Historical Sites Commission

Corporate body

Historical Sites Commission

1951-05-04/1959-11-24

Some of the historic preservation functions assigned to the Commission date from 1921, when they were created by statute and assigned to the earlier and separate Historical Commission upon its establishment and transferred to the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii in 1932, when the Historical Commission was disestablished.

These same functions were assigned to the Commission on Historical Sites when it was created in 1951, but remained concurrently assigned to the Board of Regents.

It was succeeded by the Division of Territorial (later State) Parks in 1959, which also absorbed the related functions of the Board of Regents in 1967.

To locate, identify, and preserve in suitable records information regarding heiaus (sic), ancient burial places, and sites of historical interest, in cooperation with other territorial agencies and owners of private historical sites.

To transmit such information to the Territorial Tax Commissioner who was charged with mapping the location of all heiaus (sic), etc., on the tax maps of the Territory.

To recommend, to agencies controlling the land involved, the issuance of permits for the examination of ruins, excavation of sites or gathering of objects by properly qualified institutions, provided that such examination, excavation or gathering is for the benefit of reputable museums, universities, colleges, or other recognized scientific or educational institutions.

To concur in any construction or improvement which would result in total or partial destruction of any such heiau, ancient burial place, or site of historical interest, before such construction or improvement could take place, subject to appeal to the Governor.

Established by Act 36, Session Laws of Hawaii, (SLH) 1951.
Disestablished by Act 1, 2nd Special Session, (SLH) 1959.

The commission had an independent board of five members, at least one from each county, appointed by the Governor per §80 of the Organic Act, who served four-year terms without remuneration.

The secretary of the Commission was ex officio the Executive Secretary of the Hawaii Visitors Bureau (HVB). Legislation was proposed in 1957 to make the Archivist of the Public Archives ex officio the Secretary of the Commission in lieu of the Executive Secretary of the HVB; it was not enacted.

There was a three-person advisory committee in each county, two members appointed by the mayor or board of supervisors and one by the Chairperson of the Commission on Historical Sites.

Although there was no official relationship, the Commission worked closely with the larger private sector agency, Conservation Council for Hawaii.

Created on 2005-11-21, A. Hoof
Revised on 2020-10-14, Joel Horowitz

• English

RLH, 1945, §1963; 1955, §14-7 and §44-21
SLH, 1921, Act 120; 1932, 2nd Spl Sess, Act 9; 1951, Act 36; 1955, Act 78; 1957, Act 169; 1959, 2nd Spl Sess, Act 1 §21
Records of the Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii: Records of the Clerks [Series 228]: House Resolution 119-53; Senate Concurrent Resolution 126-59; Senate Resolution 125-59, House Concurrent Resolution 112-59; House Resolution 105-59

2005-11-21, A. Hoof: Created
2020-10-14, Joel Horowitz: Entered into AtoM. Added dates and other information from the Historic Preservation Division information in the DLNR finding aid.