Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 4E — State Board on Geographic Names

Division 1. Government — Title 1. General Provisions

Hawaii Revised Statutes as published by the Hawaii State Legislature (files updated 1/5/2026 7:14 PM).

Division 1 Government

Title 1 General Provisions

Chapter 4E State Board on Geographic Names

§4E-1 State board on geographic names

There shall be in the office of planning and sustainable development a state board on geographic names, consisting of the following persons or their representatives: the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources, the chairperson of the office of Hawaiian affairs, the chairperson of the Hawaiian homes commission, the director of the office of planning and sustainable development, the president of the University of Hawaii, the state land surveyor, and the director of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum. The members of the board shall serve without compensation.

Section 26-34 shall not apply to this board.

[L 1974, c 50, pt of §2; am L 1987, c 336, §7; am L 1988, c 347, §1; am L 1996, c 299, §3; am L 2021, c 153, §8]

§4E-2 Chairperson, secretary

The representative from the department of land and natural resources shall serve as secretary of the board and as custodian of its official records. The board shall select one of its members as chairperson of the board to serve for a term of four years or until the chairperson's successor is selected.

[L 1974, c 50, pt of §2; gen ch 1985, 1993]

§4E-3 Responsibilities of the board

(a) The board shall designate the official names and spellings of geographic features in Hawaii and provide for circulation thereof to the appropriate state and other agencies. In its deliberations, the board shall solicit and consider the advice and recommendations of the appropriate county government officials, and, should the board desire, other knowledgeable persons.

(b) The department of land and natural resources shall publish an annual list of its decisions, together with information regarding location, the origin and meaning of names, and alternate names and spellings for the features named, which list together with the pertinent information shall be sent to the board of geographic names of the United States.

(c) The departments of the State shall use or cause to be used on all maps and documents prepared by or for them the names and spellings approved by the board on geographic names; provided that such names or spellings shall not be contrary to legally established names or spellings.

[L 1974, c 50, pt of §2]