Republic of the Marshall Islands Historic Preservation Office

Annual Summary for fiscal year 2005

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Program Overview

Pursuant to Historic Preservation Act 1991 (PL 1991-111) the Republic of the Marshall Islands Historic Preservation Office is charged with the following duties and responsibilities: implementation of the Historic Preservation Act of 1991, issue or deny earth moving and underwater permits, identification and recording of cultural and historic properties throughout the Republic of the Marshall Islands, conduct survey in advance of development, develop an educational program pertaining to archaeological sites, oral histories, structures, and buildings as well as other properties, formulation of national and local resource management plans, issue or deny permits for archaeological and anthropological contractors intend to work in RMI, work cooperatively with the Tourism Office and other tourism agencies and operators to ensure local cultures is accurately represented, and to control export of artifacts from the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The administrative organization of the RMI Historic Preservation Office is that the Historic Preservation Officer is subordinate to the Minister of Internal Affairs, and the Historic Preservation Officer is in direct control of the HPO staff. The Historic Preservation Office operates with four full time Hilton Kendall (Deputy HPO) Frank Thomas (Staff Archaeologist) Josepha Maddison (Assistant Archeologist), and Fredrick Langmoir (Grant Manager/Archeological Technician).

Program Accomplishments during the year 2005.

·Reconnaissance Survey/ Archeological Inventory of cultural sites on Wotho Atoll

Conducted by Frank Thomas, (Staff Archeologist), Carmen Petrosian Husa (Ethnographer) Josepha Maddison (Assistant Archeologist), Fredrick Langmoir (Archeological Technician), and Hesby John (Alele Cameraman)

· Reconnaissance Survey/ Inventory of cultural sites on Mili Atoll Conducted by Frank Thomas, (Staff Archeologist), Carmen Petrosian Husa (Ethnographer) Josepha Maddison (Assistant Archeologist), Fredrick Langmoir (Archeological Technician), and Una Watak Jr. (Alele Cameraman)

· Reconnaissance Survey/Inventory of cultural sites on Lib Atoll. Frank Thomas, (Staff Archeologist), Carmen Petrosian Husa (Ethnographer) Josepha Maddison (Assistant Archeologist), and Junior Aine. (Alele Curator)

·Travel to Kwajalein excavation of human remains found at the fuel farm a KRS drenching fuel line project by Josepha Maddison (Assistant Archeologist), Fredrick Langmoir (Archeological Technician)

·Travel to Kwajalein to solve underwater dive permits and export of artifacts from Kwajalein with USAKA & the Local Government Secretary Wilbur Allen, Deputy Hilton Kendall, Assistant Archeologist Josepha Maddison, and Grant Manager/Archeological Technician Fredrick Langmoir.

·Travel to Kajalein to monitor and excavate human remains found from the New Satellite Project installed at the runway. Hilton Kendall and Fredrick Langmoir

·Hilton Kendall traveled to Taiwan to attend a conference on Indigenous Astronesian Conference.

·Digitization of the deBrum collection

·Traditional Marshallese Fishing Techniques done by the Carmen Petrosian Husa (Ethnographer)

·Arno Entertainment done by Carmen Petrosian Husa (Ethnographer)

·Written Report on Ailonlaplap Jebro Rece by Fredrick Langmoir, Hesby John, and Una Jr. Watak

·The RMI HPO Office has issued 120 Land Modification Permits to residents and business owner on Majuro Atoll.

·Josepha Maddision (Assitant Archeologist) Accompanied the Japanese Archeological Team that collected human remains of Japanese solders found on Mili Atoll.

·Josepha Maddision (Assitant Archeologist) is working on a ongoing HPO/MIVA project to find cultural sites and names of traditional sites found on Majuro Atoll.

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·Maan Pa Project by Carmen Petrosian Husa (Ethnographer)

·Petrosian Husa (Ethnographer) UNESCO Workshop in Port Villa Vanuatu.

·Petrosian Husa (Ethnographer) and Frank Thomas, Clary Makroro, Monono Dawoj attended the MEHP Conference in Saipan.

·Clary Makroro, Monono Dawoj atteded the NCDHPO conference in Washinton DC.

The HPO Office will continue Archeological Survey and Inventory of Cultural sites in the RMI, Issue Dive and Land Modification Permits and work closely with Alele and Marshall Islands Visitors Agency to safe guard our cultural heritage.