Posted on: Friday, November 19, 2004

UH-Hilo plans to repatriate three sets of remains

Associated Press

The University of Hawai'i at Hilo is preparing to repatriate three incomplete sets of Native Hawaiian remains found in boxes at the school.

The remains, which include bones of a child discovered in a Ka'u cave in 1954, were discovered during a recent inventory and were left behind by archaeologist Bill Bonk, said Peter Mills, head of the university's anthropology department.

Since the remains have not been carbon-dated, their age is unknown. However, they are believed to predate European contact in Hawai'i, Mills said.

At least one set of remains was removed from the Keanapuhiula Cave 50 years ago, according to records. Other remains are from a site near Mahana Bay, near Green Sand Beach, and from the Pu'u Ali'i sand dune near South Point.