Report Title:

Iolani Palace; Lease

 

Description:

Directs the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources to enter a 999 year lease of Iolani Palace with the Friends of Iolani Palace.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1791

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

relating to iolani palace.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that to enhance the prestige and status of Hawaii as a modern nation, the Hawaiian government appropriated funds and the cornerstone for Iolani Palace was laid on December 31, 1879.  By August 1882, the building was substantially completed and King Kalakaua held a luncheon for members of the Hawaii legislative assembly.  In December 1882, King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani moved into Iolani Palace as their official state residence.

     The newly constructed Iolani Palace was outfitted with the most modern amenities of the time, including indoor plumbing.  The original gas chandeliers were replaced with modern electric lighting five years after the palace was completed, less than seven years after Thomas Edison invented the first practical incandescent bulb.  King Kalakaua installed a modern communication system in the palace that included the recently invented telephone.  During the monarchy, Iolani Palace was a center of social and political life in Hawaii.  In 1976, in recognition of Iolani Palace's significant place in Hawaii's heritage and history, it was officially designated as a state monument and today, is the only official state residence of royalty in the United States.  As the official residence of Hawaiian royalty, official functions were held and dignitaries and luminaries from around the world were received and entertained.  Today, Iolani Palace is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, located in the capitol district of downtown Honolulu.

     The legislature finds that the Friends of Iolani Palace, a non-profit organization, is responsible for the stewardship of Iolani Palace under a lease with the State of Hawaii.  The mission of the Friends of Iolani Palace is to preserve, restore, interpret, share, and celebrate the unique cultural, historical, and spiritual qualities of Iolani Palace for the benefit of native Hawaiians and the people of Hawaii and the world.

     The purpose of this Act is to grant the Friends of Iolani Palace a nine hundred ninety-nine year lease to the historic site of Iolani Palace.

     SECTION 2.  The chairperson of the board of land and natural resources is directed to enter into a lease, by direct negotiation and without recourse to public auction, of the historic site of Iolani Palace for a period of nine hundred ninety-nine years with the Friends of Iolani Palace; provided that:

     (1)  The historic site of Iolani Palace, including its historic contents, furnishings, collections, and artifacts, shall be protected and managed by the Friends of Iolani Palace, whose primary mission is the perpetual care and sharing of Iolani Palace with and for the people of Hawaii and visitors to the State;  

     (2)  The historic site of Iolani Palace, its buildings and adjacent lands, shall be safe and well-maintained under the stewardship of the Friends of Iolani Palace;

     (3)  Iolani Palace shall have sufficient and appropriately knowledgeable and qualified paid and unpaid personnel, who are well-trained and possess the necessary skills and expertise to fulfill their obligations to preserve and protect the palace effectively and efficiently; provided that palace personnel shall be subject to regular job evaluations and shall be offered appropriate professional development opportunities;

     (4)  The historic contents, furnishings, collections, and artifacts of Iolani Palace shall be well-defined, preserved, housed, appropriately documented, and accessible on-site and on the Internet to the Friends of Iolani Palace personnel and the public;

     (5)  The historic site of Iolani Palace shall be developed and interpreted in recognition of its importance in Hawaiian history, from its earliest period to the present;

     (6)  The board of directors of the Friends of Iolani Place shall maintain a reputation of excellence in museum trusteeship;

     (7)  The historic site of Iolani Palace shall be an accredited institution of the American Association of Museums; and

     (8)  The historic site of Iolani Palace shall contribute to the economic development of the State of Hawaii as an important cultural tourism experience and as a significant learning resource in the education of all of Hawaii's people.

     SECTION 3.  The legislature finds that the nine hundred ninety-nine year lease between the State and the Friends of Iolani Palace does not discharge the State's obligation to provide financial support for the maintenance and preservation of Iolani Palace.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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