Graffiti is the term used for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any way on property. Graffiti has been around as far back as the Romans, Greeks and Egyptians. Through the course of human history it has been used to express social, political and self interests.

A “tag” is the most basic form of graffiti. Tags can contain subtle or cryptic messages and contain the writers name or initials.

Most cities across the country consider graffiti to be a form of vandalism. The costs for clean up can be high for business and city municipalities, Hilo is no different.

Hilo is now experiencing a rash of graffiti activity inconveniencing many downtown merchants and residents near the beach parks. Throughout this article you will see recent examples of graffiti from Hilo.

As the cost to clean and repaint areas hit by graffiti grow, many citizens have gotten together in an attempt to problem solve and minimize graffiti and its effects. The East Hawaii Cultural Center has developed a program similar to those in other larger cities. They provide a canvas “blank wall” for the artist. They encourage the graffiti artist to use a mural style of art incorporating a theme tied into events happening in Hilo.

Another idea being circulated by the Hilo Downtown Improvement Association (DIA) is to provide a reward to those who help identify those responsible for graffiti in areas where it is not appropriate and costing business owners and citizen’s time and expense for its clean up.

The Hawaii Police Department has also implemented a graffiti database to build and enhance evidence for the prosecution of graffiti artist suspects by linking tags to incidents of graffiti. I encourage those who have additional ideas on how to handle the issue of graffiti in Hilo to leave your ideas in the comment section at the end of this article. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

I want to take this opportunity to recognize a special group of individuals who have taken on the challenge of helping our community to clean up graffiti. Goodwill Industries, the “Aina Keepers” are a group of volunteers who, at no cost to the community, clean and paint over graffiti. They have been a tremendous resource to both the police department and community. I would also like to thank all those who have donated paint, materials and time in helping to clean up graffiti.

With a multifaceted approach and some persistence, graffiti doesn’t need to be a blight on Hilo’s beautiful landscape.