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Mayor Blangiardi to establish Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission

HONOLULU -- During a press conference outside the historic Mission Memorial Building in Honolulu on Wednesday, Mayor Rick Blangiardi announced his intent to establish and stand up the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission (OHPC), a significant move that will help provide additional protection for the historic sites on -- and the cultural heritage of -- the island of Oʻahu.

"Our strong support for the preservation of historic places and protection of cultural and archaeological sites has never wavered, and standing up the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission is a clear reflection of that support," said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. "Today, we join with the members of the City Council and the advocates in our communities who have worked so tirelessly to ensure that the historic places on Oʻahu that are so meaningful to so many will be protected for generations to come."

The commission, which is being established by resolution using the mayorʻs executive reorganization power under Honolulu City Charter Section 4-202, will give effect to Bill 44 (2022), the ordinance passed by the City Council earlier this month.

The OHPC will consist of nine members who are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council. Once sworn in, commissioners will advise and assist federal, state, and city government agencies in carrying out the historic preservation responsibilities laid out by the City Council.

"Bill 44 demonstrates the City's commitment to protect our historic sites. I am especially grateful to Vice Chair Kiaʻāina for her continued leadership on the preservation of our cultural resources, and I look forward to the important work that the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission will do," said Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters. "I am so proud of this significant step to ensuring the protection of these sacred resources for our keiki and moʻopuna."

Commissioners will also be responsible for a variety of other tasks, including the recommending of historic properties for inclusion in registers of historic places, the maintaining of an inventory of historic resources, and the assisting of the Department of Planning and Permitting in developing standards and guidelines related to matters affecting historic places.

"After nearly 30 years, the current City Council and Mayor Blangiardi has come together to at long last officially establish the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission. This is a testament to the Mayor's courage to tackle long-standing issues that have been kicked down the road for decades," said Esther Kiaʻāina, the Vice Chair of the Honolulu City Council. "I applaud him, Council Chair Tommy Waters, the entire City Council, and most importantly our community leaders, for collaborating to ensure that we prioritize the protection and preservation of Oʻahu's remaining cultural and historical resources."

By establishing the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission, the City is also eligible to receive additional funding by enrolling in the Certified Local Government's program, which "helps facilitate State and local government cooperation with Federal partners to promote nationwide preservation initiatives."

To submit an application to serve on the Oʻahu Historic Preservation Commission, please send a cover letter and resume to mdoffice@honolulu.gov.

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