Hawaii
HI-2
Joe Akana
HI-2
Republican
Historic Preservation Fund:
Do you support stable and robust funding for the Historic Preservation Fund?
Yes
Would you support efforts to permanently reauthorize and enhance the Historic Preservation Fund?
Yes
Restoring and preserving our past is important for future generations. How will we know which course to forge ahead, if we cannot know and understand where we have come from? Those historical items provide a sense of place and connection with the past. All across America we have places, statues and artifacts which are timeless reminders of the ingenuity and grit of the generations who have gone before us.
Historic Tax Credit:
Would you support efforts to update the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit?
Yes
The 20% tax credit for the rehabilitation of certified historic structures is a great benefit for those undertaking the challenge of preserving our nation’s history. It’s also great selling point when developing public/private partnerships with organizations who want to dedicate their time, energy and capital into preserving our past.
Historic Preservation Protections:
Would you support policies that assure the impact to historic and cultural resources continue to be considered in the federal project planning process?
Yes
I support legislation like the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. It is especially important in Hawaii that cultural resources and practices are considered during project planning. Many times over, sacred ancient burial grounds have been desecrated due to lack of care by the State and developers. Allowing citizens the opportunity to share their input (mana’o) during the decision-making process is paramount.
Does historic preservation play an important role in your state/district? How so? Describe any personal connections to historic preservation or historic sites. Is there a specific historic place in your district that is important to you and your constituents?
Yes, historic preservation plays a very important role within Hawaii. There are multiple historic sites within my district; Mauna Kea, Pu‘uhonua o Honaunau, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Haleki‘i-Pihana Heiau, Haleakala, Kalaupapa National Historic Park, multiple fishponds across the state, Kaunolu fishing village, and the Wailua Complex of Heiau – just to name a few.
There is a site which I would like to help preserve and classify as a historic site, the Haiku Stairs – aka “Stairway to Heaven”. It is an historic piece of Hawaii’s history and role during World War II, and was home to the first global-range radio navigation system. Over the years, the Haiku Stairs have fallen into disrepair and hikers illegally tresspass in order to access the stairs.
I propose turning the defunct Omega station building area into a visitor center. At the Omega station area, hikers learn about the valley, sign a waiver/release form, and then board a shuttle to climb the stairs. At the moment, the City and County of Honolulu is planning to remove the steps, but leave the anchor pillars in the Ko‘olau mountain range. Fixing and preserving the stairs may be less disruptive to the natural habitat within the valley, and along the mountain range.