(November 30, 2022) — Last week’s announcement that Honolulu will be establishing an Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission some three decades after the City Council unanimously voiced its support for such a commission is welcome news for all Native Hawaiians. The creation of this important review body will greatly enrich the historic preservation review process for Oʻahu enabling greater community input during the permitting process. The commission will provide for crucial public input directly into the historic preservation process, something that both the Department of Permitting and Planning (DPP) and the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD), as agencies, consistently struggle with in our experience at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs over the past two decades. We see the commission as both an asset and resource for DPP and SHPD in their respective roles and responsibilities. We applaud the leadership of Council Vice Chair Esther Kiaaina on this issue, as well as Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Council Chair Tommy Waters, for their commitment to protecting our historical and cultural resources. As the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission will help protect cultural sites, it will in turn improve the mental wellbeing for our lāhui and the physical wellbeing of our ʻāina.
Interested individuals may apply to serve on the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Committee by emailing a cover letter and resume to mdoffice@honolulu.gov.
