Midweek Cover Story
Blazing A Trail
KATIE YOUNG YAMANAKA on November 27, 2019 at 3:28 pm
Whether used for health and fitness or cultural celebration, the shared-use pathway Hilo Bayfront Trails has been a source of pride for the town’s residents and visitors.
You may have seen them down there — little sibs on scooters and skateboards, kūpuna walking with friends and the pau hana crowd opting for a late afternoon jog. On the weekends, there are entire families on bicycles or strolling along Hilo Bayfront Trails.
The shared-use pathway throughout the Bayfront area and Hilo Harbor — which will ultimately feature nearly 6 miles of trails connecting over 700 acres of land with dedicated bicycle lanes, pedestrian sidewalks and multimodal paths — will begin construction of Phase 2 in early 2020 to complete the soccer field loop. Phase 1 (from Mo‘oheau Bandstand to the canoe hale near the Iron Works building, and a loop around the mauka soccer fields at Bayfront) was completed in 2015.
“The trail is a much-needed asset to our town, allowing increased accessibility around our local parks and Bayfront areas,” explains Hilo Bayfront Trails president Peter Kubota. “We envision the trail as a pathway to not only showcase the natural beauty of our Hilo hometown, but also to improve (our citizens’) health and fitness, as well as aid in historic preservation, cultural celebration and a sense of pride in our community.
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