Plan Resources
Key Preservation Issues
The 2026-2031 plan will be significantly informed by stakeholder input. Past reports and other data have been carefully reviewed, as have the recordings from the 2017 public meetings. Key issues are identified below and will be addressed in the forthcoming plan. Although the process initiated in 2017 did not result in a new plan, out of respect for those who participated in the public meetings, those meetings have been reviewed and will be incorporated into the forthcoming plan. There will also be new opportunities for stakeholders and the public to provide input into the draft plan.
The public will also be given an opportunity to review the draft plan, which will be made available on this website.
Based on a review of relevant data, a public survey has been created to receive additional input into the planning process. The survey will be open until December 5, 2025, after which time the survey will be closed and the data reviewed. A link to the survey is provided below.
Iwi Kūpuna
The care and protection of iwi kūpuna remain a critical issue for stakeholders, especially the Native Hawaiian community. Addressing this issue will be a top priority in the forthcoming plan.
Regulatory Compliance
Stakeholders have expressed strong concerns about compliance with state historic preservation laws and regulations. Evaluating strategies to improve compliance will be a key part of the upcoming plan.
Public Engagement
Stakeholders have expressed frustration over a lack of transparency in the historic preservation review process. The draft plan will establish goals for improving public engagement regarding historic preservation decision-making.
Agency Resources
SHPD continues to be understaffed and underfunded. This can sometimes lead to delays in project reviews. The forthcoming plan will identify clear agency resource needs for stakeholders and elected officials and recommend strategies for ensuring SHPD has the resources it needs to fulfill its important policy mandates.
Community Literacy
Historic preservation laws are complex. Frustration can often result when members of the public do not fully understand laws, regulations, or processes. The upcoming plan will outline a clear process for enhancing public access to this important information.
Hawaii's Historic Sites and Cultural Resources
Send us photos of your favorite sites. We'll add them here!
The Planning Process
The planning team will review past reports and other documents, as well as input from the 2017 public meetings. There will also be a public survey, as well as additional public meetings to inform the draft plan.
Click here for more information on the public meetings and how to get involved
August 2025 -
December 2025
The planning team will develop a DRAFT PLAN will be updated to this website. There will be a 30 day public review during which the public can send in written comments on the draft plan. All comments received within the 30 day comment period will be uploaded to this website.
February 2026 -
March 2026
The FINAL PLAN will be completed with comments from the public review process incorporated into the final draft. The FINAL PLAN will be uploaded to this website, as well as uploaded to the SHPD website.
April 2026 -
June 2026