Thanks in part to state and federal support for historic preservation programs, a renewed appreciation for Native Hawaiian culture, and anxiety over the rapid pace of development in Honolulu, the past quarter century has seen a significant upswing in efforts to retain the physical evidence of Hawai'i's unique past.
Government, cultural and civic leaders long recognized the value of preserving markers of Hawai'i history. Missionaries developed the Hawaiian alphabet in part to perpetuate ancient chants, genealogies and legends. In the 1840s, Robert Wyllie undertook an extensive program to collect and preserve government records. And Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop's collection of Kamehameha artifacts served as the basis for the museum that today bears her name.
The Republic of Hawai'i also boasted one of the first historic preservation laws, established in 1898, eight years before the U.S. Antiquities Act.
In 1980, the Hawai'i Historic Places Review Board became part of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and a state Functional Plan for Historic Preservation was drafted. Today, the State Historic Preservation Division oversees preservation efforts for historic buildings, natural features, burial sites and other concerns. The division administers the Hawai'i State Register of Historic Places, created in 1971.
Organizations like the Historic Hawai'i Foundation, the Hawaiian Historical Society, and the Daughters of Hawai'i have also been active in preserving historic sites and educating the public. In 1980 alone, members of the the Historic Hawaii Foundation aided in preserving Kawaiaha'o Hall at Mid Pacific Institute, Hale'iwa School, the old Hilo Police Station, the Falls of Clyde, Kawai Nui Marsh and the Wai'anae Hawaiian Civic Club.
