Change Over Time

Abstract:

This provocation unsettles "historic integrity" as defined by the US National Park Service. I argue that historic integrity remains a troublesome concept in preserving Pacific War landscapes with multiple and overlapping histories involving Indigenous populations (federally recognized or unrecognized) and minoritized, diasporic, racialized, and noncitizen groups. I consider the recent designation of Honouliuli National Historic Site in O'ahu, Hawai'i and argue for a broader study of this landscape beyond its defined boundaries and period of significance. Specifically, I argue that categories such as "location" and "setting" that are used to determine a site's historical integrity must consider how distinct legacies of militarism, carcerality, and colonialism effect land tenure. I conclude by advocating that preservation processes at Pacific War sites restore access, caretaking, and stewardship relations. In addition, I advocate for a wider preservation and interpretive mandate that is inclusive of distinct and varied experiences of civilian and non-citizen populations in these former carceral landscapes.,