This bungalow, which housed chief petty officers in Honolulu during World War II, was mistakenly destroyed by the National Park Service rather than restored and preserved/NPS
National Park Service officials mistakenly allowed an historic building used as housing for World War II soldiers in Hawaii to be razed and replaced with a replica, according to the superintendent of World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.
In a statement posted on the park's website, Superintendent Jacqueline Ashwell said the Chief Petty Officer bungalow, which dated to 1923, was to have been restored and preserved for use by park visitors and administration, but was torn down instead.
Back in 2012 the park had completed an environmental assessment to preserve, rehabilitate, and restore the six CPO bungalows on Ford Island. Subsequently, the agency executed a programmatic agreement with the Hawaii State Historic Preservation Division and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regarding the preservation of the historic CPO Bungalows, the superintendent explained.
The park received funding in 2015 and began work in November 2015 on CPO Bungalow #28.
"While the intent was to preserve the historic setting of the bungalows, in actuality, the park's work involved demolishing the historic building and constructing a new building on top of the original foundation," said Superintendent Ashwell. "Some of the historic fabric from the original building, such as the windows, was salvaged, but not reused in the new building due to the need for lead paint abatement. The demolition and construction work has resulted in an adverse effect on CPO Bungalow #28, which is a contributing resource in the United States Naval Base Pearl Harbor National Historic Landmark."
Superintendent Ashwell said the Park Service "accepts full responsibility for this and regrets the harm we have caused. We have an obligation to the public to care for and protect cultural resources important to our nation, and in this situation, we failed."
In a comment carried by The Associated Press, the superintendent said, "I want us to learn from this and I want to make sure that we do the right thing for the remaining five bungalows."
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Comments
Brilliant. Just about what I have come to expect from the NPS. In the Smokies they have used DNA technology to euthanize the wrong bear, twice. How much did that cost taxpayers?
In keeping with the Jarvis management model, this Superintendent will probably be promoted to the Washington office.
I dunno. Being exiled to Washington is about the worst punishment I can imagine.
Did anyone notice the building to be missing?
Just another sigh that most government employees walk around with (their heads up their ) no idea what they're doing. All federal agencies are in over their pay grade.
People like Danny Wells have no clue about Department of Interior employees. There's always more to the story than meets the eye. Instead of putting employees down - WHO DO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING (yes, I'm shouting at you) - maybe you oughta help instead of hinder.
I'm still trying to figure out what the consequences are for "Accepts full responsibility". Especially for members of the Superintendents' Club.
At least the wreck of the USS Arizona is safely under water.