Charting a New Path: Building Hawaiʻi’s Next State Historic Preservation Plan

by Trisha Kehaulani Watson, JD, PhD (Project Manager)

Aloha and welcome to the official blog for the State Historic Preservation Plan update! We’re excited to launch this important initiative that will guide Hawaiʻi’s preservation efforts for the years ahead. This blog will serve as a space to share updates, insights, and opportunities for you to engage in shaping the future of how we protect and steward our state’s cultural and historic resources.

One of my favorite historic sites, Keawanui Fishpond on the Island of Molokai, which is part of the Hokukano-Ualapue Complex National Heritage Landmark. Photo by Trisha Kehaulani Watson, July 2025.

Where We’re Starting

Every good plan begins with listening—and that’s exactly where we are. Our team is currently diving into a comprehensive review of the groundwork that’s already been laid. This includes carefully studying the most recent completed plan, which covered the period from 2012 to 2017. That plan identified key priorities and set the stage for major initiatives, some of which have been implemented while others still need renewed focus.

In addition to the 2012–2017 plan, we are reviewing all relevant guidance documents, including national frameworks, best practices from other states, and local agency reports. These materials help us understand where Hawaiʻi’s preservation efforts align with national standards and where we can tailor approaches to meet our unique needs and values. If you have materials you think we should review, please send them to us!

One of the most valuable resources we're revisiting is the series of community meetings held in 2017, which were part of the initial effort to update the State Historic Preservation Plan. Although that plan was never finalized, those meetings generated rich dialogue, powerful manaʻo, and detailed community input from stakeholders across the islands. We are reviewing all available recordings, notes, and summaries from those gatherings to ensure that the manaʻo shared in 2017 is honored and carried forward into this next planning cycle.

Why This Matters

Preservation is not just about protecting the past—it’s about honoring the foundations of identity, community, and resilience. Hawaiʻi’s historic places—from wahi pana and heiau to plantation structures and military sites—tell stories of struggle, innovation, and continuity. A strong preservation plan helps ensure that these stories are not erased or overlooked in the face of rapid development, climate change, and other modern challenges.

But this plan isn’t just a document for policymakers. It’s a roadmap for everyone: lineal descendants, cultural practitioners, landowners, educators, agencies, and local residents. That’s why we’re starting with listening—to ensure that the next plan reflects the values, concerns, and visions of the people it is meant to serve.

What’s Next

Over the coming months, we’ll be reaching out with opportunities to participate in shaping the plan. Whether you’ve worked in preservation for decades or are just beginning to explore your connection to Hawaiʻi’s cultural heritage, your voice matters. Stay tuned to this blog and sign up for updates so you don’t miss upcoming surveys, community meetings, and open comment periods. We hope to publish blog posts from a range of SHPD employees and other experts to keep this important dialogue about the future of historic preservation in Hawai‘i going.

We mahalo you for your patience, participation, and passion for preservation. Together, we can build a plan that not only protects our past—but prepares us for the future.