Posted on: Saturday, October 9, 2004

Waikiki reburial awaits site study

Advertiser Staff

State officials are awaiting the final report from an archaeological survey before deciding how to proceed with the reburial of two bone fragments found Wednesday at the site of a Waikiki housing project.

The pieces of a leg bone and arm bone a few inches in length may have been unearthed years earlier in previous construction at the site of the Tusitala Vista elderly-housing complex, said Sara Collins, archaeology branch chief at the State Historic Preservation Division.

Collins said Waikiki had many habitation sites in ancient times, so the fragments probably are old and of Hawaiian origin. But the state won't draw that conclusion officially until after it sees the report, she said.

The archaeological consultant may be doing additional excavations first to determine the likelihood of multiple sets of remains on the property, she said.

If the remains are found to be Hawaiian, reburial will be planned by the O'ahu Island Burial Council, she said.

Hawai'i Housing Development Corp., developer of the 107-unit project, does not plan to begin construction until about mid-2005.