STAND. COM. REP. NO.  16

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 245

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 245 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to amend the definition of "historic property" under the historic preservation law to include the requirement that the property meet the criteria for being entered into the Hawaii Register of Historic Places.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Historic Hawaii Foundation.

 

     Your Committee finds that the current definition of "historic property" has created a backlog of reviews for properties simply due to the age of the properties.  This measure, by specifying that historic properties meet the criteria for entry into the Hawaii Register of Historic Places, will narrow the focus for the administration of the historic preservation law to properties of greater historic significance rather than solely based on age.

 

     Your Committee notes the concerns raised by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs regarding the effect of this measure on Native Hawaiian cultural sites.  Your Committee was assured by the Department of Land and Natural Resources that Native Hawaiian cultural sites currently are, and will continue to be, protected under this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 245 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair