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SECTION 4. Chapter 5, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended) is <br />amended by adding an article to read as follows: <br />"Article 3. Indigenous Architecture. <br />Section 5-3.1 Policy. <br />This code shall be administered with due consideration given to the County policy that <br />indigenous Hawaiian architecture furthers the County's compelling interests in cultural, <br />environmental, and historic preservation; energy efficiency; economic development; aesthetic <br />beauty; and public safety. For purposes of this section, indigenous Hawaiian architecture <br />includes any of the predominant architectural practices, customs, styles, and techniques <br />historically employed by the native residents of the Hawaiian Islands, including structures <br />comprised of either rock walls or wood frames for the bottom portion of structures and thatch of <br />different native grasses and leaves for the roof. <br />Section 5-3.2 Rules. <br />The building official shall adopt rules to further the County policy on indigenous <br />Hawaiian architecture. <br />Section 5-3.3 Bill. <br />Within twenty-four months of this division's effective date, the building official shall <br />submit a proposed bill to the council to revise this chapter with the purpose of more equitably <br />and efficiently furthering the County policy on indigenous Hawaiian architecture. The proposed <br />bill shall contain rules that specifically identify predominant architectural practices, customs, <br />styles, and techniques historically employed by the native residents of the Hawaiian Islands and <br />their descendants. The rules shall express general approval of such practices, customs, styles, and <br />techniques, to the extent that they do not conflict with the building code's overall purposes. <br />Section 5-3.4. Alternate materials, alternate design and methods of construction. <br />(a) The provisions of this code are not intended to prevent the use of any material, alternate <br />design or method of construction not specifically prescribed in this code, including <br />elements based on or inspired by principles of indigenous architecture, such as those <br />associated with structures comprised of either rock walls or wood frames for the bottom <br />portion of structures and thatch of different native grasses and leaves for the roof, <br />provided any alternate has been approved and its use authorized by the building official. <br />(b) The building official may approve any such alternate, provided the building official has <br />previously granted an exception and the building official finds that the proposed design is <br />satisfactory and complies with the provisions of this code and that the material, method <br />or work offered is, for the purpose intended, at least the equivalent of that prescribed in <br />this code in suitability, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability, safety, and <br />sanitation. <br />(c) The following materials are examples of the types of materials that maybe considered by <br />the building official, if used for the construction or renovation of a structure that is based <br />on or inspired by principles of indigenous architecture: <br />(1) Wood for house timbers (walls): hamau, kauila, lama, nioi, and `ohi`a; and <br />9 <br />