HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

14

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

supporting THE PRESERVATION OF JAPANESE SHRINES AND TEMPLES in hawai`i.

 

 

WHEREAS, shrinkage in congregation and neglect of Japanese temples and shrines caused many of these places to fall in disrepair or have closed; and

WHEREAS, the temples and shrines served an historically important function as religious, social, and cultural centers for an immigrant populations assimilating itself into the larger culture of Hawai`i; and

WHEREAS, the design of the temples and shrines created a new and unique architectural form by combining the traditional Japanese architectural motifs with new materials, construction methods, and architectural forms unique to Hawai`i; and

WHEREAS the design and style of these buildings are unique to Hawaii, not seen anywhere else in the world, and evolved as the Japanese assimilated and prospered in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the evolutionary design of the temples tell an important story of how the Japanese community immigrated to and changed while in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the preservation of the temples and shrines will preserve their unique architectural forms, and provide economic, cultural, and historical benefit to the state; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Government financially assists state historic preservation projects through a variety of funding sources including the Federal Historic Preservation Fund, which provides a two third match (60% Federal/40% non-Federal) of non-Federal funding sources for local historic preservation efforts; and

WHEREAS, 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"; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature support the preservation of traditional Japanese temples and shrines for future generations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Historic Preservation; Japanese temples and shrines