A settlement reached yesterday in the long dispute over Forbes Cave artifacts requires Bishop Museum and the group Hui Malama I Na Kupuna o Hawai'i Nei to share the $330,000 cost of recovering the objects from a Kohala Coast cave.
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The agreement appears to bring to a close a chapter involving the fate of the 83 cultural items, which are among the most cherished Hawaiian cultural objects known to exist and include a famous wooden female figure and several renowned stick 'aumakua.
However, what ultimately happens to the objects remains up in the air.
Repatriation proceedings involving 14 Hawaiian organizations that were halted six years ago are expected to restart with the conclusion of the case.
The settlement and release agreement, presented by the parties yesterday to U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Chang, also confirms for the first time that the items were retrieved by museum staff, with assistance from engineers and the state, from the Kawaihae Caves complex, also known as Forbes Cave, and taken back to the museum in September.
The agreement requires the museum to be responsible for $183,333.82 of the costs, and Hui Malama to pay $146,667.16.
It also raises questions about the future of Hui Malama, a group formed in 1989 with the mission of protecting burials and reburying iwi, bones and moepu (burial objects) that have been removed.
Moses Haia III, an attorney for the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp., which represents Hui Malama, said the settlement allows the organization to "continue to go forward and do the work that they were created to do, and that is to take care of the remains of our ancestors."
But Haia also said that Hui Malama "is currently unable to pay" the amount stipulated in the settlement. Asked how the group would meet its obligation, Haia said "that's something that we're working on."
Haia said he did not believe the cost of the settlement would be detrimental to Hui Malama's future. "Their work does not depend on whether or not they're going to be financially solvent," he said. "This is their duty, this is their obligation to their ancestors." "
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Directory of cultural resource and historic preservation firms.
Gray & Pape, Inc. Archaeology**History**Historic Preservation
Serving your cultural resources needs since 1987.
Ohio -
11-03-11
New South Associates, Inc. New South Associates is a women-owned small business providing cultural resource management services, both nationally and internationally. Our specialities include archaeology, history, architectural history, preservation planning, and public interpretati
Georgia -
03-25-11
Kerns CRM Consultants Cultural and Historical Resource Management Services
Maryland -
01-10-11
Paula S. Reed and Associates, Inc. Paula S. Reed and Associates, Inc. is a small, woman-owned corporation organized in the State of Maryland, which provides cultural resource evaluation on a nation-wide basis, specializing in National Historic Landmark nominations. We meet qualifications o
Maryland -
11-23-10
SWCA Environmental Consultants Acquires Northwest Archaeological Associates SWCA Environmental Consultants has acquired Northwest Archaeological Associates, expanding SWCA's Pacific Northwest presence with a new Seattle office offering cultural and natural resource management and environmental permitting and compliance consulting.
04-04-11
ACHP Section 106 Essentials two-day course which explains the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
02-02-11
