Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 1989 — OHA and DLNR begin review of historic preservation laws [ARTICLE]

OHA and DLNR begin review of historic preservation laws

In a gesture of cooperation, the state's Department of Land and Natural Resources and OHA's Native Hawaiian Historic Preservation Task Force met in Kona (Sept. 22-24) to discuss how to strengthen historic preservation laws in Hawai'i. Among the topics discussed were: • Implementation of the new DLNR historic sites division (formerly under the parks division); • Creation of new positions for island-based assistant division archeologists for Kaua'i, Maui and the island of Hawai'i;

• Coordination between the OHA Historic Preservation Task Force and the DLNR regarding submittal of an interim report on better conservation and maintenance of historic and cultural properties in the state, to the state legislature in December as mandated by House Concurrent Resolution 136; • Discussion of proposed rules governing historic preservation review and the inclusion of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in the review process. At the conclusion of the meeting, DLNR Deputy Director Libert Landgraf assured all the participants the cooperative review would begin immediately. Further, Landgraf said formal comments from the OHA Historic Preservation Task Force on the OHA, DLNR meet continued on page 15

OHA and DLNR meet

from page 1 draft rules for the maintenance and preservation of historic and cultural sites would be favorably received.

Commenting on the Kona meeting, Linda Kawai'ono Delaney, of OHA's land and natural resources division, said, "As always, by meeting at Keauhou, the task force and DLNR have truly experienced a new beginning. We rediscovered mutual caring and strong bonds of eoneem for the history and traditions of Hawai'i. "The meeting began a working partnership whieh will evolve, so that traditional cultural values

and modern archeological techniques will act together to protect and understand the past. "This partnership will, we hope, be reflected in the future laws of the state." As appointed by the board of trustees of OHA, the members of the Historic Preservation Task

Force are: Lydia Namahana Maioho, chairperson, Rev. Leon Sterling, vice-chairperson, Clarence F. T. Ching, June Cleghorn, Ben Finney, Mahealani Ing, Pualani Kanahele, Moses K. Keale Sr., Lani Ma'a, Susan Miller, Rudy Mitchell, Eleanor Williamson, Elisa Yadao and Tom Yagi.