HB3397

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that 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 that the state of Hawai`i recognized this commitment to historic preservation in H.R.S. §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."

The legislature also finds that 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 that the University of Hawaii at Manoa currently offers a Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation, to be completed alone or in conjunction with another graduate certificate or degree program. The legislature further finds that the University's Historic Preservation program has benefited from the experience and expertise of its faculty and lecturers and distinguished visiting professors, in addition to its annual Preservation Field Schools, which are intensive summer programs that provide students from Hawaii and all over the world with hands-on experience working with neighborhoods or buildings worthy of documentation and analysis, and that the Department of American Studies at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa is currently in the process of trying to realign its courses to include Historic Preservation with the required coursework for a prospective degree program within these fields, which would succeed in training museum and historic preservation staff in the State and would be an investment in Hawaii's heritage and future care of its heritage resources

The legislature further finds that these degree programs would establish Hawaii as a leader in heritage issues for the Pacific Rim and would attract students internationally, especially from the Asia Pacific region, and could positively impact Hawaii and other island cultures that are concerned with preserving their heritages and negotiating tourism. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for a full-time professor within the historic preservation department, which will allow the department to expand from a certificate program to a 4-year degree program.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for a full-time professor within the historic preservation department at the University of Hawaii.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	3397
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII