HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

336

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the historic preservation division of the department of land and natural resources to complete a statewide survey and inventory to identify and document historic properties, aviation, artifacts, and burial sites, with an emphasis on historic preservation relating to the culture and history of hawaiians and native hawaiians.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, state law expressly acknowledges the value of conserving and developing the historic and cultural property within the State for the public good, and recognizes that the historic and cultural heritage of the State is among its most important assets; and

 

     WHEREAS, among other duties, the Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources is required to:

 

     (1)  Develop an on-going program of historical, architectural, and archaeological research and development relating to the State's historical and cultural resources;

 

     (2)  Develop a statewide survey and inventory to identify and document historic property, aviation artifacts, and burial sites, including all those owned by the State and the counties;

 

     (3)  Coordinate the evaluation and management of burial sites, many of which contain native Hawaiian skeletal remains; and

 

     (4) Develop and adopt, in consultation with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Native Historic Preservation Council, rules governing permits for access by native Hawaiians and Hawaiians to cultural, historic, and pre-contact sites and monuments; and

 

     WHEREAS, in recent years, the Historic Preservation Division has come under criticism for the handling of historic sites and ancient human remains, including the improper re-internment of historic artifacts, particularly native Hawaiian  iwi, or skeletal remains, and their associated burial goods; and

 

     WHEREAS, interested parties, especially native Hawaiian groups, organizations, and individuals, have expressed concern with the Historic Preservation Division's inappropriate treatment of historic heiau, missing archaeological reports, and incomplete inventory of historic sites, in particular native Hawaiian human skeletal remains and associated burial goods; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, the Senate concurring, that the Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to complete a statewide survey and inventory to identify and document historic properties, burial goods and sites, and human skeletal remains that are held by the State or by any third party, but under the control of the State; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Historic Preservation Division is requested to complete an initial survey and inventory of historic properties, burial goods and sites, and human skeletal remains that are of cultural important and significance to the Hawaiian community; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Historic Preservation Division is requested to complete its initial survey relating to historic preservation of property and items relating to Hawaiians by no later than December 31, 2010; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Historic Preservation Division is requested to submit to the Legislature an initial report of findings, including an inventory to identify and document the historic properties as required under section 6E-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, no later the twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2011; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Historic Preservation Division is requested to submit to the Legislature a final report of findings, including an inventory to identify and document all historic properties, aviation artifacts, and burial sites, including all those owned by the State and counties as required under section 6E-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of the 2012 legislature; provided that if any historic properties, including burial goods and sites, and human skeletal remains that are of cultural important and significance to the Hawaiian community, are identified subsequent to the initial report, these historic properties shall be included in the final report and inventory; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, the State Historic Preservation Officer, and the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, who in turn is requested to transmit copies to the appropriate native Hawaiian and Hawaiian organizations and entities.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Historic Preservation; Inventory