA National Component
Center for Communities by Design
1735 New York Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20006-5292