‘Let’s Grow Hilo’ – Congratulations on reaching 60 Likes!

December 22, 2011 by Planning Dept.

Thursday, December 22, 2011. Congratulations! “Let’s Grow Hilo” for reaching 60 likes today. What a great Christmas present! Not only did you reach 60 likes – you are the first entry to achieve this goal. You held an amazing campaign in drawing your family and friends to the website. Your hard work paid off. What’s more significant, is how all of you have generously given your time to help improve the way Downtown Hilo looks.

The ‘edible landscaping’ has brought a new ‘vibrant green’ to downtown’s streetscape. ‘Let’s Grow Hilo’ will truly help to keep Hilo green as we grow and manage development in Downtown Hilo. This project is consistent with the EDH 2025 Focus Area 2 Preserving Our Environment. It fits perfectly under Strategy 2.5: Protect and Enhance Downtown Hilo’s natural beauty through landscpaing, plantings and related improvements. It is also triple bottom line oriented and definitely brings out the best of Downtown Hilo.

All the plants are thriving and apparently don’t need much tending – especially with the amount of rain we’ve received in the last 2 weeks!  By the way, are there some edible flowers that can be planted that don’t need a lot of maintenance?  It’ll add some exciting new variation in colors. It’s fun trying to identify all the different plants. Harvesting and maintenance will be important to keep the surrounding areas safe for pedestrians and motorist, so let’s keep this in mind as plans move forward.

Please keep up the great work! Planning Department will meet with Hilo Downtown Improvement Association to begin a feasibility assessment early next year. “Keep track of the feasibility assessment via updates in the “Let’s Grow Hilo” entry.

Keep sending in ideas for where you want to see ‘Let’s Grow Hilo’ expand. Let us know if you would like to help. Do you know of some financial resources that can be tapped to support this effort? Thank you again for bringing ‘green’ vibrancy to Downtown Hilo!

We also want to extend a special Mahalo to Sam Robinson who is leading the charge!  She has spent countless hours as our little menehune working the land (yes, at night) and teaching our youth.  She has a big heart and continues to surprise us with new plantings every day.

The next ‘Let’s Grow Hilo’ work day is scheduled for Sunday January 29, 2012 at 2:00 pm. Please meet at the East Hawaii Cultural Center.  We will be weeding, picking up trash, and relocating plants.

Please join us ~ you’ll get to meet Sam and others who take pride in beautifying Downtown Hilo’s landscape!