REQUESTING THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO EMPLOY AN ARCHAEOLOGIST FOR THE PURPOSE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN REBUILDING LAHAINA.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Stanley Chang and 6 co-sponsors

Requests Maui County hire 1.0 FTE archaeologist to lead historic preservation in Lahaina rebuilding, ensuring compliance and protecting cultural resources—no funds mandated.

Referred to WAL, referral sheet 28

#archaeologist #countyofmaui #historicpreservation

Purpose / Intent

SCR 75 is a concurrent resolution of the 33rd Hawaii Legislature requesting that the County of Maui hire one full‑time equivalent (1.0 FTE) archaeologist to support historic preservation during the rebuilding of Lahaina following the devastating August 2023 wildfires. The resolution stresses the importance of preserving Lahaina’s cultural, historic, and archaeological resources as reconstruction proceeds.

Key provisions

Requests that the County of Maui employ one full‑time equivalent (1.0 FTE) archaeologist specifically for historic preservation in the Lahaina rebuilding effort.

Requests that the archaeologist:

Work collaboratively with other entities engaged in rebuilding Lahaina to preserve community and State history and culture;
Implement applicable federal and state preservation mandates;
Plan and manage historic preservation projects associated with rebuild activities.

Directs that a certified copy of the concurrent resolution be transmitted to the Mayor of the County of Maui.

Does not appropriate funds or create a new statutory obligation — it is a legislative request, not a binding appropriation or mandate.

Who is affected

Primary: County of Maui (administrative responsibility to consider and act on the request), Maui’s planning/historic preservation departments, and the Office of the Mayor.

Secondary: Local communities of Lahaina, Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners, property owners, archaeologists/heritage professionals, state and federal preservation agencies, and stakeholders in tourism and cultural heritage.

Fiscal impact: The resolution makes no funding appropriation; hiring the requested archaeologist would require the County to identify and allocate funding and position authority.

Rationale / potential impacts

A dedicated archaeologist would help ensure compliance with historic preservation laws and federal/state mandates (e.g., review, mitigation, documentation), protect irreplaceable cultural resources, support culturally informed rebuilding, and assist community recovery and continuity of identity.

Practical impacts include staffing and budgetary implications for the County and improved coordination among agencies and stakeholders during reconstruction.

Legislative status and timeline

Introduced and considered in early–mid 2025, amended (SD1) to add findings and the explicit request for 1.0 FTE archaeologist.

Passed both chambers and was enrolled; recorded legislative actions show adoption and finalization.

Enrolled and filed with the Secretary of State and chaptered on July 10, 2025 (Res. Chapter 135, Statutes of 2025).

Related measure: SR 58 (companion).

Note: As a concurrent resolution, SCR 75 expresses the Legislature’s request and intention but does not by itself compel the County of Maui to hire or fund the position.

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