DLNR HISTORIC SITES CALENDAR 1996
The Bishop Museum, during the period 1910-1940, undertook an inventory of the major ancient Hawaiian sites which could be readily found throughout the islands. By 1966 less than one third of these approximately 2100 heiau and other prominent sites remained. Concerned with this trend, and cognizant that the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 provided funds to support historic preservation activities at the State level, the 1967 Legislature passed, and Governor John Burns signed into law, Act 254, creating the State Historic Preservation Program.
In its initial years the program was operated through contracted services. However, in 1971, permanent staff were hired, and the State Historic Preservation Office emerged as a tangible governmental entity. Over the course of the last twenty-five years of service an incredible increase in public appreciation and concern for the preservation of Hawaii's historic places has taken place.
Currently the historic preservation program reviews more than 200 development or land-use proposals a month for the effect they may have on historic properties. Through this process over 1,000 new sites a year are identified, and approximately 20% of these are preserved. Most of the others are studied and documented prior to their destruction. The information gained from these studies has greatly expanded our knowledge of pre-contact Hawaiian life. It is through the review and compliance process that the historic resources on Kaho'olawe, as well as other areas throughout the State, were initially inventoried and protected. In recent years, an emphasis has been placed on not only preserving, but interpreting historic sites within development areas. As a result, a series of interpreted sites will soon emerge in some areas which will portray the early history of that district. These will include the royal centers located in central Kona, and a variety of sites in Koloa such as field systems, heiau, coastal habitations and burial dunes.
Over the past twenty-five years, more than thirty-five historic preservation grants-in-aid have been awarded to various organizations and agencies. The historic preservation program administered these moneys which were appropriated by Congress or the Legislature, and oversaw the work undertaken to assure that it met high preservation standards. These moneys have been, in some instances, the key to retaining rather than destroying a property, and in other instances provided for the continued care and enhancement of a property.
excerpt from introduction
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