Hilo, Hawai'i
Encyclopedia
Hilo is the largest census-designated place
(CDP) and the largest settlement on the Island of Hawaii
, also known as the County of Hawaii
. The population was 40,759 at the 2000 census. The population increased by 6.1% to 43,263 at the 2010 census.
Hilo is the county seat
of the County of Hawaii
and is located in the District of South Hilo. The town overlooks Hilo Bay
, situated upon two shield volcano
es; Mauna Loa
, an active volcano, and Mauna Kea
, a dormant volcano upon which are sited some of the world's most important ground-based astronomical observatories
.
Hilo is home to the University of Hawaii at Hilo
, Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii, as well as the Merrie Monarch Festival
, a week-long celebration of ancient and modern hula which takes place annually after Easter
. Hilo is also home to the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation
, one of the world's leading producers of macadamia nuts. It is served by Hilo International Airport
, located inside the CDP
.
and Wailoa Rivers during the time of ancient Hawaii
.
gained control of Moku O Keawe
(the Hawaiian name for the Island of Hawaii), Kamehameha celebrated the Makahiki
in Hilo in 1794. The village and area of Hilo was named by Kamehameha after a special braid that was used to secure his canoe. Hilo in Hawaiian means to twist.
Kamehameha’s son, Liholiho (Kamehameha II) was born in Hilo (1797). Kamehameha’s great war fleet, Peleleu, that was instrumental in Kamehameha’s conquest, was built and based at Hilo (1796–1801). After uniting all of the islands under his rule, Hilo became Kamehameha’s first seat of government. It was in Hilo that Kamehameha established his greatest law, the Kānāwai Māmalahoe (Law of the Splintered Paddle). One of Kamehameha’s most favorite things to eat was the sweet mullet that came from Hilo’s Wailoa fish pond. Kamehameha is also known to have visited and practiced cultural protocols on Moku Ola
(literally "healing island") in Hilo Bay
.
Originally, the name Hilo applied to a district encompassing much of the east coast of the Island of Hawaii
, now divided into the District of South Hilo and the District of North Hilo. When William Ellis visited in 1823, the main settlement in the Hilo district was Waiākea
on the south shore of Hilo Bay
. Missionaries came to the district in the early-to-middle 19th century, founding Haili Church, in the area of modern Hilo.
Hilo expanded as sugar plantations
in the surrounding area created new jobs and drew in many workers from Asia
, making the town a trading center.
A breakwater across Hilo Bay was begun in the first decade of the 20th century and completed in 1929. On April 1, 1946, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake
near the Aleutian Islands created a fourteen-meter high tsunami
that hit Hilo 4.9 hours later, killing 160 people. In response an early warning system, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
, was established in 1949 to track these killer waves and provide warning. This tsunami also caused the end of the Hawaii Consolidated Railway
, and instead the Hawaii Belt Road was built north of Hilo using some of the old railbed.
On May 23, 1960, another tsunami, caused by a 9.5 magnitude earthquake
off the coast of Chile
the previous day, claimed 61 lives allegedly due to people's failure to heed warning sirens. Low-lying bayfront areas of the city on Waiākea
peninsula and along Hilo Bay, previously populated, were rededicated as parks and memorials.
Hilo expanded inland beginning in the 1960s. The downtown found a new role in the 1980s as the city's cultural center with several galleries and museums being opened; the Palace Theatre
was reopened in 1998 as an arthouse cinema.
Closure of the sugar plantations (including those in Hāmākua
) during the 1990s led to a downturn in the local economy, coinciding with a general statewide slump. Hilo in recent years has seen commercial and population growth as the neighboring District of Puna
became the fastest-growing region in the state.
Hilo is located at 19°42′20"N 155°5′9"W (19.705520, -155.085918).
Hilo is classified by the United States Census Bureau
as a census-designated place
(CDP), and has a total area of 58.4 square miles (151.3 km²), 54.3 square miles (140.6 km²) of which is land and 4.1 square miles (10.6 km²) of which (7.10%) is water.
Hilo features a tropical rainforest climate
(Koppen
Af), with substantial rainfall throughout the course of the year. Hilo's location on the eastern side of the island of Hawaii, (windward
relative to the trade wind
s), makes it the third wettest designated city in the United States behind the southeast Alaskan cities of Ketchikan
and Yakutat
and one of the wettest in the world. An average of around 126.72 inches (3,218.7 mm) of rain fell at Hilo International Airport annually between 1981–2010, with 275 days of the year receiving some rain., which is the most rainy days for any place in the Northern Hemisphere and exceeded only in parts of Aisén and Magallanes in Chile. At some other weather stations in Hilo the annual rainfall is above 200 inches (5,080 mm).
Monthly mean temperatures range from 71.4 °F (21.9 °C) in January to 76.4 °F (24.7 °C) in August. The highest recorded temperature was 94 °F (34 °C) on May 20, 1996, and the lowest 53 °F (12 °C) on February 21, 1962. The wettest year was 1994 with 182.81 inches (4,643.4 mm) and the driest year was 1983 with 68.09 inches (1,729.5 mm). The most rainfall in one month was 50.82 inches (1,290.8 mm) in December 1954. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 27.24 inches (691.9 mm) on November 2, 2000.
Hilo's location on the shore of the funnel-shaped Hilo Bay
also makes it vulnerable to tsunami
s.
of 2010, there were 43,263 people in 15,483 households residing in the census-designated place. The population density
was 796.7 people per square mile (307.7/km²). There were 16,905 housing units at an average density of 311.3 per square mile (120.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 17.61% White, 0.52% African American, 0.31% American Indian & Alaska Native, 34.29% Asian, 14.17% Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races
, and 32.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.40% of the population.
There were 15,483 households out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them. The average household size was 2.79.
In the Hilo CDP the population was spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 11.5% from 25 to 34, 16.9% from 35 to 49, 20.9% from 50 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 males there were 104.7 females.
The median income for a household in the CDP at the 2000 census was $39,139, and the median income in 2000 for a family was $48,150. Males had a median income in 2000 of $36,049 and the median was $27,626 for females in 2000. The per capita income
for the CDP in 2000 was $18,220. About 11.1% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line in 2000, including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.
and Hawaii Community College
, and the Hilo and Waiakea primary and secondary school districts.
", Hilo is not an incorporated city, and does not have a municipal government. The entire island, which is slightly smaller than the state of Connecticut
but larger than Rhode Island
and Delaware
, is under the jurisdiction of the County of Hawaii, of which Hilo is the county seat.
Hilo is home to county, state, and federal offices.
, mostly dedicated to the understanding of the 1946 Pacific Tsunami and notable for the banyan trees planted by Babe Ruth
and Amelia Earhart
and many other famous celebrities. It is also home to the Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo
, several shopping centers, cafes and other eateries, movie theaters, hotels, restaurants, and a developed downtown area also with the Hilo Farmers Market. The Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation
makes their home here as well, south of the main town off Hawaii Route 11, north of Keaau.
, member of the Stephens Media Group
.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) and the largest settlement on the Island of Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
, also known as the County of Hawaii
Hawaii County, Hawaii
Hawaii County is a county located in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Hawaiian Islands. It is coterminous with the Island of Hawaii, often called the "Big Island" to distinguish it from the state as a whole. As of the 2010 Census the population was 185,079. The county seat is Hilo. There are no...
. The population was 40,759 at the 2000 census. The population increased by 6.1% to 43,263 at the 2010 census.
Hilo is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of the County of Hawaii
Hawaii County, Hawaii
Hawaii County is a county located in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Hawaiian Islands. It is coterminous with the Island of Hawaii, often called the "Big Island" to distinguish it from the state as a whole. As of the 2010 Census the population was 185,079. The county seat is Hilo. There are no...
and is located in the District of South Hilo. The town overlooks Hilo Bay
Hilo Bay
Hilo Bay is a large bay located on the eastern coast of the island of Hawaii.-Description:The modern town of Hilo, Hawaii overlooks Hilo Bay, located at ....
, situated upon two shield volcano
Shield volcano
A shield volcano is a type of volcano usually built almost entirely of fluid lava flows. They are named for their large size and low profile, resembling a warrior's shield. This is caused by the highly fluid lava they erupt, which travels farther than lava erupted from more explosive volcanoes...
es; Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa is one of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean, and the largest on Earth in terms of volume and area covered. It is an active shield volcano, with a volume estimated at approximately , although its peak is about lower than that...
, an active volcano, and Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea is a volcano on the island of Hawaii. Standing above sea level, its peak is the highest point in the state of Hawaii. However, much of the mountain is under water; when measured from its oceanic base, Mauna Kea is over tall—significantly taller than Mount Everest...
, a dormant volcano upon which are sited some of the world's most important ground-based astronomical observatories
Mauna Kea Observatory
The Observatories at Mauna Kea, , are an independent collection of astronomical research facilities located on the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawai'i, USA. The facilities are located in a special land use zone known as the "Astronomy Precinct," which is located in the Mauna Kea...
.
Hilo is home to the University of Hawaii at Hilo
University of Hawaii at Hilo
The University of Hawaii at Hilo, UHH, or UH Hilo is one of the ten branches of the University of Hawaii system anchored by the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in Honolulu, Hawaii...
, Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii, as well as the Merrie Monarch Festival
Merrie Monarch Festival
The Merrie Monarch Festival is a week-long cultural festival that takes place annually in Hilo, Hawaii. It honors King David Kalākaua, who was called the "Merrie Monarch" for his patronage of the arts. He is credited with restoring many Hawaiian cultural traditions during his reign, including the...
, a week-long celebration of ancient and modern hula which takes place annually after Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
. Hilo is also home to the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation
Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation
The Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation is the world's largest processor of macadamia nuts. The American company has been a subsidiary of The Hershey Company since 2004. The company takes its name from the volcano Mauna Loa...
, one of the world's leading producers of macadamia nuts. It is served by Hilo International Airport
Hilo International Airport
Hilo International Airport , formerly General Lyman Field, is owned and operated by the Hawaii state Department of Transportation. Located in Hilo, Hawaii County, the airport encompasses and is one of two major airports on Hawaii Island and one of five major airports in the state...
, located inside the CDP
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
.
History
Although archaeological evidence is scant, oral history has many references to people living in Hilo, along the WailukuWailuku River
The Wailuku River is a water course on the Island of Hawaii in the Hawaiian Islands. It is the longest river in Hawai'i and its course lies mostly along the divide between the lava flows of Mauna Kea and those of Mauna Loa to the south. It arises at about the elevation along the eastern slope of...
and Wailoa Rivers during the time of ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii refers to the period of Hawaiian human history preceding the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha the Great in 1810. After being first settled by Polynesian long-distance navigators sometime between AD 300–800, a unique culture developed. Diversified agroforestry and...
.
Kamehameha I
After KamehamehaKamehameha I
Kamehameha I , also known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaii's independence under his rule...
gained control of Moku O Keawe
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
(the Hawaiian name for the Island of Hawaii), Kamehameha celebrated the Makahiki
Makahiki
The Makahiki season was the ancient Hawaiian New Year festival, in honor of the god Lono of the Hawaiian religion.It was a holiday covering four consecutive lunar months, approximately from October or November through February or March. Thus it might be thought of as including the equivalent of...
in Hilo in 1794. The village and area of Hilo was named by Kamehameha after a special braid that was used to secure his canoe. Hilo in Hawaiian means to twist.
Kamehameha’s son, Liholiho (Kamehameha II) was born in Hilo (1797). Kamehameha’s great war fleet, Peleleu, that was instrumental in Kamehameha’s conquest, was built and based at Hilo (1796–1801). After uniting all of the islands under his rule, Hilo became Kamehameha’s first seat of government. It was in Hilo that Kamehameha established his greatest law, the Kānāwai Māmalahoe (Law of the Splintered Paddle). One of Kamehameha’s most favorite things to eat was the sweet mullet that came from Hilo’s Wailoa fish pond. Kamehameha is also known to have visited and practiced cultural protocols on Moku Ola
Coconut Island (Hawaii Island)
Coconut Island, or Moku Ola is a small island in Hilo Bay, just offshore from Liliʻuokalani Gardens, in Hilo, off the island of Hawaiʻi in the state of Hawaii, USA. It is a small park, and is connected to the main island via a footbridge...
(literally "healing island") in Hilo Bay
Hilo Bay
Hilo Bay is a large bay located on the eastern coast of the island of Hawaii.-Description:The modern town of Hilo, Hawaii overlooks Hilo Bay, located at ....
.
Originally, the name Hilo applied to a district encompassing much of the east coast of the Island of Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
, now divided into the District of South Hilo and the District of North Hilo. When William Ellis visited in 1823, the main settlement in the Hilo district was Waiākea
Waiakea
Waiākea is an ancient subdivision in the Hilo District of the Big Island of Hawaii, located in the area of .-Origin:The name comes from wai ākea in the Hawaiian Language meaning "broad waters", and sometimes what is now called Hilo Bay was called Waiākea Bay.Waiākea is home to many and has its own...
on the south shore of Hilo Bay
Hilo Bay
Hilo Bay is a large bay located on the eastern coast of the island of Hawaii.-Description:The modern town of Hilo, Hawaii overlooks Hilo Bay, located at ....
. Missionaries came to the district in the early-to-middle 19th century, founding Haili Church, in the area of modern Hilo.
Hilo expanded as sugar plantations
Sugar plantations in Hawaii
Sugarcane was introduced to Hawaii by its first inhabitants in approximately 600 AD and was observed by Captain Cook upon arrival in the islands in 1778. Sugar quickly turned into a big business and generated rapid population growth in the islands with 337,000 people immigrating over the span of a...
in the surrounding area created new jobs and drew in many workers from Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, making the town a trading center.
A breakwater across Hilo Bay was begun in the first decade of the 20th century and completed in 1929. On April 1, 1946, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake
Aleutian Island earthquake
The 1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake was an earthquake near the Aleutian Islands on April 1, 1946. It was followed by a Pacific-wide tsunami. The earthquake was a magnitude 7.8, with its epicenter at 52.8°N, 163.5°W, and focal depth of 25 km. It resulted in 165 casualties and over $26...
near the Aleutian Islands created a fourteen-meter high tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
that hit Hilo 4.9 hours later, killing 160 people. In response an early warning system, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is one of two tsunami warning centers that are operated by NOAA in the United States. Headquartered in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, the PTWC is part of an international tsunami warning system program and serves as the operational center for TWS of the Pacific issuing...
, was established in 1949 to track these killer waves and provide warning. This tsunami also caused the end of the Hawaii Consolidated Railway
Hawaii Consolidated Railway
The Hawaii Consolidated Railway , originally named the Hilo Railway, was a standard gauge common carrier railroad that served much of the east coast of the island of Hawaii until an important section of the line was destroyed by a tsunami on April 1, 1946.- Origin :Like the Oahu Railway and Land...
, and instead the Hawaii Belt Road was built north of Hilo using some of the old railbed.
On May 23, 1960, another tsunami, caused by a 9.5 magnitude earthquake
Great Chilean Earthquake
The 1960 Valdivia earthquake or Great Chilean Earthquake of Sunday, 22 May 1960 is to date the most powerful earthquake ever recorded on Earth, rating 9.5 on the moment magnitude scale...
off the coast of Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
the previous day, claimed 61 lives allegedly due to people's failure to heed warning sirens. Low-lying bayfront areas of the city on Waiākea
Waiakea
Waiākea is an ancient subdivision in the Hilo District of the Big Island of Hawaii, located in the area of .-Origin:The name comes from wai ākea in the Hawaiian Language meaning "broad waters", and sometimes what is now called Hilo Bay was called Waiākea Bay.Waiākea is home to many and has its own...
peninsula and along Hilo Bay, previously populated, were rededicated as parks and memorials.
Hilo expanded inland beginning in the 1960s. The downtown found a new role in the 1980s as the city's cultural center with several galleries and museums being opened; the Palace Theatre
Palace Theatre, Hilo
The Palace Theatre is a movie theatre in downtown Hilo, Hawai'i in the United States of America. Originally built in 1925, the Palace reopened in 1998 as an arthouse.- External links :*...
was reopened in 1998 as an arthouse cinema.
Closure of the sugar plantations (including those in Hāmākua
Hamakua
thumb|right|280px|Districts of [[Hawaii |Hawaii island]]: from northernmost, clockwise; [[Kohala, Hawaii|Kohala]], Hāmākua , [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]], [[Puna, Hawaii|Puna]], [[Kau, Hawaii|Kaū]], [[Kona District, Hawaii|Kona]]...
) during the 1990s led to a downturn in the local economy, coinciding with a general statewide slump. Hilo in recent years has seen commercial and population growth as the neighboring District of Puna
Puna, Hawaii
Puna is one of the nine districts in Hawaii County, Big Island, Hawaii. The District of Puna is located on the easternmost portion of the island and shares borders to the north with the District of South Hilo and a border to the west with the District of Kaū...
became the fastest-growing region in the state.
Geography and Climate
Hilo is classified by the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
as a census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP), and has a total area of 58.4 square miles (151.3 km²), 54.3 square miles (140.6 km²) of which is land and 4.1 square miles (10.6 km²) of which (7.10%) is water.
Hilo features a tropical rainforest climate
Tropical rainforest climate
A tropical rainforest climate, also known as an equatorial climate, is a tropical climate usually found along the equator...
(Koppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Af), with substantial rainfall throughout the course of the year. Hilo's location on the eastern side of the island of Hawaii, (windward
Windward and leeward
Windward is the direction upwind from the point of reference. Leeward is the direction downwind from the point of reference. The side of a ship that is towards the leeward is its lee side. If the vessel is heeling under the pressure of the wind, this will be the "lower side"...
relative to the trade wind
Trade wind
The trade winds are the prevailing pattern of easterly surface winds found in the tropics, within the lower portion of the Earth's atmosphere, in the lower section of the troposphere near the Earth's equator...
s), makes it the third wettest designated city in the United States behind the southeast Alaskan cities of Ketchikan
Ketchikan, Alaska
Ketchikan is a city in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, United States, the southeasternmost sizable city in that state. With an estimated population of 7,368 in 2010 within the city limits, it is the fifth most populous city in the state....
and Yakutat
Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska
Yakutat City and Borough is a unified city-borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2010 census, the population was 4035. The name is Tlingit, Yaakwdáat, meaning "the place where canoes rest", but it originally derives from an Eyak name diyaʼqudaʼt and was influenced by the Tlingit word...
and one of the wettest in the world. An average of around 126.72 inches (3,218.7 mm) of rain fell at Hilo International Airport annually between 1981–2010, with 275 days of the year receiving some rain., which is the most rainy days for any place in the Northern Hemisphere and exceeded only in parts of Aisén and Magallanes in Chile. At some other weather stations in Hilo the annual rainfall is above 200 inches (5,080 mm).
Monthly mean temperatures range from 71.4 °F (21.9 °C) in January to 76.4 °F (24.7 °C) in August. The highest recorded temperature was 94 °F (34 °C) on May 20, 1996, and the lowest 53 °F (12 °C) on February 21, 1962. The wettest year was 1994 with 182.81 inches (4,643.4 mm) and the driest year was 1983 with 68.09 inches (1,729.5 mm). The most rainfall in one month was 50.82 inches (1,290.8 mm) in December 1954. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 27.24 inches (691.9 mm) on November 2, 2000.
Hilo's location on the shore of the funnel-shaped Hilo Bay
Hilo Bay
Hilo Bay is a large bay located on the eastern coast of the island of Hawaii.-Description:The modern town of Hilo, Hawaii overlooks Hilo Bay, located at ....
also makes it vulnerable to tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
s.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2010, there were 43,263 people in 15,483 households residing in the census-designated place. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 796.7 people per square mile (307.7/km²). There were 16,905 housing units at an average density of 311.3 per square mile (120.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 17.61% White, 0.52% African American, 0.31% American Indian & Alaska Native, 34.29% Asian, 14.17% Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 32.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.40% of the population.
There were 15,483 households out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them. The average household size was 2.79.
In the Hilo CDP the population was spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 11.5% from 25 to 34, 16.9% from 35 to 49, 20.9% from 50 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 males there were 104.7 females.
The median income for a household in the CDP at the 2000 census was $39,139, and the median income in 2000 for a family was $48,150. Males had a median income in 2000 of $36,049 and the median was $27,626 for females in 2000. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP in 2000 was $18,220. About 11.1% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line in 2000, including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.
Air
- Hilo is served by the Hilo International AirportHilo International AirportHilo International Airport , formerly General Lyman Field, is owned and operated by the Hawaii state Department of Transportation. Located in Hilo, Hawaii County, the airport encompasses and is one of two major airports on Hawaii Island and one of five major airports in the state...
, which has Go! MokuleleGo! Mokulelego! Mokulele is an American business marketing inter-island flights within the state of Hawaii. The business is a joint venture of Mesa Air Group and Republic Airways Holdings, created in October 2009 when the companies merged their competing airline business subsidiaries, go! and Mokulele...
, Hawaiian AirlinesHawaiian AirlinesHawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a major airline of the United States. It is the largest airline based in the State of Hawai'i, and is the 11th largest commercial airline in the country. Based in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, the airline operates its main hub at Honolulu International...
, and Continental AirlinesContinental AirlinesContinental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
operating there.
Bus
- Hilo is served by the Hele-On BusHele-On BusThe Hele-On Bus, officially known as the Hawaii County Mass Transit Agency, is the primary provider of mass transportation in Hawaii County, Hawaii....
, which as of July 1, 2011 there is a $1 per ride fee for all residents except students and senior citizens.
Education
Hilo is home to a number of educational institutions, including two post-secondary institutions, the University of Hawaii at HiloUniversity of Hawaii at Hilo
The University of Hawaii at Hilo, UHH, or UH Hilo is one of the ten branches of the University of Hawaii system anchored by the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in Honolulu, Hawaii...
and Hawaii Community College
Hawaii Community College
Hawaii Community College is a public, co-educational commuter college in Hilo, Hawaii on the Island of Hawaii. It is one of ten branches of the University of Hawaii system anchored by the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in Honolulu and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and...
, and the Hilo and Waiakea primary and secondary school districts.
Government
Although sometimes called a "cityCity
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
", Hilo is not an incorporated city, and does not have a municipal government. The entire island, which is slightly smaller than the state of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
but larger than Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
and Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, is under the jurisdiction of the County of Hawaii, of which Hilo is the county seat.
Hilo is home to county, state, and federal offices.
Business
Being the oldest city in the Hawaiian archipelago, Hilo has a significant tourism section. Hilo is home to Hawaii's only tsunami museumPacific Tsunami Museum
Pacific Tsunami Museum is a museum in Hilo, Hawaii dedicated to the history of the April 1, 1946 Pacific tsunami and the May 23, 1960 Chilean tsunami which devastated much of the east coast of the Big Island, especially Hilo. The museum also has a mission to educate people in general about...
, mostly dedicated to the understanding of the 1946 Pacific Tsunami and notable for the banyan trees planted by Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
and Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
and many other famous celebrities. It is also home to the Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo
Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo
Panaewa Rainforest Zoo is located in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii. This small zoo is the only one in the United States located in a rainforest...
, several shopping centers, cafes and other eateries, movie theaters, hotels, restaurants, and a developed downtown area also with the Hilo Farmers Market. The Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation
Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation
The Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation is the world's largest processor of macadamia nuts. The American company has been a subsidiary of The Hershey Company since 2004. The company takes its name from the volcano Mauna Loa...
makes their home here as well, south of the main town off Hawaii Route 11, north of Keaau.
Culture
- East Hawaii Cultural CenterEast Hawaii Cultural CenterThe East Hawaii Cultural Center is a cultural center in Hilo, Hawaii, that has regular art exhibits and holds workshops and classes...
- Lyman House Memorial MuseumLyman House Memorial MuseumThe Lyman House Memorial Museum, also known as the Lyman Museum, is a Hilo, Hawaii-based natural history museum founded in 1931 in the Lyman family mission house, originally built in 1838.-The mission:...
- Merrie Monarch FestivalMerrie Monarch FestivalThe Merrie Monarch Festival is a week-long cultural festival that takes place annually in Hilo, Hawaii. It honors King David Kalākaua, who was called the "Merrie Monarch" for his patronage of the arts. He is credited with restoring many Hawaiian cultural traditions during his reign, including the...
- Pacific Tsunami MuseumPacific Tsunami MuseumPacific Tsunami Museum is a museum in Hilo, Hawaii dedicated to the history of the April 1, 1946 Pacific tsunami and the May 23, 1960 Chilean tsunami which devastated much of the east coast of the Big Island, especially Hilo. The museum also has a mission to educate people in general about...
Notable natives and residents
- Rodney Anoa'iRodney Anoa'iRodney Agatupu Anoa'i was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation where he wrestled under the ring name Yokozuna. The term yokozuna refers to the highest rank in professional sumo wrestling in Japan...
- Keiko BonkKeiko BonkKeiko Cecilia Bonk is a Hawaiin American activist, artist, musician and politician.-Life:Born July 13, 1954 in Honolulu, her mother was Fumie Matsuoka and father was William Bonk, an archeologist who died in 2008...
- Ed CaseEd CaseEdward Espenett "Ed" Case is a Democratic politician and a former member of the United States House of Representatives. Case, a Blue Dog Democrat, first came to prominence in Hawaii as majority leader of the Hawaii State Legislature and for his campaign for Governor of Hawaii in 2002...
- Titus CoanTitus CoanTitus Coan was an early American Christian Missionary to the Hawaiian Islands.-Early life and family:Titus Coan was born on February 1, 1801 in Killingworth, Connecticut, the son of Gaylord Coan and Tamza Nettleton. In June, 1831, he entered the Auburn Theological Seminary in Auburn, New York, and...
- Wesley CorreiraWesley CorreiraWesley "Cabbage" Correira is an American mixed martial artist. He trains with BJ Penn in Hilo, Hawaii at BJ Penn MMA.-Biography:...
- David McHattie ForbesDavid McHattie ForbesDavid McHattie Forbes was a Scottish botanist, ethnologist, explorer on the island of Hawai'i. He practiced forestry, agronomy, and horticulture and served as the first district forester of South Kohala in 1905, and twenty years later was appointed a judge in Waimea...
- Harry KimHarry Kim (politician)Harry Kim is a former mayor of Hawaii County, Hawaii. Hawaii County is the government of Hawaii island, known as the Big Island. He was elected in 2000, and served until 2008.- Life :...
- High Chiefess KapiolaniChiefess KapiolaniHigh Chiefess Kapiolani was an important member of the Hawaiian nobility at the time of the founding of the Kingdom of Hawaii and the arrival of Christian missionaries...
- Alii Nui Keōua KuahuulaKeoua KuahuulaKeōua Kuahuula was an Alii during the time of the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii.His name means Keōua of the "red altar"....
- High Chiefess Kinoole o lilihaKinooleolilihaKinooleoliliha Pitman née Hoolulu , also written as Kinoole-o-Liliha, was a member of the royal family during the Kingdom of Hawaii. She was known as Mrs. Pitman after her marriage. In the Hawaiian language, kino 'ole means "thin" and liliha can mean "heartsick".-Life:Her father was High Chief...
- Robert KiyosakiRobert KiyosakiRobert Toru Kiyosaki, born April 8, 1947) is an American investor, businessman, self-help author and motivational speaker. Kiyosaki is best known for his Rich Dad Poor Dad series of motivational books and other material published under the Rich Dad brand. He has written 15 books which have combined...
- George LycurgusGeorge LycurgusGeorge Lycurgus was a Greek American businessman who played an influential role in the early tourist industry of Hawaii. He ran afoul of the government of the Republic of Hawaii and was accused of treason...
- Troy MandalonizTroy MandalonizTroy Mandaloniz is an Filipino-American mixed martial artist and referee. He was a fighter on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra, who fought on Team Serra, as well as a referee on the Hawaiian Rumble on the Rock promotion. Madaloniz is a childhood friend of B.J. Penn and trains with...
- Gerald OkamuraGerald OkamuraGerald Okamura is an American theatrical martial artist.Gerald started martial arts with judo in 1953. He has practiced kendo, aikido, taekwondo, and he is currently a 5th degree black belt in Kung Fu San Soo...
- BJ Penn
- Benjamin PitmanBenjamin Pitman (Hawaii)Benjamin Pitman, , was an American businessman who married Hawaiian nobility.-Life:Benjamin Pitman born October 12, 1815 in Salem, Massachusetts....
- Bob ShaneBob ShaneBob Shane is an American singer and guitarist and, with Nick Reynolds' passing in October 2008, the only surviving founding member of The Kingston Trio. In that capacity, Shane became a seminal figure in the revival of folk and other acoustic music as a popular art form in the U.S...
- William Herbert ShipmanWilliam Herbert ShipmanWilliam Herbert Shipman was a wealthy businessman on the island of Hawaii. One estate of his family was used to preserve an endangered species of Hawaiian Goose. A historic house associated with his family for over a hundred years is called the W. H. Shipman House in Hilo, Hawaii...
Points of interest
- Banyan DriveBanyan DriveBanyan Drive is a tree-lined street at the shoreline of Hilo, Hawaii, coordinates . It is known as the "Hilo Walk of Fame" for the banyan trees planted by celebrities....
- Coconut IslandCoconut Island (Hawaii Island)Coconut Island, or Moku Ola is a small island in Hilo Bay, just offshore from Liliʻuokalani Gardens, in Hilo, off the island of Hawaiʻi in the state of Hawaii, USA. It is a small park, and is connected to the main island via a footbridge...
- East Hawaii Cultural CenterEast Hawaii Cultural CenterThe East Hawaii Cultural Center is a cultural center in Hilo, Hawaii, that has regular art exhibits and holds workshops and classes...
- Haili Church
- Hilo Tropical GardensHilo Tropical GardensHilo Tropical Gardens , located at 1477 Kalanianaole Avenue, Hilo, Hawaii , Hawaii is a guest house for a wide range of budget travelers.The gardens were established in 1948 by En Loy Kong on land previously owned by one of Hawaii's princesses...
- Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii
- Kalakaua ParkKalakaua ParkKalākaua Park is the central "town square" of the city of Hilo, Hawaii. It is surrounded by historic buildings and includes a war memorial.-History:...
- Liliuokalani Park and GardensLiliuokalani Park and GardensLiliuokalani Park and Gardens is a park with Japanese gardens, located on Banyan Drive in Hilo on the island of Hawaii.The park's site was given by Queen Liliuokalani, and lies southeast of downtown Hilo, on the Waiakea Peninsula in Hilo Bay. Much of the park now consists of Edo-style Japanese...
- Lyman Museum
- Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut CorporationMauna Loa Macadamia Nut CorporationThe Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation is the world's largest processor of macadamia nuts. The American company has been a subsidiary of The Hershey Company since 2004. The company takes its name from the volcano Mauna Loa...
- Mokupāpapa Discovery Center for Northwestern Hawaii's remote coral reefs
- Nani Mau GardensNani Mau GardensNani Mau Gardens are commercial botanical gardens located at 421 Makalika Street, Hilo, Hawaii on the island of Hawaii, coordinates . They are open daily, and an admission fee is charged. The gardens' name, Nani Mau, means "forever beautiful"...
- Naha Stone (associated with Kamehameha IKamehameha IKamehameha I , also known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaii's independence under his rule...
) in front of the Hilo Public Library - Onomea Bay Scenic Drive
- Pacific Tsunami MuseumPacific Tsunami MuseumPacific Tsunami Museum is a museum in Hilo, Hawaii dedicated to the history of the April 1, 1946 Pacific tsunami and the May 23, 1960 Chilean tsunami which devastated much of the east coast of the Big Island, especially Hilo. The museum also has a mission to educate people in general about...
- Pana'ewa Rainforest ZooPana'ewa Rainforest ZooPanaewa Rainforest Zoo is located in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii. This small zoo is the only one in the United States located in a rainforest...
- Prince Kuhio PlazaPrince Kuhio PlazaPrince Kūhiō Plaza is a shopping center in Hilo, Hawaii. With approximately 80 tenants, it is the largest enclosed mall on the Island of Hawaii. Prince Kūhiō Plaza, along with Waiākea Centre located across the street, forms the core retail area of Hilo and its suburbs. Prince Kūhiō Plaza is owned...
- Rainbow FallsRainbow Falls (Hawaii)Rainbow Falls is a waterfall located in Hilo, Hawaii. It is tall and almost in diameter.At Rainbow Falls, the Wailuku River rushes into a large pool below. The gorge is blanketed by lush, dense tropical foliage and the turquoise colored pool is bordered by beautiful wild ginger...
(Waianuenue) & Boiling Pots on the Wailuku RiverWailuku RiverThe Wailuku River is a water course on the Island of Hawaii in the Hawaiian Islands. It is the longest river in Hawai'i and its course lies mostly along the divide between the lava flows of Mauna Kea and those of Mauna Loa to the south. It arises at about the elevation along the eastern slope of... - University of Hawaii at Hilo Botanical GardensUniversity of Hawaii at Hilo Botanical GardensThe University of Hawaii at Hilo Botanical Gardens are botanical gardens on the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus, located at 200 West Kawili Street, Hilo, Hawaii on the island of Hawaii. They are open daily without charge....
- Wailoa River State Recreation AreaWailoa River State Recreation AreaThe Wailoa River State Recreation Area is a park in Hilo, on Hawaii Island in the US state of Hawaii.-Description:The name wai loa literally means ""long water" in the Hawaiian language.It is located at , between downtown Hilo, Hawaii and Hilo Bay....
with King Kamehameha StatueKamehameha StatueSeveral Kamehameha Statues honor the monarch who founded the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Gould's work:One stands prominently in front of Aliiolani Hale in Honolulu, Hawaii. The statue had its origins in 1878 when Walter M. Gibson, a member of the Hawaiian government at the time, wanted to commemorate the...
Media
Hilo is served by the Hawaii Tribune-HeraldHawaii Tribune-Herald
Hawaii Tribune-Herald is a newspaper that is owned and published daily in Hilo, Hawaii by Stephens Media LLC.-History:Hawaii Tribune-Herald resulted from several mergers of Hilo-area newspapers...
, member of the Stephens Media Group
Stephens Media (newspapers)
Stephens Media LLC is a Las Vegas, Nevada diversified media holding company that publishes over 11 daily and 64 weekly newspapers in 9 states, primarily in Nevada and Arkansas....
.