SHPD Public Scoping Meeting on Admin Rules for Statewide Historic Preservation Program POSTPONED

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) public scoping meeting scheduled for Friday, September 25th at 5:30 pm to discuss the Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules for the statewide historic preservation program has been postponed due to the anticipated impacts of Tropical Storm Nolo.

SHPD will reschedule the public scoping meeting as soon as possible.

Please be aware that the National Weather Service forecast includes the possibility of significant to extreme flash flooding and hurricane force winds from today through Saturday.

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for Hawaiʻi County at 11 am HST this morning (9/24).

A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for Maui County, including the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Kahoolawe at 11 am this morning (9/24).

State closures and public meeting cancellations are intended to keep residents off roads, give families time to prepare, and allow emergency personnel to respond safely as heavy rain, damaging winds, flooding, and other hazardous conditions threaten our state.

Background information

PUBLIC MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR RULEMAKING RELATED TO HAWAl'l'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM

On March 25, 2026, Malama Kakanilua, Ho'oponopono o Makena, and the Pele Defense Fund (Petitioners) submitted a Petition to Amend Administrative Rules (Petition) concerning the implementation of Hawai'i's historic preservation program. The Petition raises important issues related to the identification and evaluation of historic properties and burial sites, as well as the meaningful inclusion of lineal and cultural descendants in the historic preservation review processes established under Chapter 6E, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

To coordinate its current rule-drafting efforts, Hawai'i's State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD), in partnership with Huliauapa'a, will host a series of virtual public meetings to begin discussions around the Petition and gather community input on the SHPD's historic preservation rules. These meetings are part of a broader endeavor shaped by years of community engagement and advocacy to strengthen historic preservation in Hawai'i.

If you are unable to attend either session, please email any comments or feedback to

[email protected].