On June 8, 2017, 140 stakeholders from 19 sectors representing 117 organizations participated in the Resilient O‘ahu Workshop at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. The workshops goal: to welcome Honolulu into the 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) initiative pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation and begin the collective process of devising a “Resilience Strategy” for Oahu. The newly established Office of Climate Change, Sustainability & Resiliency, created in 2016 when voters approved City Charter Amendment 7, is taking the lead in this effort which falls squarely within its mission to build partnerships to increase sustainability and address climate change on O‘ahu. 100RC was born out of the need for cities, where much of the world’s population resides, to be resilient enough to survive, adapt and grow regardless of increased acute shocks and chronic stresses. Shocks are defined as sudden, sharp events that threaten a city while stresses weaken the fabric of a city over the long haul.
Honolulu workshop participants identified top shocks as infrastructure failure, hurricane and other natural disasters with top stressors being rising sea level, high cost of living/access to housing and overreliance on imports.
As O‘ahu moves toward formulating a plan, it is important that cultural resources defined as: archaeological sites (surface and buried); historic buildings and structures; objects; districts; ethnographic sites and cultural landscapes be viewed as valuable assets that need protection under the resiliency strategy. Both shocks and stressors have the potential to adversely affect cultural resources by increasing risk of damage or destruction, limiting access to sites which can lead to a loss of connection to a place, culture and traditions and reduced visitation which impacts local business and economy as visitor interest and spending decrease.
Resilience implies adaptability, flexibility and being open to new ways of interacting with and stewarding the natural and built world. Historic Hawai‘i Foundation and other historic and cultural organizations can contribute to the 100 RC planning sessions to be sure cultural resources are properly represented and accounted for. Making sure all of our existing resources are surveyed and listed is paramount. Examining them in the framework of their significance, relevance (why is the site being preserved and for whom?), stewardship (is the site well preserved and managed?), features most vulnerable to shocks and stressors, regulatory issues related to its preservation, and community connection to the site, essential.
The 100RC initiative offers an opportunity for Oahu to formally recognize the significance of our cultural and built heritage as an integral part of what makes our city unique and plan for their protection.
To sign up for updates and to participate at future sessions, email resilientoahu@honolulu.gov or call 808-768-2277. To learn more, visit www.resilientoahu.org