The Hawaii Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources has opened the 30-day public review period for the draft Statewide Historic Preservation Plan, Papahana Kāʻeuʻeu: Hawaiʻi’s Plan for Living Heritage Stewardship.

The plan will guide how the state, county agencies, Native Hawaiian organizations and communities work together to identify, protect and steward Hawaii’s historic and cultural resources from 2026 through 2034.

The draft plan reflects the statewide public input conducted in 2022 and 2025, including public meetings in 2022, responses from 297 community members through a statewide survey and 10 facilitated virtual focus groups representing Native Hawaiian organizations, Island Burial Councils, cultural practitioners, preservation professionals, government agencies and community stakeholders.

According to DLNR, the plan responds to what the public said matters most: prioritizing Native Hawaiian cultural heritage, protecting iwi kūpuna and burial sites, improving early consultation, integrating preservation into planning, and strengthening community-based stewardship.

During the 30-day review period, members of the public are invited to read the draft plan and provide written comments on its goals, objectives and proposed actions.

The plan is available at hawaiipreservationplan.com/. Written comments can be submitted using the comment form on the project website.

Virtual sessions will be hosted during the review window.

Additionally, opportunities for public comment will be available at county cultural resource commission meetings. All comments must be received by May 29 to be considered in the final draft. Once finalized, Papahana Kāʻeuʻeu will serve as the framework for the state’s historic preservation efforts.