Hawaii County, HI Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

Hawai'i County Code Article 44 (§§ 2-224 to 2-231) establishes the Hawai'i County Cultural Resources Commission specifically to preserve historic properties and cultural sites on the Big Island. Section 2-224 states the Council's finding that "preservation of historic properties enhances the educational, cultural, economic and general welfare of the County" and directs implementation of chapter 6E, Hawai'i Revised Statutes, alongside the County General Plan. Section 2-225 defines a "historic property" as any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, area or object significant to the history, architecture, archaeology or culture of the County, State or Nation that is over fifty years old, including anything already listed on the Hawai'i or national registers.

The nine-member commission (Section 2-226) is appointed by the mayor with council approval, drawing on professionals in architecture, history, archaeology, Hawaiian culture and Native Hawaiian burial practices, and members serve staggered five-year terms. S. Secretary of the Interior's rehabilitation standards. Section 2-230 sets the nomination process: any person or organization can submit a nomination to the State Historic Preservation Officer, the commission must hold a public hearing after notice published at least ten days out in a newspaper of general circulation, and it must forward findings and a recommendation to the mayor within forty-five days of notice.

The mayor then has fifteen days to send a recommendation to the State Historic Preservation Officer, which need not match the commission's. Section 2-231 directs the commission to use the County General Plan and the State Historic Preservation Plan as guidance documents in its review functions.