Hawaii House Bill HB1056

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/25/23
• Refer: 1/30/23
• Report Pass: 2/16/23
• Refer: 2/16/23

Caption

Relating To Historic Preservation Reviews.

Impact

If enacted, HB1056 will facilitate greater local control over the review process for projects on Hawaiian home lands. This change is significant because it aligns the oversight of historic preservation with the specific cultural and community perspectives of the DHHL, potentially increasing responsiveness to community concerns about historic properties and burial sites. Additionally, the bill stipulates conditions for the DHHL’s review process that includes appointing a qualified preservation officer, ensuring transparency, and maintaining a dialogue with the office of Hawaiian affairs and relevant burial councils.

Summary

House Bill 1056 aims to amend Hawaii Revised Statutes section 6E-8 to grant the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) the authority to review projects affecting historic properties and burial sites for lands under its jurisdiction. Previously, the DHHL was required to consult with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) before proceeding with any proposed projects. This bill proposes to allow the DHHL to assume the review process directly, placing the onus and responsibility of consultation on the DHHL rather than the DLNR, thereby streamlining the process of historic preservation reviews.

Contention

There may be concerns regarding the potential overlap of authority and responsibilities between the DHHL and the DLNR. While the bill aims to streamline the review process, critics may argue that it could lead to conflicts in authority, especially regarding properties that are significant enough to warrant preservation under both departments. The preservation of burial sites and historic properties is often emotionally charged and contentious, and the shift in responsibility may provoke discussions around the adequacy of the DHHL’s capacity and expertise to handle reviews that have traditionally been the purview of the DLNR.