4/14/23: 9 Individuals Appointed to Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission

Mayor Rick Blangiardi on Wednesday announced the appointments of nine highly-qualified individuals who have been selected to serve on the inaugural Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission. The Commission advises City officials and members of the Honolulu City Council on matters related to the preservation of historic and cultural sites across the island of Oʻahu.

The nine individuals are all volunteers who will not be paid for their work. Four are cultural historians, three are architects or architectural historians who have specialized in historic preservation and two are archaeologists. They have been selected to serve staggered terms as noted below:

  • Nanea Lo, for an initial one-year term;
  • Māhealani Cypher*, for an initial two-year term;
  • Hailama V.K.K. Farden, for an initial two-year term;
  • Kai E. White, for an initial three-year term;Richard Douglas Davis, for an initial three-year term;
  • N. Mehanaokala Hind, for an initial four-year term;
  • Thomas S. Dye, for an initial four-year term;
  • Glenn E. Mason*, for an initial five-year term;
  • Kehaunani Abad, for an initial five-year term.

The appointees are all subject to confirmation by the Honolulu City Council under Resolution 23-45 which will be heard at the Council’s public meeting on Wednesday, April 19 at 10:00 a.m.

Once sworn in, the members of the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission will assist federal, state and city government agencies in carrying out the historic preservation responsibilities laid out in Bill 44, the ordinance passed by the City Council in November 2022. Administratively, the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission will be managed by the City’s Department of Planning and Permitting.

*Cypher and Mason are past recipients of the Frank Haines Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing lifetime commitment and contributions to the preservation of Hawaii’s heritage. The Award is presented annually as part of HHF’s Preservation Honor Awards Program.

2/9/2023: City & County of Honolulu Seeking Highly-Qualified Candidates to Serve on Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission

HONOLULU – Mayor Rick Blangiardi announced that the City and County of Honolulu is continuing its search for outstanding candidates to serve on the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission, which became effective in the Revised Charter of the City and County of Honolulu on January 23, 2023.

“Standing up the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission is long overdue, and we look forward to appointing highly-qualified commissioners who share our strong support for the preservation of historic places and protection of cultural and archaeological sites,” said Blangiardi. “The commission will provide additional protection for historic and cultural sites across our island for generations to come, and we look forward to the positive impact it will have on our communities.”

Once possible candidates have been identified, nine individuals will be selected and appointed by the mayor for confirmation by the City Council. In accordance with the ordinance, the city is specifically seeking to identify nine individuals with experience in architecture, history, archaeology, planning, architectural history, Hawaiian culture, anthropology, ethnography and sociology to serve on the commission.

Once sworn in, commissioners will advise and assist federal, state, and city government agencies in carrying out the historic preservation responsibilities laid out by the City Council.

“The Honolulu City Council is making a final call for qualified candidates to join the O‘ahu Historic Preservation Commission. The sooner the City gets a good pool of candidates, the faster the Commission can be stood up to help with historic preservation efforts on Oʻahu,” said Councilmember Esther Kiaʻāina, who worked closely with Chair Waters and historic preservation experts to amend the law establishing the Commission after it was not stood up for nearly 30 years.

Commissioners will also be responsible for a variety of other tasks, including the recommending of historic properties for inclusion in registers of historic places, the maintaining of an inventory of historic resources, and the assisting of the Department of Planning and Permitting in developing standards and guidelines related to matters affecting historic places.

By establishing the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission, the City is also eligible to receive additional funding by enrolling in the Certified Local Government’s program, which helps facilitate State and local government cooperation with Federal partners to promote nationwide preservation initiatives.

To submit an application to serve on the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission, please send a cover letter and resume to mdoffice@honolulu.gov.

11/30/22: Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission to be Enacted in Early 2023

The City and County of Honolulu will enact the O‘ahu Historic Preservation Commission in early 2023 after City Council and Mayor Rick Blangiardi reached consensus on technical and legal concerns in December.

Blangiardi allowed Bill 44 to become law without his signature on November 23, 2022, but simultaneously announced that he intends to establish the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission under his executive reorganization power pursuant to Honolulu City Charter Section 4-202.

“Our strong support for the preservation of historic places and protection of cultural and archaeological sites has never wavered, and we’re standing up the O‘ahu Historic Preservation Commission as a clear demonstration of that support.” Mayor Rick Blangiardi

Upon approval of the Mayor’s proposal to establish the Commission, which can occur by approval by the City Council or passage of 60 days of the Mayor’s submission, the underlying ordinance 93-55 (ROH §3-10.2) and Bill 44 (2022) will become valid.  You can see the Mayor’s submission to the City Council here.

The Council Bill and the Mayor’s Resolution have consistent terms and powers and reinforce the provisions of the other.

The working group established by Councilmember Esther Kia‘āina to provide subject matter expertise included Historic Hawai‘i Foundation Executive Director Kiersten Faulkner, archaeologist and Hawaiian cultural advocate Kehaunani Abad, and Māhealani Cypher, a cultural consultant with the Ko‘olau Foundation.

“Having this commission in place saves time and money for planners, landowners and developers. The time you save is you identify early on what important sites exist on the property…you can incorporate that into your planning for your project.”
Māhealani Cypher

Bill 44, relating to the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission, received unanimous Council approval at all three bill readings. Public testimony was universally supportive, with some revisions to address concerns about potential delays to permitting and project review timelines.

“We are very pleased at the process. We recognize the efforts to improve communication and improve the administrative process that’s involved with building in Honolulu,” said Kanekawaiola Lindsey, chairperson of the government relations committee for the Building Industry Association of Hawai‘i.

The Mayor’s office is soliciting applications for qualified candidates to serve on the Commission. Those interested in serving are invited to email a resume and cover letter to mdoffice@honolulu.gov.  Qualified candidates must have professional, educational, or experience in the following disciplines:

  • Architecture
  • History
  • Archaeology
  • Planning
  • Architectural history
  • Hawaiian culture
  • Anthropology
  • Ethnography
  • Sociology

Read the Resolution
Bill 44 – Final Version

11/2/22: Unanimous Vote Approves Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission

The O‘ahu Historic Preservation Commission delayed for over three decades may soon be a reality after Honolulu City Council voted unanimously to approve Bill 44 on Wednesday, Nov. 2.

The measure received overwhelming public support and council approval at all three bill readings and two committee hearings. The measure now goes to Mayor Rick Blangiardi, who has ten days to sign it, veto it or allow it to become law without his signature.

Historic Hawai‘i Foundation thanks bill sponsors Esther Kia‘āina and Tommy Waters as well as the other councilmembers who took this step to preserve historic buildings and cultural resources on O‘ahu.  Historic Hawai‘i Foundation also thanks all of the community members who testified in favor!

10/28/22: Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission Final Reading Scheduled for November 2

The third and final reading for the Bill to re-establish the O‘ahu Historic Preservation Commission is scheduled for the City Council meeting on Nov. 2. View the agenda.

Bill 44 CD 1  received overwhelming public support and unanimous council approval at each of three prior hearings. The final version of the measure includes several amendments in response to public testimony and corporation counsel legal review. The most substantive change was to provide for discretionary review and comment on proposed projects, rather than mandatory reviews. This will allow the City’s Department of Planning and Permitting to refer development projects with the potential to affect historic resources to the Commission by request rather than automatically.

Other powers and duties of the Commission will include advising the City on preservation policy, education, technical assistance and advocacy; initiating nominations for the Hawai‘i or National Registers of Historic Places; maintain a system for the survey, inventory and identification of historic properties to be integrated with the City’s planning and permitting system; and otherwise helping the City to establish a viable historic preservation program consistent with state and federal enabling laws.

Historic Hawai‘i Foundation strongly supports the measure. If approved by Council, Bill 44 will be sent to Mayor Blangiardi for final approval. Once enacted, the Mayor will be responsible for appointing the nine members of the Commission, subject to Council confirmation.

10/13/22: Final Committee Hearing on Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission Scheduled for October 18 at 10:30 a.m. Please submit written testimony in support by October 17.

Please join us again in support of Bill 44, introduced by Councilmember Esther Kia‘āina and Council Chair Tommy Waters, which will have its final hearing at the Committee on Housing and the Economy on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. The agenda for the meeting can be accessed here. Bill 44 would update the exiting ordinance that established the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission.

As a reminder, Bill 44 would:

  • Modify the composition of the Commission by:
    • Retaining a 9-member Commission and requiring that members have professional experience or special interest in 9 subjects: architecture, history, archaeology, planning, architectural history, Hawaiian culture, anthropology, ethnography, and sociology (underlined are proposed expanded subjects)
    • Retaining the requirement that one member of the Commission have expertise in Native Hawaiian issues and concerns
    • Requiring one member to have expertise in archaeology
    • Allowing members to have a combination of expertise in the listed subjects
    • Requiring expertise to be shown through professional experience, educational and background, or other demonstrative experience
  •  Include public advocacy as one of the commission’s duties
  • Require the commission to create an “O‘ahu historic property system,” for the survey, identification, and inventory of historic properties and archaeological sites. The system would be integrated into the City’s Department of Permitting and Planning’s (DPP) planning, application, review, and compliance system and complement the State Historic Preservation Division’s (SHPD) inventory system.
  • To eliminate unnecessary duplication, repeal the establishment of an O‘ahu Register of Historic Places and allows the Commission to initiate and recommend nominations of historic properties to SHPD directly.

The meeting will be viewable: (1) by Internet live streaming through www.honolulucitycouncil.com and (2) televised live broadcast on ʻŌlelo TV Channel 54.

Please submit written testimony by the City’s close of business, 4:30 PM on Monday, October 17, 2022, and sign-up for oral testimony by clicking the following link.  Once passed out of committee, we anticipate that Bill 44 will have its final reading at the November full City Council meeting, tentatively scheduled for November 2, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.

Submit Written Testimony

10/6/22: Bill 44 for Oahu Preservation Commission advances

Honolulu City Council gave unanimous approval for Council Bill 44 at its second reading on October 5, 2022. Testimony included 37 in support and 1 opposed.  The bill next goes back to the Committee on Housing and the Economy for one more hearing and potential amendments.  Next meeting for the Committee on Housing and the Economy is Tuesday, October 18 at 10:30 a.m. Bill 44 will likely be on the agenda. Check the status page on the City Council website for updates.

10/4/22: Council Bill 44 to have it’s second reading at the full City Council on Wednesday, October 5. Submit testimony in support.

Bill 44, a measure to reestablish the O‘ahu Historic Preservation Commission for the City & County of Honolulu, will have a public hearing and discussion at the full City Council on October 5.

Members of the public are invited to submit written testimony online and/or oral testimony in-person or remotely. Written testimony is due today, Tuesday, October 4 by 4:30 p.m.. View the agenda and instructions for submitting testimony.

Bill 44 is making it’s way through the City Council and needs your support. If the measure passes the second reading on October 5, it is then anticipated that the Housing and the Economy Committee, which CM Kiaʻāina Chairs, will have its final committee hearing on October 18th, with the potential for third reading by the full council in November to have Bill 44 passed.

Submit Written Testimony

View HHF’s Testimony

8/16/22: Support Council Bill 44 to restore the O‘ahu Historic Preservation Commission. Submit written testimony by September 19.

Bill 44, a measure to reestablish the O‘ahu Historic Preservation Commission for the City & County of Honolulu, will have a public hearing and discussion at its assigned committee, Housing and Economy on September 20.

Members of the public are invited to submit written testimony online and/or oral testimony in-person or remotely. Written testimony is due by Monday, September 19. View the agenda and instructions for submitting testimony.

View HHF’s Testimony

8/5/2022: A measure to reestablish the O‘ahu Historic Preservation Commission for the City & County of Honolulu will have first reading at the City Council meeting on August 10.

Bill 44, relating to the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission, was introduced by Councilmember Esther Kiaʻāina on July 15, 2022, and cosponsored by Council Chair Tommy Waters. The first reading initiates the legislative review process, which will include public hearings and discussion at its assigned committee, Housing and the Economy.

In 1993, City Council passed enabling legislation for the Commission via Ordinance 93-55 and enacted it in Revised Ordinances of Honolulu Section 3 Article 10.  Despite clear policy directive and authority from Council, successive administrations failed to establish the Historic Preservation Commission. It has never had appointees or staff, so has been a paper commission only.

By 2020, in response to a mandate for periodic review of all City boards and commissions, the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) recommended that the Commission be abolished.

In January 2021, the Honolulu City Council Committee on Zoning and Planning considered the DPP proposal. Rather than move forward with repealing the Commission, Council instead decided to review the ordinance, address any out-of-date or unworkable provisions, and to refresh and strengthen the ordinance for implementation.

Councilmember Esther Kia‘āina asked a small working group of preservation experts to review the ordinance and prepare recommendations. Working group members were Kehaunani Abad, Māhealani Cypher and Kiersten Faulkner.

The purpose of the O‘ahu Historic Preservation Commission is to establish a means by which the City & County of Honolulu would formulate and implement a comprehensive program for the identification and preservation of historic and cultural resources on O‘ahu.

The working group used three criteria in its review of the ROH 3-10:

  1. Retaining consistency and compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, the Federal framework for preservation partnerships and funding, and with the State of Hawaii’s Certified Local Government (CLG) program.
  2. Eliminating redundancies or conflicts between the O‘ahu Historic Preservation Commission and the State’s historic preservation functions at the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).
  3. Clarifying and updating administrative provisions, practices and various non-technical housekeeping revisions to include current terminology and references.

The working group submitted its recommendations to Councilmember Kia‘āina in late April 2021.

Bill 44 includes many but not all of the working group’s recommendations. Councilmember Kia‘āina also incorporated recommendations and input from City attorneys and DPP staff.

According to the bill summary, Bill 44:

  • Modifies the composition of the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission
    • Retains a 9-member commission, and requires that members have professional experience or special interest in 9 subjects: architecture, history, archaeology, planning, architectural history, Hawaiian culture, anthropology, ethnography, and sociology (underlined are proposed expanded subjects)
    • Retains the requirement that one member of the commission have expertise in Native Hawaiian issues and concerns
    • Requires one member to have expertise in archaeology
    • Allows members to have a combination of expertise in the listed subjects
    • Requires expertise to be shown through professional experience, educational and background, or other demonstrative experience
  • Includes public advocacy as one of the commission’s duties
  • Requires the commission to create an “O‘ahu historic property system,” for the survey, identification, and inventory of historic properties and archaeological sites. The system would be integrated into the City’s Department of Permitting and Planning’s (DPP) planning, application, review, and compliance system and complement the State Historic Preservation Division’s (SHPD) inventory system.
  • Requires the commission to review proposed projects that may adversely impact historic properties and allows the commission to make recommendations to SHPD (instead of DPP) to avoid, minimize, and mitigate adverse impacts of proposed projects on historic properties; and
  • In order to eliminate unnecessary duplication, repeals the establishment of an O‘ahu Register of Historic Places and allows the commission to initiate and recommend nominations of historic properties to SHPD directly.

Historic Hawai‘i Foundation supports the implementation of the O‘ahu Historic Preservation Commission. HHF will be monitoring the bill through the legislative process as the public input and hearings identify any questions or improvements.

For instructions on how to submit testimony, please refer to:  The Order of Business for the August 10th City Council Meeting.

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