Why the County protects historic places

The Council finds that preservation of historic properties enhances the educational, cultural, economic and general welfare of the County. It is deemed essential that the history and culture of Hawai‘i County be preserved through comprehensive historic preservation planning. Implementation of chapter 6E, historic preservation, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, and the Hawai‘i County General Plan provide a means to accomplish this outcome. It is, therefore, the intent of this article to provide for: (1) Protecting and preserving historic properties and artifacts in the County and encourage, where appropriate, their adoption for appropriate and feasible use; (2) Encouraging the restoration, rehabilitation and continued functional use of historic properties; (3) Encouraging the identification, preservation, promotion and enhancement of those historic properties which represent or reflect distinctive elements of cultural, social, economic, political and architectural history, and to encourage the designation of historic properties, thereby ensuring that our cultural and historic heritage will be imparted to present and future generations of residents and visitors; and (4) Formulating County-wide comprehensive, historic preservation policies, programs and plans. (2008, ord 08-42, sec 1.) 2-224