Although work began only today, the archaeologists doing the work on what appears to be an old native Hawaiian burial site said that dealing with the bones is not likely to be too costly.

"I hope work is not too extensive because of the cost," said Lawrence Takenaka, president of the Waialua Hongwanji Mission board. The church leaders are concerned about additional expenses compounding the outlay that the community of about 140 members is making to restore the old temple in time for the mission's 100th anniversary celebration in November.

The bones were found adjacent to the temple when an electrician was laying conduit for new wiring and state authorities were called.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources told church leaders that because the bones were found on private property, the archaeological work becomes the landowner's responsibility.

The renovations contractor, H. Monma General Contracting, hired Scientific Consultants Services. Company executives were unavailable for comment, but the archaeologists assigned to the project said the likeliest outcome is that the unearthed bone fragments would be reburied in the same site.

The Waialua Hongwanji Mission, about to celebrate its 100th anniversary, is the site where human bones were unearthed on June 10. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Bert Davis, who expects to finish site work today, said there was no evidence of a casket or other sign that the grave belonged to a non-Hawaiian. If that had been found, the remains may have had to be recovered and traced to family members to be reburied in another location.

"Unless there is some clear indication that we are dealing with a recent burial or a non-Hawaiian burial, the presumption is that it's a native Hawaiian burial because of its location and the lack of a clearly marked grave," he said.

The fragments found appeared to come from long bones ­ an arm or a leg ­ and were very fragile, Davis said. Because it's possible that more fragments are mixed with the excavated dirt, that soil will be sifted and any other remains will be placed back with the bones still in the earth.

The final decision on how to proceed will come from the state and the O'ahu Burial Council, Davis said, but the probable course is to cover the hole and avoid disturbing the remains further.

Davis said the bones appear to be in the original burial position and not brought there 70 years ago when some fill material was used in landscaping during the temple construction.