Hawaii residents are well-known for their spirit of community service with many opportunities for people to give back and have a positive effect on our quality of life. Hawaii residents are well-known for their spirit of community service with many
Hawaii residents are well-known for their spirit of community service with many opportunities for people to give back and have a positive effect on our quality of life.
The Hilo Downtown Improvement Association is excited to announce that it is the first recipient in Hilo of an AmeriCorps grant for the Hilo Improvement Program (HIP). The Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS) was created in September 1993 as an independent federal agency headquartered in Washington, D.C., to oversee and administer federally funded national service programs. These programs include AmeriCorps, which is designed to support local, state and national organizations across the country, involving Americans in results-driven community service. Individual AmeriCorps participants, known as team members, put in a predetermined number of volunteer hours over one year.
HIP is currently seeking four quarter-time (450) team members looking to provide community service. Upon completion of their hours, members will earn an educational award, which is administered by the National Service Trust, and paid as a voucher redeemable for current education costs at colleges, universities, other post-secondary institutions, and approved school-to-work programs, or to pay back qualified student loans already incurred. These educational awards can also be gifted to family members, and expire seven years after awarded if not used.
HIP is a community/social capacity building program that aims to assist the Hilo community in meeting its own needs, both on a day-to-day basis, as well as in times of emergency.
“Our goal is that Hilo will experience more community cohesiveness and pride, which may reduce social problems as a greater number of people become engaged in caring for our town,” said HIP program manager Georgia Pinsky. “Through free educational gatherings and beautification days, downtown Hilo will become more than a place to shop, do business or find something good to eat, it will become a destination for interacting and experiencing our community. In times past, young people and seniors came to downtown on the weekends to hang out, much like they do today at the mall. We’re hoping to create an environment where more quality time is spent here.”
There are four components of the program that will offer free workshops, learning sessions, and gatherings to the community based on two successful existing programs already being operated by the DIA, Let’s Grow Hilo and Hilo Hula Days as well as Basic Survival Skills and Disaster Preparedness.
Every Tuesday beginning Nov. 6 will be a free “HIP Day” with anywhere from one to three learning sessions or gatherings happening throughout the day open to the public. On every last Sunday of the month for over a year, Let’s Grow Hilo beautification program currently offers the community the opportunity to get involved as volunteers and help in the gardens around town. Expanding on this, on Tuesday HIP Day sessions may include creating and maintaining Backyard Gardens, Garden to Table concepts, composting, Basic Food Prep and Basic Food Nutritional Combining. Hilo Hula Days is live Hawaiian music and hula in Mooheau Bandstand from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and is based on when a cruise ship calls at the pier, which includes every Tuesday. For HIP this program will expand to include free workshops in cultural activities, such as lauhala weaving, olelo Hawaii (Hawaiian language), hula, lei making, and more. The Basic Life Skills sessions will offer people the chance to learn how to change a tire, on a car or bike, how to dress/behave for a job interview, tips on parenting and childcare, and other related topics. Disaster Preparedness sessions will serve to educate our community about what they can do to prepare for potential disasters, as well as what to do in the event of a disaster.
“In all, AmeriCorp HIP programs and events, local entrepreneurs and practitioners will be called on to share their knowledge and enthusiasm for their skills while simultaneously forging new friendships and connections,” Pinsky said.
By early November, a full schedule of learning sessions and events will be developed into a calendar that will be available on the DIA website — www.downtownhilo.com — and posted in local printed and online publications. For more information on HIP in general, learning sessions or to apply for a team member position, please email georgiadia@gmail.com or hiloimprovementprogram@gmail.com and stay tuned in this column for more details.
DOWNTOWN
EVENTS
Hilo’s biggest and best free block party takes over Kamehameha Avenue and parking lots at the 19th Annual KWXX Hoolaulea from 5-10:30 p.m. on Sept. 29. Three stages with nearly nonstop music, ono food booths, and arts, crafts and gift product vendors offer thousands of people a night on the town thanks to New West Broadcasting and their sponsors. For more info, call 935-5461.
Around Downtown is written by Alice Moon, executive director of the Hilo Downtown Improvement Association. Call Moon at 935-8850 or e-mail askalice@downtownhilo.com to share news about issues, events and activities.
