How city parks and memorials get their names

(a) When a new park, site, or facility is acquired or authorized for construction, or when a memorial is to be accepted or erected, the mayor shall submit the mayor’s recommendations regarding the name or memorial to the council in the form of a resolution, along with any additional information as required in subsections (c) and (d). Any interested person may recommend names or name changes to the city. (b) When a beach, stream, lake, pond, or any other geographic feature is involved, the resolution naming, renaming, or correcting the name of a geographic feature or place shall request the board of geographic names, office of State planning to name, rename, or correct the name of a geographic feature or place in accordance with HRS Chapter 4E. (c) When a person or historical event is recommended as the name for a park, site, facility, or any portion thereof, the mayor shall submit the following information regarding the proposed name or historical event: (1) The full name of such person, persons, group, or event; (2) The date of birth and the date of death, if appropriate, of the person or persons; (3) The residence of the person or persons, if appropriate, including the street address, town, and district, state or nation; (4) The association, if any, of the person, persons, group, or event, if appropriate, with the park, site, facility, or portion thereof, to be named; and (5) A brief biography of the person, persons, or group, or account of the historical event, if appropriate, including all other data relevant to the commemorative naming. (d) Any recommendation for acceptance or erection of a permanent memorial shall include: (1) The full name of such person, persons, group, or event; (2) The date of birth and the date of death of the person or persons; (3) The residence of the person or persons, if appropriate, including street address, town, and district, state, or nation; (4) The association, if any, of the person, persons, group, or event, if appropriate, with the proposed location; (5) A brief biography of the person, persons, or group, or account of the historical event, if appropriate, including all data relevant to the memorial; and (6) Detailed information, such as size, shape, type of material, any maintenance costs, and total costs, if appropriate. Notwithstanding subsections (d)(1) and (d)(2), in cases where the memorial will contain human skeletal remains, or iwi, subject to HRS Chapter 6E, or will honor or be dedicated to the remembrance of persons whose identities are unknown, the recommendation for acceptance or erection of a memorial need not include the information specified in subsections (d)(1) and (d)(2). (e) All naming or renaming of city parks, sites, or facilities or any portion thereof shall be by resolution by the council. Approval for the erection or placement of permanent memorials shall be by resolution; provided that an appropriate budget ordinance has been enacted where required. (f) The council may, on its own motion, designate a name for a new or existing park, site, facility, or any portion thereof, or memorial, consistent with the requirements set forth herein, by adoption of an appropriate resolution.