STAND. COM. REP. NO. 622

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 245

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 245 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the definition of "historic property" under the historic preservation law to include the requirement that the property meet the criteria for being entered into the Hawaii Register of Historic Places.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Minatoishi Architects, Ka Lāhui Hawai‘i Kōmike Kalai‘āina, and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment Committee and Historic Hawai‘i Foundation.

Your Committee finds that the current definition of "historic property" has created a backlog of reviews for properties simply due to the age of the properties. This measure, by specifying that historic properties meet the criteria for entry into the Hawaii Register of Historic Places, will narrow the focus for the administration of the historic preservation law to properties of greater historic significance rather than solely based on age.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the requirement that the property meet the criteria for being entered into the Hawaii Register of Historic Places applies to buildings, inclusive of privately owned homes; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 245, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 245, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair