Posted on: Wednesday, May 14, 2003

EDITORIAL
Return of cave relics a chance to start over

A federal review committee has confirmed what most level-headed folks in this community have felt for three years now:

The Bishop Museum erred in lending 83 rare Hawaiian artifacts to a Native Hawaiian group that says it has since re-interred them in Big Island caves.

The review committee met in Minnesota last week to consider application of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act to this case. The act provides for return of human remains and other significant cultural items to Native American and Native Hawaiian groups.

The Kawaihae Cave complex collection and the Forbes Cave artifacts, unique works of rare and haunting beauty, were turned over by the museum in February 2000 to Hui Malama i na Kupuna o Hawai'i Nei. Given that a dozen other Hawaiian groups had claimed the objects, the turnover was a grievous misjudgment.

Another worry is Hui Malama's interpretation of the word "loan." It's not clear that the group intends to return the items to Bishop Museum as the review committee has ordered.

One reason prompt restoration is highly desirable is to ensure the safety of the artifacts. They are said to have been securely returned to burial caves, but that hasn't been verifiable.

Hui Malama contends that the objects were burial items, intended to accompany decedents on their journey in the afterlife. That may be so, but that assertion, as well as the competing claims to the items, is unclear and may never be firmly established.

The museum is the proper repository for the artifacts until their provenance is settled.

During that period, perhaps quite lengthy, it's difficult not to think of the potential for Hawaiian pride as these objects are made widely available for viewing, study and appreciation in the museum.