Historic Hawaii Foundation's Testimony on HB2480

VIA EMAIL:

To: Rep. Mele Carroll, Chair
Rep. Maile S.L. Shimabukuro, Vice Chair, Committee on Hawaiian Affairs

Rep. Ken Ito, Chair
Rep. Sharon E. Har, Vice Chair
Committee on Water, Land & Ocean Resources
From: Kiersten Faulkner
Executive Director, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation
Committee Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2010
9:00 am
Conference Room 329
Subject: HB2480, Relating to Historic Places

On behalf of Historic Hawai‘i Foundation (HHF), I am writing in support of HB2480, which requires the state historic preservation division to report on the historical significance of an archaeological site or feature if it is destroyed, and provides civil penalties for destruction of archaeological sites that are listed on the state or national registers of historic places.

Since 1974, Historic Hawaii Foundation has been a statewide leader for historic preservation. HHF works to preserve Hawaii’s unique architectural and cultural heritage and believes that historic preservation is an important element in the present and future quality of life, economic viability and environmental sustainability of the state.

HHF strongly supports all efforts to identify and protect significant historic properties, including civil and administrative penalties for the destruction of sites significant to the history and prehistory of Native Hawaiians that are designated on the state and national registers of historic places.

While the intent of HB2480 is to provide protection of archaeological sites and features only, HHF would also encourage the same level of protection for other sites that are designated on the historic registers. To that end, we recommend that the legislature direct the department of land and natural resources to convene a review of best practices and models for good preservation systems that can be implemented comprehensively, with recommendations to be submitted to the legislature next year.

Therefore, HHF recommends that HB2480 be approved.