HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

261

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

requesting the formation of a task force to create a prioritized action plan for preserving all buildings built before world war ii that are considered eligible for the national and/or state register of historic places.

 

 

WHEREAS, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 states "the historical and cultural foundations of the Nation should be preserved as a living part of our community life and development in order to give a sense of orientation to the American people"; and

WHEREAS, the state of Hawaii recognized this commitment to historic preservation in Hawai`i Revised Statutes §6E-1, stating in part "the legislature further declares that it is in the public interest to engage in a comprehensive program of historic preservation at all levels of government to promote the use and conservation of such property for the education, inspiration, pleasure, and enrichment of its citizens"; and

WHEREAS, Hawai`i has a unique and spectacular history found nowhere else in the world that should be preserved and shared for current and future generations and with the millions of individuals who visit the state each year; and

WHEREAS, historic preservation is a dynamic field that focuses on the care and management of the built environment and the protection of other cultural resources; and

WHEREAS, President Bush has affirmed the importance of historic preservation when he said, "Anything we can do to preserve our history and share it with the public, especially students, and other young people, is an important service in these challenging times"; and

 

WHEREAS, less than 5% of Hawai`i's buildings are more than fifty years old; and

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the state to preserve the architecture, objects, and sites of the numerous cultures that make up our island community, as preservation of the history of our cultures not only helps to promote the tourism industry, but also helps to preserve for future generations the cultural identities of the various peoples that call Hawai`i home; and

WHEREAS, historic preservation was recognized as an issue of statewide importance through the proclamation of the Governor, declaring May 4th, 2005 as Hawai`i Historic Preservation Awareness Day, and the announcement from the Administrator of the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources that 2006 is the Year of Historic Preservation; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that this body encourages the formation of a task force to create a prioritized action plan to preserve all buildings built before the end of World War II that are considered eligible for the National and/or State Register of Historic Places; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force should include the co-chairs of the Historic Preservation Caucus, a representative from the Historic Hawaii Foundation, a representative from the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and interested members of the general public with backgrounds in fundraising or restoration; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the co-chairs of the Historic Preservation Caucus, the Historic Hawaii Foundation, the Administrator of the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Historic Preservation; action plan and task force