RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, shrinkage in congregation and neglect of Japanese temples and shrines caused many of these places to fall in disrepair or have closed; and

WHEREAS, the temples and shrines served an historically important function as religious, social, and cultural centers for an immigrant populations assimilating itself into the larger culture of Hawai`i; and

WHEREAS, the design of the temples and shrines created a new and unique architectural form by combining the traditional Japanese architectural motifs with new materials, construction methods, and architectural forms unique to Hawai`i; and

WHEREAS the design and style of these buildings are unique to Hawaii, not seen anywhere else in the world, and evolved as the Japanese assimilated and prospered in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the evolutionary design of the temples tell an important story of how the Japanese community immigrated to and changed while in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the preservation of the temples and shrines will preserve their unique architectural forms, and provide economic, cultural, and historical benefit to the state; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Government financially assists state historic preservation projects through a variety of funding sources including the Federal Historic Preservation Fund, which provides a two third match (60% Federal/40% non-Federal) of non-Federal funding sources for local historic preservation efforts; and

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"; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislature support the preservation of traditional Japanese temples and shrines for future generations; and

Report Title:

Historic Preservation; Japanese temples and shrines