Open house planned for 34 Rainbow Drive site improvements in Hilo

The County of Hawaiʻi Office of Housing and Community Development invites residents and stakeholders to an open house to review a proposed master plan for the future of 34 Rainbow Drive in Hilo.

The concepts to be presented reflect the community input from the meeting held on May 15, 2023, and online surveys and comments for additional consideration.

The open house will be held from 5 to 6:45 p.m. on Sept. 14 at The Arc of Hilo’s Multipurpose Building, at 1099 Waianuenue Avenue.

Registrations opens at 5 p.m., however, attendees are welcome to stop in any time before 6:20 p.m. to provide input.

Planners Fung Associates Inc. and PBR Hawaii & Associates Inc. will discuss preliminary conceptual plan layouts to encourage feedback during the open house as they work to complete a master plan and accompanying environmental and archaeological studies.

The master plan is being developed with the community’s input to guide the Office of Housing and Community Development to determine the best use of the vacant acreage at the site off Rainbow Drive.

While the old Hilo Memorial Hospital occupies a portion of the parcel, renovation of the existing facility is a separate project and is not part of the 34 Rainbow Drive master plan.

At the open house, attendees will have the opportunity to visit activity stations where they can learn more from planners and County staff, as well as provide comment. The stations include:

• General discussion on the 34 Rainbow Drive property
• Potential future uses for vacant portions of the site
• Conceptual plan layout options
• Update on renovation work at the Old Hilo Memorial Hospital

At 6:30 p.m., the open house will shift to review comments submitted at the activity stations and to answer submitted questions before adjourning at 6:45 p.m.

The 25-acre parcel at 34 Rainbow Drive is under County of Hawaiʻi management via executive order for government offices or community services from the State of Hawaiʻi. About 4 acres of the parcel is occupied by existing structures leaving open approximately 20 acres, of which about 10 acres have been deemed “developable” due to the area’s topography.

For those unable to attend in-person meetings, the Office of Housing and Community Development has established a web-based StoryMap to gather input. The StoryMap, which combines text, interactive maps, and other multimedia content, can be found at https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/87313daae1124f2e863fa191003fa091.

The StoryMap, in addition to presenting an overview of the project, also includes input and details from the first community meeting held May 15, 2023. More than 60 people turned out to provide input on the future of the open land at 34 Rainbow Drive.

The community is also encouraged to take a survey accessible via the StoryMap or directly at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MKXSG96.

To request an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability for the Sept. 14, 2023, meeting, contact Ian Pitts of Fung Associates, LLC, at 808-941-3000.