Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 11, 1 November 1991 — Nominations open to Preservation Council [ARTICLE]

Nominations open to Preservation Council

by Deborah L. Ward Ka Wai Ola O OHA, Editor Nominations are now being accepted to fill positions on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Native Hawaiian Historic Preservation Oouneil (NHHPO.

A total of 15 eouneil members positions need to be filled. Applieahon forms may be requested by writing or calling OHA at 586-3777. Nominations must be submitted in writing by Dec. 15 to the OHA committee on Education and

Culture, chaired by OHA Trustee Moses Keale, Sr. Functions of the NHHP Council include, but are not limited to:

Anyone who wishes to apply for the NHHP Council positions should contact the Office of Hawaiian Affairs at 586-3777 for an applieahon form. Forms must be completed and received by Trustee Moses Keale no later than Dec. 15, 1991. It is not necessary to be of Native Hawaiian ancestry to be nominated to the advisory eouneil.

The Native Hawaiian Historic Preservation Council was originally established as a task force by the OHA Board of Trustees in January 1989 "to review and recommend statutory amendments whieh would address known weaknesses in federal and state laws and county ordinances affecting historic preservation."

That same year, the legislature passed and the BOT delegated the task of studying, ways to better respond to discovery of important historic sites in Hawai'i. Two reports were submitted by the Task Force. As outlined in the scope of duties approved by the full Board on July 26, 1991, the CounciI is also now responsible for administering the repatriation fund and an appropriation for the construction of a special repository to receive the two ka'ai now curated at Bishop Museum. The task force has also taken upon responsibilities to assure safe return of Native Hawaiian remains being curated at federally-funded institutions. For example, this summer and in 1989 task force members were involved in the return to Hawai'i and reinterment of Hawaiian skeletal remains whieh had been in the curation of the Smithsonian Institution for over 100 years.

• pursuing the clarification and strengthening of federal, state and county laws and procedures to formally recognize and include the OHA Council and Native Hawaiian cultural values in the full range of historic preservation reviews and decisions;

• drawing attention to and exercising the authority of the eouneil in the resolution of conflicts related to culturally-sensitive historic preservation issues, especially as such issues impact on the inherent Native Hawaiian right of freedom to believe, express and exercise traditional religious practices; and

• encouraging wider and more effective participation by Hawaiian communities and individuals — especialiy by those with a special knowledge and traditional attachments to affected properties — in decisions regarding historic preservation and cultural conservation. The eouneil, in conjunction with and subject to the oversight of the OHA board's committee on education and culture, is authorized by the board

to review and recommend actions to the board on ail matters related to historic preservation. The council's functions will be to: • serve as liaison between the board and other external agencies, organizations, beneficiaries and general public;

• develop legislation and advocate for passage of stronger federal and state laws and county ordinances affecting historic preservation; • establish guidelines and advocate for the culturally-sensitive management and interpretation of public and private historic properties significant to Native Hawaiians; and • review and provide responses to all proposed administrative rules created by other agencies continued page 23

Councils seek candidates from page 3

whieh affect historic preservation decisions.

Other duties of the eouneil will involve: • development of formal agreements to preserve, protect and provide for management and interpretation of cultural and historic properties; • development of a eouneil biennium budget for presentation to the board; • seeking additional funding for enhancement of Native Hawaiian cultural and historic property preservation and protection; and

• development of guidelines and procedures to disburse monies for approved programs, such as repatriation. The education and culture committee and current NHHP Council will receive and review all completed nominations for new vacancies and will prepare a list of nominees to be forwarded to the board for consideration by Jan. 1. Terms will be established for two, four and five years. At its first regular meeting in January, the board will take action on the nominees. A majority vote of the board will confirm the nominations.

Members serve without compensation but are entitled to travel and other expenses associated with official business of the eouneil. Members will be sought to assure a broad and balanced geographical representation of professional and cultural disciplines involyed with historic preservation. Two members must be trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.