Bill Text: HI HR193 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Urging The County Council Of The County Of Hawaii To Exercise Its Power Of Eminent Domain To Condemn Naalehu Theater To Preserve The Theater's Historic Legacy.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-03-13 - Referred to WAL, FIN, referral sheet 39 [HR193 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-HR193-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	193
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

urging the county council of the county of hawaii to exercise its power of eminent domain to condemn naalehu theater to preserve the theater's historic legacy.

 

 

     WHEREAS, the Naalehu Theater, the southernmost theater in the country, was constructed in 1925 by the Hutchinson Sugar Company; and

 

     WHEREAS, the theater hosted live performances and community events and, decades later, movie screenings for the public; and

 

     WHEREAS, the property the theater is located on is currently owned by 300 Corporation, a division of the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation; and

 

     WHEREAS, an attempt to list the theater as a historic property was made in 2005; and

 

     WHEREAS, representatives from the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources visited the site and determined the theater was eligible for listing; and

 

     WHEREAS, the theater was considered for listing on the Hawaii Register of Historic Places and National Register of Historic Places by the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board; and

 

     WHEREAS, in June 2005, the president of 300 Corporation respectfully objected to the listings; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2006, the roof of the theater started to leak and needed repairs, including a new roof and ceiling, new gutters, and repairs to the foundation, at a cost of about $150,000; and

 

     WHEREAS, volunteers repaired the theater and submitted paperwork for the theater to become a National Historic Landmark, but the theater was not designated as or given any historic status; and

 

     WHEREAS, if the Naalehu Theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the theater would be eligible for financial resources and grants, media exposure, and a twenty percent federal reimbursement for approved repairs because the theater would be categorized as a commercial building; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2010, Honolulu Magazine listed Naalehu Theater as one of "Hawaii's Most Endangered Historic Sites"; and

 

     WHEREAS, condemning and preserving Naalehu Theater is an option to provide visitors and future generations the opportunity to visit the theater and learn more about the history of Naalehu; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, that the County Council of the County of Hawaii is urged to exercise its power of eminent domain to condemn Naalehu Theater to preserve the theater's historic legacy; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the County Council of the County of Hawaii.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Naalehu Theater; County of Hawaii; Condemned Property; Historic Legacy