Historic Preservation Division

Corporate body

Historic Preservation Division

1989-07-01

Established by Act 324, SLH 1989 from two predecessors.

Two agencies, the Historical Commission and the Historical Sites Commission, established 30 years apart, were made responsible for historic preservation. For approximately 16 years after the second agency was established, responsibility for historic preservation resided in two places until it was unified in the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) in 1967.

The primary purpose of the division is to develop and maintain a comprehensive program of historic preservation to promote the use and conservation of historic properties for the education, inspiration, pleasure and enrichment of the citizens of Hawaii. Specific functions and duties include:

• Planning, organizing and directing an ongoing program of historical, architectural and archeological research and development, including surveys, excavations, scientific recording, interpretation and publications on the State's historical and cultural resources;
• Overseeing the acquisition of historic or cultural properties, real or personal, in fee or in any lesser interest, by gift, purchase, condemnation, devise, or bequest; preserving, restoring, administering, or transferring such property; and charging reasonable admissions to such property;
• Planning, organizing and directing a statewide survey to identify and document historic properties, including those owned by the State and its political subdivisions;
• Planning, organizing and preparing information for the Hawaii Register of Historic Places and for listing in the National Register of Historic Places;
• Preparing, reviewing and revising the State historic preservation plan, including budget requirements and land use recommendations;
• Providing technical and financial assistance to the political subdivisions of the State and public and private agencies involved in historic preservation activities;
• Coordinating the activities of the political subdivisions of the State with regards to the State historic preservation plan;
• Coordinating the evaluation and management of burial sites;
• Regulating archaeological activities throughout the State;
• Reviewing and providing written concurrence for any project undertaken by an agency or officer of the State or its political subdivisions which may have an effect on historic property;
• Reviewing and providing recommendations for any leases, permits, licenses, certificates, land use changes or other entitlements which may have an effect on historic property; and
• Reviewing and providing recommendations for any construction, alteration, disposition, or improvement of any nature, which will affect a privately owned historic property, listed on the Hawaii Register of Historic Places.

Act 324, SLH 1989
National Historic Preservation Act, 1966 (PL 89-665)
Revised Laws of Hawaii, 1955, §14-7, §14-8, §44-21.
Hawaii Revised Statutes: Chapter 6 (1968), Chapter 6E (1993, Supp 2001).
Session Laws of Hawaii: Act 120, SLH 1921; Act 139, SLH 1923; Act 49, SLH 1925; Act 9, 2nd Spl SLH 1932; Act 36, SLH, 1951; Act 1, 2nd Spl SLH, 1959; Act 254, SLH 1967; Act 216, SLH 1969; Act 104, SLH 1976; Act 293, SLH 1980; Act 324, SLH 1989; Act 187, SLH 1995.

A division within DLNR of three branches: Historical and Cultural; Archaeological; and Architectural; headed by the State Historic Preservation Director.

Hawaii Historic Places Review Board (1980-06-17)

Division of State Parks, Outdoor Recreation and Historic Sites (1951)

Department of Land and Natural Resources (1959)

Hawaiʻi State Archives

Created on 2002-09-09, A. Hoof

• English

Act 324, SLH 1989
National Historic Preservation Act, 1966 (PL 89-665)
Revised Laws of Hawaii, 1955, §14-7, §14-8, §44-21.
Hawaii Revised Statutes: Chapter 6 (1968), Chapter 6E (1993, Supp 2001).
Session Laws of Hawaii: Act 120, SLH 1921; Act 139, SLH 1923; Act 49, SLH 1925; Act 9, 2nd Spl SLH 1932; Act 36, SLH, 1951; Act 1, 2nd Spl SLH, 1959; Act 254, SLH 1967; Act 216, SLH 1969; Act 104, SLH 1976; Act 293, SLH 1980; Act 324, SLH 1989; Act 187, SLH 1995.

Government Records Collection:
Series 266, Originals of Gubernatorial Executive Orders Dealing with Subjects Other Than Land, "Executive Order no. 14," May 11, 1960.
Series 292, Organization Charts and Functional Statements
1969, Department of Land and Natural Resources, "Proposed reorganization of the Division of State Parks, Department of Land and Natural Resources," May 16, 1969.
1990, Department of Land and Natural Resources, "Proposed reorganization of the Division of State Parks, Outdoor Recreation and Historic Sites and establishment of a new State Historic Preservation Division," February 14, 1990.

Library Collection:
Board of Commissioners of Agriculture and Forestry, Annual Report, Board of Agriculture and Forestry, Territory of Hawaii, Fiscal Year July 1, 1958 to June 30, 1959. Call no. S 52.5 .A31 1958/59.
Department of Agriculture and Conservation, Report of the Department of Agriculture and Conservation, Fiscal Period Ending June 30, 1960. Call no. S 52.5 .A31 1959/60.
Department of Land and Natural Resources, Report to the Governor, 1982-1983, 1989-1990, 1993-1994. Call no. HD 183 .L3 A22 [year].
Legislative Reference Bureau, Guide to Government in Hawaii, 1984; 1989; 1996. Call no. JK 9330 .H38 [year]

Records in the collection.

2002-09-09, A. Hoof: Created
2020-07-29, Joel Horowitz: Entered into AtoM