State Historic Preservation

Register Program Description

Hawai‘i State Historic Preservation Division maintains the list of nominated properties, properties listed in the Hawai‘i Register of Historic Places, and Hawai‘i properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Hawai‘i Register of Historic Places:

The Hawai‘i Register of Historic Places is an official list of properties that have been recognized for their significance to the history, architecture, archaeology, or culture of Hawai‘i communities. Buildings, structures, sites, district, and objects over 50 years old are eligible for nomination to the Hawai‘i Register. Listing on the Register comes with many benefits, including eligibility of private residential and private commercial properties for county property tax benefits and access to grant funding. The Hawai‘i Register of Historic Places is intended to be representative of the various types of significant historic properties in Hawai‘i; it is not inclusive of all significant properties.

Through the nomination process, the Hawai‘i Historic Places Review Board votes on which nominated properties are worthy of listing. The nomination process starts with the completion of a nomination form, which is a technical document that provides justification for a property’s inclusion in the Register. The nomination form includes a physical description and a historic context section which illustrates how the property meets the requirements of listing on the Register. A building, structure, object, site, or district is eligible for the Register for its association with historic events or patterns, its association with an important historical figure, an example of engineering or architectural type or a work of a master, or for its ability to yield information about our history. Additionally, properties nominated to the Register must maintain integrity of materials, design, feeling, location, association, workmanship, and setting. Nomination forms follow National Register of Historic Places guidelines and meet State requirements outlined in : Hawai‘i Administrative Rules 13-198-3 and NPS nomination guidelines. 

Hawai‘i Historic Places Review Board

The Hawai‘i Historic Places Review Board consists of ten professional experts in the fields of architecture, archaeology, sociology, history, and Hawaiian Culture. Hawai‘i Historic Places Review Board meetings are held quarterly and are open to the public. Board members are nominated by the Governor and serve four-year terms. The Review Board votes on the listing of the nominated properties to the Hawai‘i Register and recommends nominations for the National Register of Historic Places.

For more information about the review board, meeting dates, and documents link here: Hawaiʻi Historic Places Review Board, Review Board Documents.

National Register of Historic Places

If a State Register nomination meets National Register Standards, nominators can resubmit a nomination to State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) for forwarding on to the National Park Service. The National Park Service will certify that the nomination meets National Register standards and the Keeper of the National Register can then officially list the property on the National Register for Historic Places. Please note, federally owned properties nominated to the National Register follow a different nomination process. 

For more information about the National Register, please visit the National Register website: National Register website.

Federal Code of Regulations regarding the National Register.

 

Nomination Process Overview for Private, State, and Locally Owned Properties:

 

Step One: Completing a Nomination Form for the Hawai‘i Register of Historic Places:

• To be considered eligible for listing in the Hawai‘i and National Register, a property must meet the National Register Criteria and retain historic integrity. This involves examining the property’s age, integrity, and significance. More information can be found here: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/NRB-15_web508.pdf
• Generally, an architectural historian who meets Secretary of Interior (SOI) qualifications will be contracted to complete the nomination. The nomination form is the same for the State and National Register. Ensure that you are utilizing the most up to date nomination form, it can be found here: https:https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/national-register-forms.htm 
• Historic research on the property must justify the property’s inclusion on the register. Here is a helpful guide on researching historic properties: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/NRB39-Complete.pdf
• The form must be filled out specific to Park Service instructions. Please carefully follow these instructions: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/NRB16A-Complete.pdf
• The Map and Photographs accompanying the form, must meet National Register guidelines:  https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/publications.htm

Step Two: Submitting a Nomination Form to SHPD

• After the form is complete and includes all required documentation, submit to SHPD in Word format by the corresponding review board deadline.
• Deadlines and notification schedule can be found on our website: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/shpd/state-register/state-review-board/
• All nomination submittals must be accompanied by an SIHP request form. For the form and directions on how to complete the form, please follow this link: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/shpd/review-compliance/forms/
• Once a nomination is submitted to SHPD, SHPD staff review the nomination for technical accuracy and completeness. The nominator will receive a review letter from SHPD staff acknowledging receipt of the nomination and requesting any necessary revisions.
• The revisions must be completed before the nomination can go before the Review Board. Submit the revised version to SHPD in PDF format.
• SHPD is responsible for certain notifications prior to the nomination going before the Hawai‘i Historic Places Review Board. Deadlines and notice schedule can be found in the Review Board Documents.

Step Three: Review Board Decision

• The Review Board Members may request a site visit to the property prior to a Review Board Meeting
• At the Review Board Meeting, the nominator may make a brief presentation outlining the nomination for consideration by the Board.
• The Review Board votes to list, deny, or defer nominations.
• Owners and nominators are notified by mail of the Review Board’s Decision  
• Once the review Board votes for listing, the property is officially on the Hawai‘i Register of Historic Places. SHPD’s  list of properties nominated to the Hawai‘i register and listed in the Hawai‘i Register is updated quarterly: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/shpd/
• A private property listed in the Hawai‘i Register is eligible for County Property Tax Benefits and any alterations to the property are subject to SHPD review under HRS 6E-10.

Step Four: National Register Submittal

• Once the privately, state, or locally owned property has been considered by the Hawai‘i Historic Places Review Board, the nomination may be submitted to SHPD for forwarding onto the National Park Service.
• Nominations being submitted to SHPD for forwarding onto NPS must be submitted following the NPS submittal guidelines.
• SHPD Staff will review the nomination to ensure that nomination documentation standards are met and may write an additional review letter to the nominator if there are any necessary revisions.
• If all standards are met and the nomination was correctly submitted, the Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer will certify the nomination and the nomination will be forwarded onto the national Park Service.
• The Keeper of the National Register can list, amend, return, or deny a nomination.
• SHPD will notify homeowners and nominators of the Keeper’s decision