HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	161
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the department of land and natural resources, state historic preservation division, TO review CHAPTER 6E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to historic properties.

     WHEREAS, there are a significant number of structures in the State of Hawaii of unique architectural and cultural heritage and of historical significance; and

     WHEREAS, preserving and perpetuating these structures that reflect outstanding elements of the State's cultural, artistic, architectural, historic, and other heritage:

     (1)  Fosters civic pride in the beauty and accomplishments of the past;

     (2)  Stabilizes or improves the aesthetics and economic vitality and values of such structures;

     (3)  Protects and enhances the State's attraction to tourists and visitors; and

     (4)  Promotes the use of outstanding historical or architectural structures for the education, stimulation, and welfare of the people of the State; and

     WHEREAS, in many cases, owners of such historic structures may not have the financial means to maintain and preserve these structures and may wish to demolish them; and

     WHEREAS, these structures are probably within the definition of historic properties, as defined in section 6E-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, but may not be on the Hawaii register of historic places; and

     WHEREAS, pursuant to section 6E-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, before initiating any construction, alteration, disposition, or improvement of any nature that will affect a historic property on the Hawaii register of historic places, the landowner must notify the Department of Land and Natural Resources of the proposed action and allow the department to review the effect of the proposed action on the historic property; and

     WHEREAS, standards for review of an application for any construction, alternation, disposition, or improvement that will affect any historic property should include consideration of the historic significance and integrity of the individual building and the overall impact to the historic context; and

     WHEREAS, the State Historic Preservation Division, Department of Land and Natural Resources, was established to administer a comprehensive historic preservation program and possesses the requisite knowledge, experience, and personnel to review and evaluate the effect of proposed actions on historic properties; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources, State Historic Preservation Division, is requested to work with the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board, county governments, the Historic Hawaii Foundation, and other stakeholders to review chapter 6E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, with respect to whether any changes should be made to that law with regard to any proposed action that will affect any historic property, regardless of whether the historic property is on the Hawaii register of historic places, to ensure the intent and public policy expressed in section 6E-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is achieved; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources, State Historic Preservation Division, is requested to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature, including any proposed legislation, not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, and to the Mayor and the Chairperson of the Council of each county.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Hawaii Historic Places Review Board; Historic Properties