State Department of Accounting and General Services undertakes statewide cemetery restoration

The Hawaii Department of Accounting and General Services has initiated improvements to eight state cemeteries following boundary surveys conducted earlier in the year. The first phase includes landscape cleanup and fencing installation at Waiianae Japanese Cemetery. Acting Lieutenant Governor Keith Regan emphasized the importance of maintaining these sites as final resting places for ancestors and community members.

Hawaii's state-managed cemetery system has historically lacked dedicated funding for maintenance and upkeep. The eight facilities scattered across the islands contain over 5,900 burial sites spread across 27 acres of state property. Many of these burial grounds date back to the mid-1800s and have deteriorated significantly over decades of neglect. The recent legislative appropriation of $2.3 million over two fiscal years represents the first sustained state funding specifically allocated for cemetery care and restoration.

The Department of Accounting and General Services initiated the improvement initiative by conducting comprehensive boundary surveys in spring 2026. The restoration effort prioritizes essential work such as landscape clearing and perimeter fencing to secure and maintain these sites. Waiʻanae Japanese Cemetery served as the first phase location, with plans to continue similar restoration work at other facilities including Hanapepe Filipino Cemetery.