Hawaii Travel Update: Hilo’s Waterfront Is About To Improve

The long-awaited refresh of Hilo’s “hotel zone” is finally underway, with locals and visitors alike hoping for a better future as the State begins to clear out damaged buildings and envision a new era along its waterfront.

Things kicked off this week with the hard demolition of Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay Hotel, a once-iconic, four-acre property that has sat in disrepair since being condemned in 2017.

Hilo’s “hotel zone,” put in quotations here because of its small size and no-frills atmosphere, is located in a beautiful area along Hilo Bay, adjacent to Queen Liliuokalani Park and Coconut Island, an offshore island turned public park that’s connected via a scenic pedestrian bridge.

The hotels sit just steps away on Banyan Drive, a peaceful and scenic street named for its massive, towering trees.

Scenically beautiful, the area is a popular recreation spot for locals, who fish, picnic, and exercise along Banyan Drive and its surrounding parks. Travelers looking to escape the development of Kona on the other side of the Big Island have long loved Hilo for its quiet, relaxed atmosphere and local vibes.

But over the years, Banyan Drive has lost some of its magic as Uncle Billy’s condemnation turned into complete deterioration.

The complex, surrounded by chain-link fencing, was frequented by squatters, creating unsafe and unsavory conditions that got worse with every passing year, including broken windows, uncollected garbage, hoards of feral cats, and reports of arson.

At one time, the property required 24-hour security due to trespassing concerns.

Visitors are confronted by this eyesore when staying at one of the two adjacent hotels along Banyan Drive (the Hilo Hawaiian or the Grand Naniloa), raising eyebrows and concerns about the safety of the area as they set off on foot to explore. First impressions of the area are also thrown off as visitors drive-by the crumbling infrastructure upon arrival.

As someone who has frequented this area for more than a decade, this reporter can attest to the toll the decline of Uncle Billy’s has had on the area’s reputation and perception. It not only changed the visual beauty of the place, it changed the “sense of place” entirely–a Hawaiian phrase that describes the aura of an area.

Locals express frustration that a defunct hotel is wasting prime waterfront real estate that could be put to better use.

For some, it’s a visual representation of how tourism betrays its host – a beautiful, natural coastline, claimed and developed for visitors, only to be abandoned and left for dead when the cash dries up. Promises of local jobs and economic gains are forgotten, blown away with the trade winds.

But with the demolition of Uncle Billy’s underway, there’s hope that better days could be on the horizon.

Though no plans have been announced, there’s talk that the lot will be converted to a public green space or waterfront park. If that ends up being the case, the decision would give land that was once dedicated to visitors back to local residents.

The final verdict, however, still rests with the State.

“I hope they don’t make it a parking lot,” said Nathan Kurohara of Isemoto Contracting, the company performing the demolition.

At minimum, the demolition and cleanup of the old Uncle Billy’s Hotel will help with the re-beautification of Banyan Drive, removing the apocalyptic feel that the abandoned complex has created. Demolition and cleanup are expected to be completed by the end of the year.