SCR 75: REQUESTING THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO EMPLOY AN ARCHAEOLOGIST FOR THE PURPOSE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN REBUILDING LAHAINA.

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO EMPLOY AN ARCHAEOLOGIST FOR THE PURPOSE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN REBUILDING LAHAINA.

     WHEREAS, the wildfires on Maui in August 2023 were among the deadliest and most destructive in the State's history; and

     WHEREAS, the wildfires devastated much of the historic town of Lahaina, destroying centuries-old buildings, cultural landmarks, and irreplaceable heritage sites that were central to its identity and history; and

     WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes that historic preservation is critical in rebuilding Lahaina because it helps maintain cultural identity, supports economic recovery through tourism, promotes environmental sustainability by reducing waste, aids in social and emotional healing, provides educational value, fosters community cohesion, and ensures compliance with legal preservation regulations; and

WHEREAS, while numerous efforts have been made to address the rebuilding of Lahaina, no archaeologist has yet been fully engaged in preserving the history and culture of the community and the State during this critical process; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the County of Maui is requested to employ one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) archaeologist for the purpose of historic preservation in rebuilding Lahaina; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the archaeologist is requested to work with other entities involved in the rebuilding of Lahaina to preserve the history and culture of the community and the State; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the archaeologist is requested to implement federal and state mandates, and to plan and manage projects on historic preservation in rebuilding Lahaina; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor of the County of Maui.

Report Title: 

County of Maui; Archaeologist; Historic Preservation

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO EMPLOY AN ARCHAEOLOGIST FOR THE PURPOSE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN REBUILDING LAHAINA.

     WHEREAS, the wildfires on Maui in August 2023 were among the deadliest and most destructive in the State's history; and

     WHEREAS, the wildfires devastated much of the historic town of Lahaina, destroying centuries-old buildings, cultural landmarks, and irreplaceable heritage sites that were central to its identity and history; and

     WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes that historic preservation is critical in rebuilding Lahaina because it helps maintain cultural identity, supports economic recovery through tourism, promotes environmental sustainability by reducing waste, aids in social and emotional healing, provides educational value, fosters community cohesion, and ensures compliance with legal preservation regulations; and

WHEREAS, no archaeologist is currently involved in preserving the history and culture of the community and the State during the rebuilding of Lahaina; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the County of Maui is requested to employ one full-time equivalent (FTE) archaeologist; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the archaeologist is requested to work with other entities involved in the rebuilding of Lahaina to preserve the history and culture of the community and the State; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the archaeologist is requested to implement federal and state mandates, and to plan and manage projects on historic preservation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor of the County of Maui.

Report Title: 

County of Maui; Archaeologist; Historic Preservation

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1476

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 75

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Water and Land, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 75 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO EMPLOY AN ARCHAEOLOGIST FOR THE PURPOSE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN REBUILDING LAHAINA,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the County of Maui to employ one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) archaeologist for the purpose of historic preservation in rebuilding Lahaina.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.

     Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of ʻOiwi Resources of the County of Maui and one individual.

     Your Committees find that the 2023 Maui wildfires devastated much of the historic town of Lahaina, destroying centuries-old buildings, cultural landmarks, and irreplaceable heritage sites that were central to its identity and history.  Your Committees recognize that, due to the high sensitivity and likelihood of encountering sub-surface historic properties and iwi (bones) during the reconstruction process, many recovery projects will require archaeological monitoring and archaeological inventory surveys, significantly increasing the workload of existing county staff.  This measure aims to provide dedicated technical support and resources to help the County of Maui face ongoing challenges in the protection of burial sites and sub-surface historic properties as it continues to rebuild from the 2023 Maui wildfires. 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that, while numerous efforts have been made to address the rebuilding of Lahaina, no archaeologist has yet been fully engaged in preserving the history and culture of the community and the State during this critical rebuilding process; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 75, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 75, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Water and Land,