Work on the Hilo Bayfront Trails continues despite an unexpected setback in the grant cycle that caused organizers to shift priorities.
Work on the Hilo Bayfront Trails continues despite an unexpected setback in the grant cycle that caused organizers to shift priorities.
The first phase of the project began last October and created a new multiuse path from Mooheau Bandstand to Banyan Drive, as well as a path connecting the soccer fields off Kamehameha Avenue with Pauahi Street.
The second phase was intended to extend toward Wailoa River State Recreation Area, but when organizers went to apply for grant funding they learned only the state parks division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources could do so, since it is the agency in charge of the land.
The Hilo Bayfront Trails group now is applying for grant funding for a different segment of the master trails plan in order to keep momentum going, said Roy Takemoto, executive assistant for Mayor Harry Kim.
“The idea is to do another segment along the Waiolama Canal so that walkers could loop back around the (soccer field) parking lot and restroom area,” he said.
A second segment would connect the parking lot area with downtown Hilo, most likely by linking through the Ben Franklin Crafts parking lot.
“The priority was the state park area, but because we couldn’t do that we decided to do this segment,” Takemoto said. “Anything that encourages physical activity and connects to downtown — that’s the whole objective here.”
The master plan for the trails project includes about 6 miles of trail connecting 700 acres of land throughout Hilo.
Hawaii County is working in partnership with the nonprofit Hilo Bayfront Trails group.
Takemoto said the group should find out if it receives the necessary grant, provided by the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, by June.
The total cost for the next phase of the trails project is about $220,000. Half would come from the grant with the remaining balance split between private contributions to the nonprofit group and the county.
Takemoto said the private contributions could be in-kind volunteer work or in monetary donations.
The state parks office does not have an exact start date for its work at Wailoa River, but a spokeswoman for the department said early 2018 was a likely estimate. The trails will be part of a capital improvement project.
“Then, together with what has been done so far with the county and the partnership with the trails group, Hilo Bayfront would be really nice on the makai and the mauka side,” Takemoto said. “And then it already connects with beautiful Banyan Drive.”
Trails projects also are in the works in Waimea and Kailua-Kona. The Waimea initiative has been some 15 years in the making as it involved land acquisition. The Hilo project is all on state land.
“The design for their Phase One has been done, and we are in the process now of identifying construction funding,” Takemoto said. The path itself has already been cut thanks to community volunteers.
“The construction will just put down concrete,” Takemoto said.
For more information, visit www.hilobayfronttrails.org.
Email Ivy Ashe at iashe@hawaiitribune-herald.com.