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Hilo, Hawaii

Hilo /ˈhl/ (Hawaiian pronunciation: [ˈhilo]) is the largest settlement in Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States,[1] which encompasses the Island of Hawaii, and is a census-designated place (CDP). The population was 44,186 according to the 2020 census.[2] It is the fourth-largest settlement in the state of Hawaii and largest settlement in the state outside of Oahu.

Hilo, Hawaii
Location within Hawaii County and Hawaii
Hilo
Hilo
Coordinates: 19°42′20″N 155°5′9″W / 19.70556°N 155.08583°W / 19.70556; -155.08583
CountryUnited States
StateHawaii
CountyHawaii
Government
 • MayorMitch Roth
Area
 • Total58.3 sq mi (151.0 km2)
 • Land53.4 sq mi (138.3 km2)
 • Water4.9 sq mi (12.7 km2)
Elevation20 ft (6 m)
Population
 • Total44,186
 • Density760/sq mi (290/km2)
Time zoneUTC−10 (Hawaii-Aleutian)
ZIP Code
96720-96721
Area code808
FIPS code15-14650
GNIS ID359187[1]

Hilo is the county seat of the County of Hawaiʻi and is in the District of South Hilo.[3] The city overlooks Hilo Bay and has views of two shield volcanoes, Mauna Loa, an active volcano, and Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano. The Hilo bay-front has been destroyed by tsunamis twice. The majority of human settlement in Hilo stretches from Hilo Bay to Waiākea-Uka, on the flanks of the volcanoes.

Hilo is home to the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, as well as the Merrie Monarch Festival, a week-long celebration, including three nights of competition, of ancient and modern hula that 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. Hilo is served by Hilo International Airport.[4]

History edit

Around 1100 AD, the first Hilo inhabitants arrived, bringing with them Polynesian knowledge and traditions. Although archaeological evidence is scant, oral history has many references to people living in Hilo, along the Wailuku and Wailoa rivers during the time of ancient Hawaii.[5] Oral history gives the meaning of Hilo as "to twist".[6]

Originally, the name "Hilo" applied to a district encompassing much of the east coast of the island of Hawaiʻi, now divided into the District of South Hilo and the District of North Hilo. When William Ellis visited in 1823, the main settlement there was Waiākea on the south shore of Hilo Bay.[7] Missionaries came to the district in the early-to-middle 19th century, founding Haili Church.

Hilo expanded as sugar plantations in the surrounding area created jobs and drew in many workers from Asia. For example, by 1887, 26,000 Chinese workers worked in Hawai'i's sugar cane plantations,[8] one of which was the Hilo Sugar Mill. At that time, the Hilo Sugar Mill produced 3,500 tons of sugar annually.[9]

 
Hilo, Hawaii, 1907

A breakwater across Hilo Bay was begun in the first decade of the 20th century and completed in 1929. On April 1, 1946, an 8.6-magnitude earthquake near the Aleutian Islands created a 46-foot-high (14 m) tsunami that hit Hilo 4.9 hours later, killing 159 total in the islands,[10] with 96 deaths in Hilo alone. 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.[11]

On May 22, 1960, another tsunami, caused by a 9.5-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Chile that day, claimed 61 lives,[12] allegedly due to the failure of people 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 opening; the Palace Theater reopened in 1998 as an arthouse cinema.

Closure of the sugar plantations (including those in Hāmākua) during the 1990s hurt the local economy, coinciding with a general statewide slump.[13] Hilo in recent years has seen commercial and population growth.[14]

Geography edit

Hilo is on the eastern and windward side of the island.[15] It is classified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place (CDP), and has a total area of 58.3 square miles (151.0 km2), 53.4 square miles (138.3 km2) of which is land and 4.9 square miles (12.7 km2) of which (8.4%) is water.[16]

Climate edit

Hilo has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen: Af), with substantial rainfall throughout the year. Its location on the windward coast (relative to the trade winds), makes it the fourth-wettest city in the United States, behind the southeast Alaskan cities of Whittier, Ketchikan and Yakutat, and one of the wettest in the world. An average of around 126.72 inches (3,220 mm) of rain fell at Hilo International Airport annually between 1981 and 2010, with 272 days of the year receiving some rain.[17] Rainfall in Hilo varies with altitude, with more at higher elevations. At some weather stations in upper Hilo the annual rainfall is above 200 inches (5,100 mm).[18]

Monthly mean temperatures range from 71.2 °F (21.8 °C) in February to 76.4 °F (24.7 °C) in August.[17] The highest recorded temperature was 94 °F (34 °C) on May 20, 1996, and the lowest 53 °F (12 °C) on February 21, 1962.[19] The wettest year was 1994 with 182.81 inches (4,643.4 mm), and the driest 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.[20]

Hilo's location on the shore of the funnel-shaped Hilo Bay also makes it vulnerable to tsunamis.[21]

Climate data for Hilo International Airport, Hawaii (1991–2020 normals,[a] extremes 1949–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 92
(33)
92
(33)
93
(34)
89
(32)
94
(34)
90
(32)
93
(34)
93
(34)
93
(34)
91
(33)
94
(34)
93
(34)
94
(34)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 85.2
(29.6)
84.8
(29.3)
85.0
(29.4)
84.1
(28.9)
85.4
(29.7)
85.7
(29.8)
87.1
(30.6)
87.2
(30.7)
87.7
(30.9)
87.4
(30.8)
85.9
(29.9)
84.2
(29.0)
89.6
(32.0)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 78.7
(25.9)
78.4
(25.8)
78.5
(25.8)
79.0
(26.1)
80.7
(27.1)
81.8
(27.7)
82.8
(28.2)
82.9
(28.3)
83.3
(28.5)
82.4
(28.0)
80.3
(26.8)
78.8
(26.0)
80.6
(27.0)
Daily mean °F (°C) 71.4
(21.9)
71.2
(21.8)
71.9
(22.2)
72.5
(22.5)
74.0
(23.3)
75.2
(24.0)
76.3
(24.6)
76.6
(24.8)
76.5
(24.7)
75.7
(24.3)
74.0
(23.3)
72.2
(22.3)
74.0
(23.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 64.1
(17.8)
64.1
(17.8)
65.2
(18.4)
66.1
(18.9)
67.3
(19.6)
68.7
(20.4)
69.9
(21.1)
70.4
(21.3)
69.8
(21.0)
69.0
(20.6)
67.6
(19.8)
65.7
(18.7)
67.3
(19.6)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 59.3
(15.2)
59.1
(15.1)
61.1
(16.2)
62.4
(16.9)
63.6
(17.6)
65.2
(18.4)
66.1
(18.9)
66.7
(19.3)
66.1
(18.9)
65.2
(18.4)
63.4
(17.4)
61.3
(16.3)
58.2
(14.6)
Record low °F (°C) 54
(12)
53
(12)
54
(12)
58
(14)
59
(15)
61
(16)
62
(17)
63
(17)
61
(16)
62
(17)
58
(14)
55
(13)
53
(12)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 7.86
(200)
10.22
(260)
12.68
(322)
9.40
(239)
6.99
(178)
7.30
(185)
9.24
(235)
11.30
(287)
8.70
(221)
10.24
(260)
14.39
(366)
12.07
(307)
120.39
(3,058)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 15.7 16.6 21.8 24.5 22.9 25.4 26.6 27.2 23.3 23.4 23.3 22.3 273.0
Average relative humidity (%) 76.6 76.0 78.1 80.2 78.9 77.4 79.5 79.5 79.2 80.0 80.3 78.7 78.7
Average dew point °F (°C) 62.8
(17.1)
62.4
(16.9)
63.7
(17.6)
65.1
(18.4)
66.0
(18.9)
66.7
(19.3)
68.2
(20.1)
68.5
(20.3)
68.4
(20.2)
68.0
(20.0)
66.6
(19.2)
64.2
(17.9)
65.9
(18.8)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 161.0 152.0 152.7 135.9 155.0 176.9 167.2 174.9 161.5 136.3 115.0 129.0 1,817.4
Percent possible sunshine 47 47 41 36 38 44 41 44 44 38 34 38 41
Source: NOAA (relative humidity, dew points and sun 1961−1990)[19][17][22]

See or edit raw graph data.

Note edit

  1. ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
19106,745
192010,43154.6%
193019,46886.6%
194023,35320.0%
195027,19816.5%
196025,966−4.5%
197026,3531.5%
198035,26933.8%
199037,8087.2%
200040,7597.8%
201043,2636.1%
202044,1862.1%
source:[23][24]

As of the census of 2020, 44,186 people lived in 16,225 households in the census-designated place.[25] The population density was 796.7 inhabitants per square mile (307.6/km2). The 16,905 housing units reflected an average density of 311.3 per square mile (120.2/km2) in 2010 (No update on the Census for 2020).

The racial makeup was 32% Asian, 18.4% White, 10% Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander, 0.8% African American, 0.1% American Indian & Alaska Native, 0.6% from other races, and 38.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13% of the population.[23]

21.1% of the households had children under the age of 18 living with them. The average household size was 2.71.[23]

The age distribution was 21.1% under age 18, 4.5% under age 5, and 21.10% 65 or older. The percent of females are 51.1%.[23]

The median household income on the 2020 census was $70,356, and the per capita income was $34,678. 16.1% of the population is under the poverty line. [2]

Transport edit

 
Pride of America docked at Hilo Harbor; Hilo International Airport runway is visible in the background

Air edit

Hilo is served by Hilo International Airport, where Hawaiian Airlines, and Southwest Airlines operate.

Bus edit

Hilo is served by the county Hele-On Bus.[26]

Maritime edit

Hilo is served by the Big Island's largest harbor, Hilo Harbor, which is on Hilo Bay.[27]

Education edit

Hilo is home to a number of educational institutions, including two post-secondary institutions, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College, and the Hilo and Waiakea primary and secondary school districts. Charter schools in the area serve primary and secondary students.

Government edit

Although sometimes called a city, Hilo is not an incorporated city, and does not have a municipal government. The entire island, which is between the slightly larger state of Connecticut and smaller Rhode Island in size, is under the jurisdiction of the County of Hawaiʻi, of which Hilo is the county seat.

Hilo is home to county, state, and federal offices.

Economy edit

Parks and attractions near Hilo Bay and downtown Hilo, Hawaii
 
  •  Points of interest 
  •  Parks and open spaces 
  •  Transportation 

1
Lyman House Memorial Museum
2
Haili Church
3
Kalākaua Park / East Hawaii Cultural Center
4
Pacific Tsunami Museum
5
Moʻoheau County Park (Hele-On Bus Terminal) / S. Hata Building / Mokupāpapa Discovery Center
6
Russell Carroll Soccer Fields
7
Aupuni Center / County of Hawaiʻi offices
8
Hilo Bayfront Beach Park
9
Wailoa River State Recreation Area / Waiākea Pond
10
Coconut Island / Moku Ola
11
Queen Liliʻuokalani Park and Gardens / Banyan Drive
12
Grand Naniloa Hotel / Naniloa Golf Course
13
Reed's Bay Beach Park
14
Hoʻolulu Complex (Merrie Monarch Festival site): Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium · Aunty Sally Kaleohano's Luʻau Hale · Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium · 'Sparky' Kawamoto Swim Stadium · Walter Victor Baseball Complex · Francis Wong Stadium
15
Hilo Harbor
16
Hilo International Airport

The oldest city in the Hawaiian archipelago, Hilo's economy was historically based on the sugar plantations of its surrounding areas, prior to their closure in the 1990s.[13]

Tourism and events edit

While Hilo has a fairly significant tourism sector,[28] it gets less than half the annual visitors as the western coast of the Big Island, which has much sunnier weather and significantly less rain, with sandy and swimmable beaches and numerous major resorts.[13]

A main source of tourism in Hilo is the annual week-long Merrie Monarch Festival, the world's preeminent hula competition and festival, which brings in visitors and participants from all over the world.[28] It is held in the spring of each year beginning on Easter Sunday.

The local orchid society hosts the largest and most comprehensive orchid show in the state, the annual Hilo Orchid Show, which has been presented since 1951 and draws visitors and entrants worldwide.[29][30][31]

Hilo is home to Hawaii's only tsunami museum, mostly dedicated to the 1946 Pacific tsunami, and is notable for the banyan trees planted by Babe Ruth, Amelia Earhart and other celebrities. It is home to the Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo, shopping centers, cafés and other eateries, movie theaters, hotels, restaurants, and a developed downtown area with a Farmers Market.[13] Downtown Hilo is bounded approximately by the Wailuku River, Kamehameha Avenue, Ponahawai Street, and Kapiolani Street.[32]

Corporations and science edit

The Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation is in Hilo, south of the main town off Hawaii Route 11, north of Keaʻau.

Hilo is home to most of the astronomical observatories on Mauna Kea as well as the ʻImiloa Planetarium and Museum. Astronomy has an economic impact of $100 million annually on the island.[33] Astronomy on Mauna Kea was developed at the invitation of the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce following the collapse of the sugar cane industry.[34]

Culture edit

Notable residents edit

Points of interest edit

Media edit

Hilo is served by KWXX (94.7FM Hilo/101.5FM Kona), B93/B97 (93.1FM Kona/97.1FM Hilo), The Wave (KHBC 92.7FM Hilo), and KPUA (970AM Hilo) radio stations.

Public Access television is provided through Nā Leo TV.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald, of Oahu Publications Inc., a subsidiary of Black Press,[36] is Hilo's primary newspaper distribution company along with other newspapers like the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Sister cities edit

Legacy edit

Asteroid (342431) Hilo is named after Hilo.[37]

Hilo District edit

 
(3) North Hilo and (2) South Hilo Districts are located in the east coast of Hawaii County (the Big Island). They are bordered by Hamakua District (4) in the north, and by Kau District (9) in the south and Puna District (1) in the southeast. The far inland areas are largely unpopulated, being forest reserves on the slopes of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.

Hilo also referred to the District of Hilo when the Big Island was divided into six districts by the traditional moku land division. Hilo is now divided in two: North and South Hilo Districts.[38]

North Hilo District edit

The District of North Hilo, along Hawaii State Highway 19 from north to south, encompasses the following unincorporated towns and localities:

There are locations inland along State Highway 200 including Mauna Kea mountain road, Puu Huluhulu, and others.

South Hilo District edit

In the District of South Hilo, along State Highway 19, are the following unincorporated towns and localities:

Along State Highway 11 are:

There are other locations. Along State Highway 200 and its extension are:

There are other locations.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Hilo, Hawaii", Geographic Names Information System, United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior
  2. ^ a b c "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Hilo CDP, Hawaii". Census.gov. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  3. ^ . National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ^ "Hilo CDP, Hawaii 2011-11-24 at the Wayback Machine." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 21, 2009.
  5. ^ Lloyd J. Soehren (2010). "lookup of Hilo ". in Hawaiian Place Names. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  6. ^ Hapai, Charlotte (1920-01-01). Legends of the Wailuku: as told by old Hawaiians. Honolulu, The Charles R. Frazier company. from the original on 2017-07-05. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
  7. ^ Ellis, W. A Narrative of an 1823 Tour through Hawai'i, republished 2004, Mutual Publishing, Honolulu ISBN 1-56647-605-4, chapters 11 and 12
  8. ^ "Hawaii". Immigration to the United States. from the original on 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  9. ^ Laitinen, Denise (2013-09-18). "Then & Now: Hilo Sugar Mill/Wainaku Center". Ke Ola Magazine. from the original on 2019-11-14. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  10. ^ Fisher, S., Goff, J., Cundy, A. et al. (July 12, 2023). "A qualitative review of tsunamis in Hawaiʻi". Natural Hazards. Springer.
  11. ^ Johnston, Jeanne Branch (2003). Personal Accounts from Survivors of the Hilo Tsunamis of 1946 and 1960: Toward a Disaster Communications Model (M.A.). University of Hawaii at Manoa. hdl:10125/7104.
  12. ^ Gates, Alexander E.; Ritchie, David (2006). Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 9780816072705.
  13. ^ a b c d "Hello, Hilo". The Washington Post. 2004-05-23. from the original on 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  14. ^ Lauer, Nancy Cook (December 22, 2019). "Hawaii Island leads state in population growth, despite some towns seeing declines". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  15. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  16. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Hilo CDP, Hawaii". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 24, 2017.[dead link]
  17. ^ a b c . U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 2023-06-18. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  18. ^ Hilo, Hawaiʻi information 2009-01-15 at the Wayback Machine on NOAA web site
  19. ^ a b "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  20. ^ Record 24-hour rainfall 2009-05-09 at the Wayback Machine on NOAA web site
  21. ^ . Frequently Asked Questions. The Pacific Tsunami Museum web site. Archived from the original on 2009-05-28. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  22. ^ . National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 2023-06-18. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  23. ^ a b c d "US Census Bureau – 2010 Population Finder – Hilo CDP -". from the original on 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  24. ^ "Census of Population And Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
  25. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Hilo CDP, Hawaii". Census.gov. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  26. ^ "Hawai'i Island Hele-On Bus". County of Hawai'i Mass Transit Agency. from the original on 2009-05-03. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  27. ^ "Hilo Harbor (Harbor Division, Hawaii Department of Transportation)" (PDF). (PDF) from the original on 2017-01-07. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  28. ^ a b Yamanaka, Katie Young. "Hilo: The Hub of Natural Wonders". Hawaii.com. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  29. ^ Richard, Crystal (5 June 2017). "Jewels of the jungle sparkle at Hilo Orchid Show". Arts & Entertainment. Big Island Now. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  30. ^ largest and most comprehensive in the state
  31. ^ "63rd Annual Hilo Orchid Society Show and Sale".
  32. ^ "Walking Tour". Hilo Downtown Improvement Association. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  33. ^ "Hawaii's astronomy sector brought an economic impact of $168 million in 2012". bizjournals.com. from the original on 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  34. ^ "Origins of astronomy in Hawaii » Malama Mauna Kea Library Catalog". malamamaunakea.org. from the original on 2018-04-16. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  35. ^ "Education – Discovery Center". Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument web site. NOAA. from the original on 2009-10-18. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
  36. ^ "Hawaii Tribune-Herald". official web site. Black Press. from the original on 2009-09-06. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
  37. ^ "HORIZONS System". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. from the original on 2019-06-24. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
  38. ^ James A. Bier, Cartographer, Map of Hawai'i, the Big Island, Eighth Edition (University of Hawai'i Press)
  39. ^ "Laupahoehoe Train Museum - Take a Trip Back in Time". www.thetrainmuseum.com. from the original on 2017-12-16. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
  40. ^ "Shopping Mall in Hilo, HI | Prince Kuhio Plaza". www.princekuhioplaza.com. from the original on 2019-06-24. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
  41. ^ "Home | Puainako Center - Hilo, Hawaii Shopping Center". www.puainakocenter.com. from the original on 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2017-12-13.

Further reading edit

External links edit

  • Pacific Tsunami Museum

hilo, hawaii, hilo, redirects, here, other, uses, hilo, disambiguation, hilo, hawaiian, pronunciation, ˈhilo, largest, settlement, hawaii, county, hawaii, united, states, which, encompasses, island, hawaii, census, designated, place, population, according, 202. Hilo redirects here For other uses see Hilo disambiguation Hilo ˈ h iː l oʊ Hawaiian pronunciation ˈhilo is the largest settlement in Hawaii County Hawaii United States 1 which encompasses the Island of Hawaii and is a census designated place CDP The population was 44 186 according to the 2020 census 2 It is the fourth largest settlement in the state of Hawaii and largest settlement in the state outside of Oahu Hilo HawaiiCensus designated placeFrom top to bottom left to right S Hata Building Hilo Masonic Lodge Hall Bishop Trust Building Hilo Bay with Mauna Kea Rainbow Waianuenue Falls Federal Building Post Office and Courthouse and Liliuokalani Park and Gardens Location within Hawaii County and HawaiiHiloShow map of HawaiiHiloShow map of Hawaii island Coordinates 19 42 20 N 155 5 9 W 19 70556 N 155 08583 W 19 70556 155 08583CountryUnited StatesStateHawaiiCountyHawaiiGovernment MayorMitch RothArea Total58 3 sq mi 151 0 km2 Land53 4 sq mi 138 3 km2 Water4 9 sq mi 12 7 km2 Elevation 1 20 ft 6 m Population 2020 2 Total44 186 Density760 sq mi 290 km2 Time zoneUTC 10 Hawaii Aleutian ZIP Code96720 96721Area code808FIPS code15 14650GNIS ID359187 1 Hilo is the county seat of the County of Hawaiʻi and is in the District of South Hilo 3 The city overlooks Hilo Bay and has views of two shield volcanoes Mauna Loa an active volcano and Mauna Kea a dormant volcano The Hilo bay front has been destroyed by tsunamis twice The majority of human settlement in Hilo stretches from Hilo Bay to Waiakea Uka on the flanks of the volcanoes Hilo is home to the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo ʻImiloa Astronomy Center as well as the Merrie Monarch Festival a week long celebration including three nights of competition of ancient and modern hula that 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 Hilo is served by Hilo International Airport 4 Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2 1 Climate 2 2 Note 3 Demographics 4 Transport 4 1 Air 4 2 Bus 4 3 Maritime 5 Education 6 Government 7 Economy 7 1 Tourism and events 7 2 Corporations and science 8 Culture 9 Notable residents 10 Points of interest 11 Media 12 Sister cities 13 Legacy 14 Hilo District 14 1 North Hilo District 14 2 South Hilo District 15 References 16 Further reading 17 External linksHistory editAround 1100 AD the first Hilo inhabitants arrived bringing with them Polynesian knowledge and traditions Although archaeological evidence is scant oral history has many references to people living in Hilo along the Wailuku and Wailoa rivers during the time of ancient Hawaii 5 Oral history gives the meaning of Hilo as to twist 6 Originally the name Hilo applied to a district encompassing much of the east coast of the island of Hawaiʻi now divided into the District of South Hilo and the District of North Hilo When William Ellis visited in 1823 the main settlement there was Waiakea on the south shore of Hilo Bay 7 Missionaries came to the district in the early to middle 19th century founding Haili Church Hilo expanded as sugar plantations in the surrounding area created jobs and drew in many workers from Asia For example by 1887 26 000 Chinese workers worked in Hawai i s sugar cane plantations 8 one of which was the Hilo Sugar Mill At that time the Hilo Sugar Mill produced 3 500 tons of sugar annually 9 nbsp Hilo Hawaii 1907A breakwater across Hilo Bay was begun in the first decade of the 20th century and completed in 1929 On April 1 1946 an 8 6 magnitude earthquake near the Aleutian Islands created a 46 foot high 14 m tsunami that hit Hilo 4 9 hours later killing 159 total in the islands 10 with 96 deaths in Hilo alone 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 11 On May 22 1960 another tsunami caused by a 9 5 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Chile that day claimed 61 lives 12 allegedly due to the failure of people to heed warning sirens Low lying bayfront areas of the city on Waiakea 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 opening the Palace Theater reopened in 1998 as an arthouse cinema Closure of the sugar plantations including those in Hamakua during the 1990s hurt the local economy coinciding with a general statewide slump 13 Hilo in recent years has seen commercial and population growth 14 Geography editHilo is on the eastern and windward side of the island 15 It is classified by the U S Census Bureau as a census designated place CDP and has a total area of 58 3 square miles 151 0 km2 53 4 square miles 138 3 km2 of which is land and 4 9 square miles 12 7 km2 of which 8 4 is water 16 Climate edit Hilo has a tropical rainforest climate Koppen Af with substantial rainfall throughout the year Its location on the windward coast relative to the trade winds makes it the fourth wettest city in the United States behind the southeast Alaskan cities of Whittier Ketchikan and Yakutat and one of the wettest in the world An average of around 126 72 inches 3 220 mm of rain fell at Hilo International Airport annually between 1981 and 2010 with 272 days of the year receiving some rain 17 Rainfall in Hilo varies with altitude with more at higher elevations At some weather stations in upper Hilo the annual rainfall is above 200 inches 5 100 mm 18 Monthly mean temperatures range from 71 2 F 21 8 C in February to 76 4 F 24 7 C in August 17 The highest recorded temperature was 94 F 34 C on May 20 1996 and the lowest 53 F 12 C on February 21 1962 19 The wettest year was 1994 with 182 81 inches 4 643 4 mm and the driest 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 20 Hilo s location on the shore of the funnel shaped Hilo Bay also makes it vulnerable to tsunamis 21 Climate data for Hilo International Airport Hawaii 1991 2020 normals a extremes 1949 present Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high F C 92 33 92 33 93 34 89 32 94 34 90 32 93 34 93 34 93 34 91 33 94 34 93 34 94 34 Mean maximum F C 85 2 29 6 84 8 29 3 85 0 29 4 84 1 28 9 85 4 29 7 85 7 29 8 87 1 30 6 87 2 30 7 87 7 30 9 87 4 30 8 85 9 29 9 84 2 29 0 89 6 32 0 Mean daily maximum F C 78 7 25 9 78 4 25 8 78 5 25 8 79 0 26 1 80 7 27 1 81 8 27 7 82 8 28 2 82 9 28 3 83 3 28 5 82 4 28 0 80 3 26 8 78 8 26 0 80 6 27 0 Daily mean F C 71 4 21 9 71 2 21 8 71 9 22 2 72 5 22 5 74 0 23 3 75 2 24 0 76 3 24 6 76 6 24 8 76 5 24 7 75 7 24 3 74 0 23 3 72 2 22 3 74 0 23 3 Mean daily minimum F C 64 1 17 8 64 1 17 8 65 2 18 4 66 1 18 9 67 3 19 6 68 7 20 4 69 9 21 1 70 4 21 3 69 8 21 0 69 0 20 6 67 6 19 8 65 7 18 7 67 3 19 6 Mean minimum F C 59 3 15 2 59 1 15 1 61 1 16 2 62 4 16 9 63 6 17 6 65 2 18 4 66 1 18 9 66 7 19 3 66 1 18 9 65 2 18 4 63 4 17 4 61 3 16 3 58 2 14 6 Record low F C 54 12 53 12 54 12 58 14 59 15 61 16 62 17 63 17 61 16 62 17 58 14 55 13 53 12 Average precipitation inches mm 7 86 200 10 22 260 12 68 322 9 40 239 6 99 178 7 30 185 9 24 235 11 30 287 8 70 221 10 24 260 14 39 366 12 07 307 120 39 3 058 Average precipitation days 0 01 in 15 7 16 6 21 8 24 5 22 9 25 4 26 6 27 2 23 3 23 4 23 3 22 3 273 0Average relative humidity 76 6 76 0 78 1 80 2 78 9 77 4 79 5 79 5 79 2 80 0 80 3 78 7 78 7Average dew point F C 62 8 17 1 62 4 16 9 63 7 17 6 65 1 18 4 66 0 18 9 66 7 19 3 68 2 20 1 68 5 20 3 68 4 20 2 68 0 20 0 66 6 19 2 64 2 17 9 65 9 18 8 Mean monthly sunshine hours 161 0 152 0 152 7 135 9 155 0 176 9 167 2 174 9 161 5 136 3 115 0 129 0 1 817 4Percent possible sunshine 47 47 41 36 38 44 41 44 44 38 34 38 41Source NOAA relative humidity dew points and sun 1961 1990 19 17 22 Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki wiki See or edit raw graph data Note edit Mean monthly maxima and minima i e the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020 Demographics editThis section needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information April 2023 Historical population CensusPop Note 19106 745 192010 43154 6 193019 46886 6 194023 35320 0 195027 19816 5 196025 966 4 5 197026 3531 5 198035 26933 8 199037 8087 2 200040 7597 8 201043 2636 1 202044 1862 1 source 23 24 As of the census of 2020 44 186 people lived in 16 225 households in the census designated place 25 The population density was 796 7 inhabitants per square mile 307 6 km2 The 16 905 housing units reflected an average density of 311 3 per square mile 120 2 km2 in 2010 No update on the Census for 2020 The racial makeup was 32 Asian 18 4 White 10 Native Hawaiian amp Pacific Islander 0 8 African American 0 1 American Indian amp Alaska Native 0 6 from other races and 38 1 from two or more races Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13 of the population 23 21 1 of the households had children under the age of 18 living with them The average household size was 2 71 23 The age distribution was 21 1 under age 18 4 5 under age 5 and 21 10 65 or older The percent of females are 51 1 23 The median household income on the 2020 census was 70 356 and the per capita income was 34 678 16 1 of the population is under the poverty line 2 Transport edit nbsp Pride of America docked at Hilo Harbor Hilo International Airport runway is visible in the backgroundAir edit Hilo is served by Hilo International Airport where Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest Airlines operate Bus edit Hilo is served by the county Hele On Bus 26 Maritime edit Hilo is served by the Big Island s largest harbor Hilo Harbor which is on Hilo Bay 27 Education editMain article Schools of Hilo Hawaii Hilo is home to a number of educational institutions including two post secondary institutions the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College and the Hilo and Waiakea primary and secondary school districts Charter schools in the area serve primary and secondary students Government editAlthough sometimes called a city Hilo is not an incorporated city and does not have a municipal government The entire island which is between the slightly larger state of Connecticut and smaller Rhode Island in size is under the jurisdiction of the County of Hawaiʻi of which Hilo is the county seat Hilo is home to county state and federal offices Economy editParks and attractions near Hilo Bay and downtown Hilo Hawaii nbsp Interactive fullscreen map nearby articles viewtalkedit Points of interest Parks and open spaces Transportation 1 Lyman House Memorial Museum2 Haili Church3 Kalakaua Park East Hawaii Cultural Center4 Pacific Tsunami Museum5 Moʻoheau County Park Hele On Bus Terminal S Hata Building Mokupapapa Discovery Center6 Russell Carroll Soccer Fields7 Aupuni Center County of Hawaiʻi offices8 Hilo Bayfront Beach Park9 Wailoa River State Recreation Area Waiakea Pond10 Coconut Island Moku Ola11 Queen Liliʻuokalani Park and Gardens Banyan Drive12 Grand Naniloa Hotel Naniloa Golf Course13 Reed s Bay Beach Park14 Hoʻolulu Complex Merrie Monarch Festival site Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium Aunty Sally Kaleohano s Luʻau Hale Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium Sparky Kawamoto Swim Stadium Walter Victor Baseball Complex Francis Wong Stadium15 Hilo Harbor16 Hilo International Airport The oldest city in the Hawaiian archipelago Hilo s economy was historically based on the sugar plantations of its surrounding areas prior to their closure in the 1990s 13 Tourism and events edit While Hilo has a fairly significant tourism sector 28 it gets less than half the annual visitors as the western coast of the Big Island which has much sunnier weather and significantly less rain with sandy and swimmable beaches and numerous major resorts 13 A main source of tourism in Hilo is the annual week long Merrie Monarch Festival the world s preeminent hula competition and festival which brings in visitors and participants from all over the world 28 It is held in the spring of each year beginning on Easter Sunday The local orchid society hosts the largest and most comprehensive orchid show in the state the annual Hilo Orchid Show which has been presented since 1951 and draws visitors and entrants worldwide 29 30 31 Hilo is home to Hawaii s only tsunami museum mostly dedicated to the 1946 Pacific tsunami and is notable for the banyan trees planted by Babe Ruth Amelia Earhart and other celebrities It is home to the Pana ewa Rainforest Zoo shopping centers cafes and other eateries movie theaters hotels restaurants and a developed downtown area with a Farmers Market 13 Downtown Hilo is bounded approximately by the Wailuku River Kamehameha Avenue Ponahawai Street and Kapiolani Street 32 Corporations and science edit The Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation is in Hilo south of the main town off Hawaii Route 11 north of Keaʻau Hilo is home to most of the astronomical observatories on Mauna Kea as well as the ʻImiloa Planetarium and Museum Astronomy has an economic impact of 100 million annually on the island 33 Astronomy on Mauna Kea was developed at the invitation of the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce following the collapse of the sugar cane industry 34 Culture editEast Hawaiʻi Cultural Center Lyman House Memorial Museum Merrie Monarch Festival Pacific Tsunami MuseumNotable residents editMain category People from Hilo HawaiiRodney Anoaʻi Matt Blair Keiko Bonk Ed Case Titus Coan Keenan Cornelius Glenn Cornick Kai Correa Wesley Correira Jennifer Doudna David McHattie Forbes Ryan Higa Michael Rikio Ming Hee Ho High Chiefess Kapiʻolani Keōua Kuʻahuʻula Harry Kim Kimberly Kim Darren Kimura Kinoʻoleoliliha Robert Kiyosaki George Lycurgus Troy Mandaloniz George Naʻope Gerald Okamura B J Penn Benjamin Pitman Bob Shane William Herbert Shipman Lani Stemmermann Kolten Wong Henry BianchiniPoints of interest editBanyan Drive Coconut Island East Hawaii Cultural Center Haili Church Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden Hilo Tropical Gardens Hoʻolulu Park ʻImiloa Astronomy Center James Kealoha Beach Park Kalakaua Park Liliʻuokalani Park and Gardens Lower Waiakea Mountain Bicycle Park Lyman Museum Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation Mokupapapa Discovery Center for Northwestern Hawaii s remote coral reefs 35 Nani Mau Gardens Naha Stone associated with Kamehameha I in front of the Hilo Public Library Pacific Tsunami Museum Pana ewa Rainforest Zoo Prince Kuhio Plaza Rainbow Falls Waianuenue amp Boiling Pots on the Wailuku River University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Botanical Gardens Wailoa River State Recreation Area with King Kamehameha StatueMedia editHilo is served by KWXX 94 7FM Hilo 101 5FM Kona B93 B97 93 1FM Kona 97 1FM Hilo The Wave KHBC 92 7FM Hilo and KPUA 970AM Hilo radio stations Public Access television is provided through Na Leo TV The Hawaii Tribune Herald of Oahu Publications Inc a subsidiary of Black Press 36 is Hilo s primary newspaper distribution company along with other newspapers like the Honolulu Star Advertiser Sister cities edit nbsp Tauranga New Zealand nbsp La Serena ChileLegacy editAsteroid 342431 Hilo is named after Hilo 37 Hilo District edit nbsp 3 North Hilo and 2 South Hilo Districts are located in the east coast of Hawaii County the Big Island They are bordered by Hamakua District 4 in the north and by Kau District 9 in the south and Puna District 1 in the southeast The far inland areas are largely unpopulated being forest reserves on the slopes of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa Hilo also referred to the District of Hilo when the Big Island was divided into six districts by the traditional moku land division Hilo is now divided in two North and South Hilo Districts 38 North Hilo District edit The District of North Hilo along Hawaii State Highway 19 from north to south encompasses the following unincorporated towns and localities ʻŌʻōkala Laupahoehoe and the Train Museum 39 NinoleThere are locations inland along State Highway 200 including Mauna Kea mountain road Puu Huluhulu and others South Hilo District edit In the District of South Hilo along State Highway 19 are the following unincorporated towns and localities Honalo and the Akaka Falls Pepeekeo Wainaku Hilo Bay the Wailuku River and the Rainbow Falls Hilo downtown Pacific Tsunami Museum etc Along State Highway 11 are Hilo International Airport Prince Kuhio Plaza Shopping Center 40 Pana ewa Rainforest ZooThere are other locations Along State Highway 200 and its extension are Kaumana University of Hawaii at Hilo Puainako Shopping Center 41 There are other locations References edit a b c Hilo Hawaii Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior a b c U S Census Bureau QuickFacts Hilo CDP Hawaii Census gov Retrieved 2022 07 20 Find a County National Association of Counties Archived from the original on May 31 2011 Retrieved 2011 06 07 Hilo CDP Hawaii Archived 2011 11 24 at the Wayback Machine U S Census Bureau Retrieved on May 21 2009 Lloyd J Soehren 2010 lookup of Hilo in Hawaiian Place Names Ulukau the Hawaiian Electronic Library Retrieved February 18 2011 Hapai Charlotte 1920 01 01 Legends of the Wailuku as told by old Hawaiians Honolulu The Charles R Frazier company Archived from the original on 2017 07 05 Retrieved 2016 08 18 Ellis W A Narrative of an 1823 Tour through Hawai i republished 2004 Mutual Publishing Honolulu ISBN 1 56647 605 4 chapters 11 and 12 Hawaii Immigration to the United States Archived from the original on 2019 09 05 Retrieved 2019 11 14 Laitinen Denise 2013 09 18 Then amp Now Hilo Sugar Mill Wainaku Center Ke Ola Magazine Archived from the original on 2019 11 14 Retrieved 2019 11 14 Fisher S Goff J Cundy A et al July 12 2023 A qualitative review of tsunamis in Hawaiʻi Natural Hazards Springer Johnston Jeanne Branch 2003 Personal Accounts from Survivors of the Hilo Tsunamis of 1946 and 1960 Toward a Disaster Communications Model M A University of Hawaii at Manoa hdl 10125 7104 Gates Alexander E Ritchie David 2006 Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes Infobase Publishing ISBN 9780816072705 a b c d Hello Hilo The Washington Post 2004 05 23 Archived from the original on 2014 07 01 Retrieved 2010 10 04 Lauer Nancy Cook December 22 2019 Hawaii Island leads state in population growth despite some towns seeing declines Hawaii Tribune Herald Retrieved July 25 2020 US Gazetteer files 2010 2000 and 1990 United States Census Bureau 2011 02 12 Retrieved 2011 04 23 Geographic Identifiers 2010 Demographic Profile Data G001 Hilo CDP Hawaii American Factfinder U S Census Bureau Retrieved May 24 2017 dead link a b c Station Hilo INTL AP HI U S Climate Normals 2020 U S Monthly Climate Normals 1991 2020 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Archived from the original on 2023 06 18 Retrieved September 11 2021 Hilo Hawaiʻi information Archived 2009 01 15 at the Wayback Machine on NOAA web site a b NowData NOAA Online Weather Data National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved September 11 2021 Record 24 hour rainfall Archived 2009 05 09 at the Wayback Machine on NOAA web site Where is Hilo Hawai i Frequently Asked Questions The Pacific Tsunami Museum web site Archived from the original on 2009 05 28 Retrieved 2009 07 23 WMO climate normals for Hilo WSO AP 87 HI 1961 1990 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Archived from the original on 2023 06 18 Retrieved 29 April 2015 a b c d US Census Bureau 2010 Population Finder Hilo CDP Archived from the original on 2014 01 16 Retrieved 2017 12 07 Census of Population And Housing U S Census Bureau Retrieved 2011 04 19 U S Census Bureau QuickFacts Hilo CDP Hawaii Census gov Retrieved 2022 07 20 Hawai i Island Hele On Bus County of Hawai i Mass Transit Agency Archived from the original on 2009 05 03 Retrieved 2018 04 16 Hilo Harbor Harbor Division Hawaii Department of Transportation PDF Archived PDF from the original on 2017 01 07 Retrieved 2018 10 24 a b Yamanaka Katie Young Hilo The Hub of Natural Wonders Hawaii com Retrieved July 25 2020 Richard Crystal 5 June 2017 Jewels of the jungle sparkle at Hilo Orchid Show Arts amp Entertainment Big Island Now Retrieved 15 December 2017 largest and most comprehensive in the state 63rd Annual Hilo Orchid Society Show and Sale Walking Tour Hilo Downtown Improvement Association Retrieved 1 June 2021 Hawaii s astronomy sector brought an economic impact of 168 million in 2012 bizjournals com Archived from the original on 2019 05 31 Retrieved 2018 04 16 Origins of astronomy in Hawaii Malama Mauna Kea Library Catalog malamamaunakea org Archived from the original on 2018 04 16 Retrieved 2018 04 16 Education Discovery Center Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument web site NOAA Archived from the original on 2009 10 18 Retrieved 2009 08 25 Hawaii Tribune Herald official web site Black Press Archived from the original on 2009 09 06 Retrieved 2009 08 25 HORIZONS System ssd jpl nasa gov Archived from the original on 2019 06 24 Retrieved 2019 06 24 James A Bier Cartographer Map of Hawai i the Big Island Eighth Edition University of Hawai i Press Laupahoehoe Train Museum Take a Trip Back in Time www thetrainmuseum com Archived from the original on 2017 12 16 Retrieved 2017 12 13 Shopping Mall in Hilo HI Prince Kuhio Plaza www princekuhioplaza com Archived from the original on 2019 06 24 Retrieved 2019 06 24 Home Puainako Center Hilo Hawaii Shopping Center www puainakocenter com Archived from the original on 2017 12 14 Retrieved 2017 12 13 Further reading editWalter C Dudley 2016 Tsunami Latitude 20 ISBN 978 0824859169 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hilo Hawaii nbsp Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Hilo Pacific Tsunami Museum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hilo Hawaii amp oldid 1189345047, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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