Around Downtown is written by Alice Moon, executive director of the Hilo Downtown Improvement Association. Call Moon at 935-8850 or email askalice@downtownhilo.com to share news about issues, events and activities. Be sure to visit www.downtownhilo.com and www.ourdowntownhilo.com to keep up and comment on programs, projects and events.
By Alice Moon
The Hilo Downtown Improvement Association held its annual general membership meeting on Jan. 25 to share its annual report and elect new directors.
Outgoing president Ray Robinson reported on the association’s activities and accomplishments in 2011, and executive director Alice Moon gave attendees a look at what’s happening in 2012.
At the meeting, members elected Tom DeWitt, assistant professor of marketing at the University of Hawaii at Hilo; Adrienne Poremba, East Hawaii ad sales manager for Ke Ola Magazine; and Glen Mason, accountant for HELCO, to the board of directors to fill three of four open positions. Two board members resigned in 2011 prior to elections, Valerie Ferrari and Dolly Strazar, and retiring from the board were Robinson and Dennis Taniguchi. Remaining on the board are Jeffrey Melrose, president-elect; Lisa Best, secretary; and Amy Self, Keala Zoll, Reiki Yoshida Hamano, Jeff Harman, Steven Markham and Jennifer Zelko.
During the meeting, Robinson thanked all board members for their service to the downtown community, giving special thanks to those who resigned or retired. He also reported that in 2011, the organization continued to stabilize following the recession, ending the year in the black thanks to good planning and sound fiscal management. Robinson shared highlights of some of the association’s accomplishments including Hilo Hula Days, which was a live Hawaiian music and hula program offered at the Mooheau Bandstand for 94 days that a cruise ship came into town.
Other accomplishments he discussed included the advent of security guards at the bus station along with the ongoing efforts to improve and address public safety and security in downtown, the placement of several projects on the County Capital Improvement Project “wish list,” and the association’s continuing management of the Hilo Information Center at the Mooheau Bus Station.
Moon expanded on his report by offering daily walk-in tally sheet statistics from the information center:
A total of 32,800 people were directly served at the HIC.
7,042 of them were visitors.
2,790 of them sought information for or purchased shared ride taxi coupons.
20,000 of them sought information for or purchased bus tickets.
2,580 of them sought miscellaneous information.
In addition to people served at the information center, Moon tallied up all those participating in projects, programs and events coordinated by the association in 2011 and estimated that conservatively more than 60,000 people were directly served by staff, volunteers and members. Board member and nominating committee chair Steven Markham impressed the crowd by doing some simple math: “If every one of those people spent just an average of $20 each (some spend more, some spend less or nothing), that means the association worked to contribute $1.2 million to the Hilo economy,” he said.
The association’s plans for this year include developing a retail shopping guide highlighting members, an earthquake and tsunami preparedness workshop in partnership with Pacific Tsunami Museum, expansion of “Let’s Grow Hilo!” landscaping efforts, development of a referral network, a social networking workshop, expansion of the association’s website, www.downtownhilo.com, and the production of association’s two signature events, Hilo Chinese New Year Festival and Black & White Night.
“Partnerships will continue to play a key part in the success of the organization,” said Moon, indicating that almost every County department has been and will continue to be involved. ”
Moon wrapped up her report inviting everyone to support and attend the upcoming Hilo Chinese New Year Festival, which will be held this Saturday in downtown Hilo’s Kalakaua Park. The Big Island Shaolin Arts Lion Dancers kick off the event at 10 a.m. with thousands of firecrackers in front of the East Hawaii Cultural Center (Kalakaua Street will be closed from midnight until 4 p.m. that day) and wind around the park offering blessings for the Year of the Dragon. In its 10th year, the festival attracts cultural practitioners demonstrating Feng Shui, I-Ching, Chinese calligraphy and astrology, as well as a food sampling with the Hawaii Community College Culinary Arts Program.
“The park collects thousands of people enjoying the lion dancers and free performances by Kubudo Taiko, Mo Min Kuen Monkey Kung Fu, Peter Tam Hoy’s Tai Chi, and the Keiki Chinese Fashion Show and buying a large variety of Hawaiian and Asian arts, crafts, products and food. Hilo High School Leo’s Club sets up a free keiki activity tent and everyone gathers together as family for this auspicious time, so please join us,” Moon said.
Around Downtown is written by Alice Moon, executive director of the Hilo Downtown Improvement Association. Call Moon at 935-8850 or email askalice@downtownhilo.com to share news about issues, events and activities. Be sure to visit www.downtownhilo.com and www.ourdowntownhilo.com to keep up and comment on programs, projects and events.