American Samoa Historic Preservation Plan, 2002

American Samoa Historic Preservation Office, Executive Offices of the Governor

This historic preservation plan is based on a five-year planning cycle, from October 1, 2001 I through September 30, 2006. From the plan: "The five-year planning cycle is standard practice for American Samoa Government agencies and for federally-funded programs that tie in with this plan. ASHPO has the smallest staff and the second smallest HPF appropriation of all HPF participants. These factors, plus our isolation, mean that it takes longer to accomplish our objectives than it would in the USA... In order to fulfill these mandates in a manner appropriate to the special conditions with which we are faced here in American Samoa, this comprehensive historic preservation plan has been designed to address individual problem areas within the Program, to set specific objectives toward the goal of alleviating those problems, and to provide guidance and direction for others in American Samoa who may also undertake historic preservation activities. In the past public participation in both the planning end execution of historic preservation has been conspicuously absent. Starting in fiscal year 1996 a special effort was begun to raise public awareness about historic preservation in the Territory and to solicit public input into the planning and activities of the Historic Preservation Office. In October 1995 a "Plan for Public Information, Education, and Participation in Historic Preservation" was drafted and promulgated (revised April 1996). In 1996, for the first time, a Work plan was published in the local newspaper for public review and comment and the first public meeting was publicized and held. The promulgation of an annual Work plan and the holding of publicized public meetings has taken place every year since 1996. The purpose of these meetings is to review Historic Preservation Office activities of the previous year, to receive public comment about what they think the Historic Preservation Office should be doing in the coming year, and to solicit responses to the published work plan. Public questions, comments, and suggestions have been closely considered and are incorporated into yearly plans and this Historic Preservation Plan. In addition, the advice and direction of the Historic Preservation Office's community oversight board, the American Samoa Historical Commission, is repeatedly sought. Of equal importance has been the advice and constructive criticisms of planners and individuals from other American Samoa Government agencies and departments. We reviewed and discussed plans of other agencies in order to devise a plan that would mesh smoothly with the development plans of others. Essential to the success of this plan is the need to greatly enhance public participation in historic preservation. Our recent, nascent efforts have met with gratifying success. People do care about the historic and cultural significance of their island's past and the evidence of that past, they just have not been given the opportunity to express that concern. The Historic Preservation Office and its work must become a presence in American Samoa. To achieve that goal an effective information and education program is a top priority. A realistic time frame for meeting those objectives inside a five-year planning cycle is provided; however, these target dates will remain flexible as we evaluate our progress and adjust for unforeseen developments." Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant administered by the American Samoa Historic Preservation Office and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

American Samoa Historic Preservation Plan, 2002

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