The Department of Land and Natural Resources announced Friday its most recent appointments to the State Historic Preservation Division. Dr. Puaalaokalani Aiu will serve as administrator of the State Historic Preservation Division. She will be assisted by Nancy McMahon, a
The Department of Land and Natural Resources announced Friday its most recent appointments to the State Historic Preservation Division.
Dr. Puaalaokalani Aiu will serve as administrator of the State Historic Preservation Division. She will be assisted by Nancy McMahon, a 20-year veteran of the department, who will serve as archaeology and historic preservation manager, according to a DLNR prepared statement.
Aiu will start on May 12. McMahon will continue to run the division until then.
“We are proud to have selected two remarkable women who have the combined abilities to help the State Historic Preservation Division to realize its full potential,” Laura H. Thielen, chairman of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, said in a prepared statement.
The statement went on to say that the mission of the State Historic Preservation Division is both broad and important, with a “vital goal of protecting and enhancing our historic and cultural resources.”
Aiu previously worked as a senior analyst in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs where she developed community networks, worked with the Native Hawaiian Preservation council, the Island Burial Councils and supervised reviews on multiple projects.
Aiu is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and Pomona College. She obtained her PhD in communications from the University of Massachusetts.
Most recently, she was a vice president of Communications Pacific in the company’s community-building practice where she managed large and complex communications accounts often involving burial treatment, historic preservation and cultural sensitivities.
“Pua has a strong background and experience with the National Historic Preservation Act,” Thielen said. “She conducted cultural reviews of NHPA projects and has worked many years with Hawaiian communities statewide. In addition, she brings excellent communication and administrative skills which are essential for the Division’s success.”
“I am impressed with her long-term desire to lead this program, and her recognition that it was time to step up and offer to be part of the solution.”
McMahon, a former archeologist with the Historic Preservation Division for 20 years, worked on O‘ahu for almost 10 years and then moved to Kaua‘i to open a branch office where she was responsible for building and operating an island historic preservation program from the ground up. She has served on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Historic Preservation Task Force, was the humanities scholar for the Hawai‘i Committee on the Humanities and the Historic Preservation Quality Control Manager for the Kaho‘olawe Cleanup Project.
McMahon obtained her bachelor’s, master’s and completed coursework for a doctorate at the University of Hawai‘i. She has served as acting administrator for the division since December 2007.
“Nancy’s commitment to the Historic Preservation Division is outstanding,” Thielen said in the release. “She has dedicated her entire career to this mission, and she’s clearly done an excellent job. I’ve received positive reports and accolades regarding her work on Kaua‘i from environmentalists, landowners, small businesses, native Hawaiians and developers. Her technical experience with the State Historic Preservation Program will continue to provide essential guidance for our staff.”
Aiu said in the release that she is looking forward do working with McMahon and the rest of the division staff in meeting the challenges it faces.
One of the missions of the division is to bring meaningful change and stability, McMahon said.
Aiu was recommended for the position of administrator and McMahon for chief archeologist by the Search Committee established by Thielen in December 2007, when the prior Administrator stepped down.
The committee consisted of Dr. Ku Kahakalau, a founder of the cultural based public charter schools and member of the Big Island Burial Council; retired Judge Patrick Yim, trustee of the Queen Liliuokalani Trust; and Tim Johns, former DLNR chairman and current chief executive officer and president of Bishop Museum.
