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Case Digest Spring
2002 Hawaii: Redevelopment of Ford
Island at Pearl Harbor
Hawaii: Redevelopment of Ford Island at Pearl Harbor
Agency: U.S. Navy
| Part of the Pearl Harbor National Historic Landmark District, Ford Island contains many properties from the WWII period that bear the marks of the Japanese attack of December 7, 1941. The Navy proposes redevelopment for the island that could obliterate the strafing marks, bomb craters, and unused and underutilized buildings dating from the 1940s and earlier. The proposed redevelopment would also affect many of the open spaces between the historic structures, and has the potential to affect Native Hawaiian sacred sites. |
The December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is one of the most important dates in American history. Pearl Harbor itself is significant for its role in the United States’ World War II victory in the Pacific. Many properties from that era remain, but are deteriorated or functionally obsolete.
Encompassing much of the current Pearl Harbor Naval Complex is the Pearl Harbor National Historic Landmark (NHL) District. With the exception of a few modern structures, Ford Island is a contributing property in the NHL district and contains many properties from the World War II period, many of which still retain evidence of damage from the attack.
Ford Island, HI (staff photo)
The Navy Region Hawaii has proposed redevelopment of Ford Island to construct housing, barracks, and offices. The proposed redevelopment, however, may obliterate historic aspects such as strafing marks and bomb craters from the 1941 attack and unused and underutilized buildings dating from the 1940s and earlier. In addition, it would affect many of the open spaces between the historic structures, and could affect Native Hawaiian sacred sites.
After negotiations among the Navy and consulting parties such as the
Hawaii State Historic Preservation Officer, the National Park Service,
and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a Programmatic Agreement
was executed that allows the construction of 450 units of family housing,
1,000 enlisted barracks, and administrative office space for 1,500 personnel.
The consulting parties are also negotiating a final Draft Programmatic
Agreement for all Navy operations and maintenance activities within the
Navy Region Hawaii, including the Pearl Harbor Naval Complex.
The agreement will influence the Navy’s management of numerous historic properties including the Pearl Harbor NHL District, as well as numerous buildings, structures, and Native Hawaiian sacred sites within the Pearl Harbor Naval Complex that are outside the NHL boundaries but are eligible for the National Register. The operations and maintenance PA may be a good model for other Navy installations that may be interested in negotiating or updating such an agreement.
Staff contact: Lee Keatinge
Posted June 4, 2002
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