Downtown Hilo - Waste to Wealth Initiative
138 Kamehameha Ave.
Project Overview
The Reuse & Zero Waste Innovation Hub:
Recycle Hawaiʻi is developing a mixed-use community facility in downtown Hilo that will serve as a hub for sustainability, workforce development, and local economic revitalization. The Reuse & Zero Waste Innovation Hub will transform a large commercial space into a vibrant center where local entrepreneurs, youth trainees, and community organizations collaborate to build Hawaiʻi’s emerging reuse economy.
The facility will support a network of mission-aligned vendors, artisans, repair professionals, and sustainability innovators who are working to reduce waste, extend the life of valuable materials, and create local jobs rooted in environmental stewardship.
At the same time, the space will function as a community gathering place where residents, visitors, and policymakers can experience innovative Zero Waste solutions in action.
By integrating education, workforce development, small business incubation, and community events, the project aims to demonstrate practical pathways for Hawaiʻi to reduce landfill dependency while strengthening the local economy.
Key Components of the Hub
A Marketplace for Sustainable Local Vendors
The facility will host a curated collection of local vendors and small businesses whose work supports sustainability and circular economy principles. Vendors may include reuse artisans, repair specialists, upcycled product makers, sustainable retail concepts, and local producers committed to waste reduction.
This marketplace model provides entrepreneurs with affordable space to launch or grow businesses, while creating a destination where the public can easily access sustainable goods and services.
Zero Waste Event and Demonstration Space
The Hub will feature a flexible event venue designed to host Zero Waste community events, workshops, and demonstrations. Programming will highlight practical strategies for waste reduction, composting, reuse, and circular design.
The space will also showcase innovative waste diversion systems developed by Recycle Hawaiʻi and its partners, allowing community members, policymakers, and visiting organizations to see successful Zero Waste practices operating in a real-world setting.
Youth Workforce Development Maker Space
A central component of the project is the creation of a hands-on maker space dedicated to workforce training in the reuse and repair economy.
Youth and young adults will gain practical experience restoring and repurposing materials that would otherwise be sent to the landfill, including:
Furniture restoration
Construction material salvage and reuse
Appliance and equipment repair
Creative upcycling and product development
Through mentorship, training, and paid internships, participants will develop technical skills, entrepreneurship pathways, and career opportunities within Hawaiʻi’s growing sustainability sector.
Community and Economic Impact
This project will deliver multiple benefits for Hawaiʻi Island:
Waste Reduction
Significant diversion of furniture, construction materials, and reusable goods from local landfills.
Workforce Development
Hands-on job training opportunities for youth and young adults in repair, restoration, and circular economy trades.
Small Business Support
Affordable workspace and exposure for local entrepreneurs developing sustainable products and services.
Community Engagement
A welcoming venue for educational events, workshops, and demonstrations that inspire practical environmental action.
Economic Revitalization
Activation of a decrepit downtown Hilo commercial space that supports local vendors, hosts events, and attracts visitors.
Building Hawaiʻi’s Reuse Economy
The United States generates hundreds of millions of tons of waste each year, much of which still ends up in landfills despite having recoverable value. Hawaiʻi faces unique challenges due to its geographic isolation, limited landfill capacity, and high cost of importing materials.
The Reuse & Zero Waste Innovation Hub is designed to address these challenges by demonstrating how materials already within our community can be repaired, repurposed, and reintegrated into the local economy.
By supporting reuse businesses and training the next generation of skilled workers, the project helps build a circular economy that keeps resources in use longer while reducing disposal costs and environmental impacts.
A Model for Hawaiʻi and Beyond
The Reuse & Zero Waste Innovation Hub is intended to serve as a demonstration model for community-based circular economy development.
By integrating workforce development, entrepreneurship, and waste reduction strategies in one facility, the project will provide a scalable example of how communities can transform waste challenges into economic opportunities.
Recycle Hawaiʻi is committed to working with federal, state, and local partners to ensure the Hub becomes a long-term asset for the island’s sustainability, economic resilience, and environmental leadership.