Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 8, 1 August 2013 — Search begins for new SHPD administrator [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Search begins for new SHPD administrator

By Garett Kamemoto The State Historic Preservation Division, or SHPD, is looking for a new administrator following the resignation of Pua Aiu, who had served for the past five years. A screening committee has been formed to name a new administrator. Its members are Department of Land and Natural Resources Chairman William Aila Jr., DLNR Deputy Director Esther Kia'āina, Office of Hawaiian Affairs Ka Pouhana/Chief Executive Officer Kamana'opono Crabbe and University of Hawai'i anthropology and ethnic studies professor Ty Kāwika Tengan. Qualified candidates have been invited to submit their resumes directly to Aila at William.J.Aila@hawaii.gov. Aiu's resignation comes following the release of a scathing report by the National Park Service of the state's progress to correct problems in the division. The National Park Service report noted the state has not corrected numerous problems, including a "laek of cooperation from the SHPD Administration; a laek of strategic vision and planning on the part of the SHPD Administrator; the SHPD

Administrator's laek of understanding of administrative, operational and fiscal processes; a strong disconnect between the SHPD Administrator and SHPD program and administrative staff; recruitment and reten-

tion problems; basic laek of communication, accountability and transparency to the puhlie and disconnects between DLNR administration and the SHPD." "I thought the report was unkind in its references to the administrator," Aila said at the announcement of Aiu's resignation in July. "I still think we've accomplished a lot more than they give us credit for." He added he thought Aiu had been doing an "excellent job." Aila said the report faulted the state for the failure to hire a librarian, but they have been unahle to do so because the federal funding for the position had been cut. He said he plans to ask for clarification from the federal

government on some of the criticisms. Aila said under the federal action plan, the state will be required to do more survey and inventory work. "So from the federal perspective they're more interested in what are we doing to get historic properties on the national register. From our perspective that's important, but what is equally important is how do we do the daily business of the State of Hawai'i in balancing the economy with protection and preservation?" The report commended the hard work of staff but noted the division requires more staffing. In selecting a new administrator, Aila said he hopes to find someone who ean work across a broad array of constituents. But Aila noted the job is a difficult one, since there are many competing interests to be navigated. "I think whoever is in this job will eonhnue to be criticized because inherently there is the conflict and so you're not going to make everyone happy." Meanwhile, Nieki Ann Thompson was appointed as acting administrator for the State Historic Preservation Division through September 30, 2013. Thompson has been registrar for the Bureau of Conveyances since 2008 and has 25 years of experience in real estate and state laws and administration. ■

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Puū Aiu

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